Source: Ryan Gardner, gardner1@k-state.edu
Hometown connection: Lansing, Leavenworth, Lenexa, Manhattan and Salina, Kan. Also for Miles City, Mont.
Website: http://armyrotc.k-state.edu
Friday, Oct. 7, 2011
Workouts for warriors: Army ROTC cadets use physical fitness to raise funds for military-related groups, kids
MANHATTAN -- Cadets from Kansas State University's Army ROTC unit exercised their way to the top in a recent fundraising event supporting programs for military families and injured veterans.
"Fight Gone Bad" is an annual fundraiser hosted by Iron Major CrossFit, a gym run by officers at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Participants show their prowess in CrossFit, a workout brand, in 10 general physical skills: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination and accuracy. Activities included weightlifting, sprinting, gymnastics, power-lifting, kettle-bell training, ply-o-metrics, rowing, medicine ball training and other physical skills.
This was the sixth year CrossFit gyms around the world banded together for the "Fight Gone Bad" event. Among the 30 participants at the Fort Leavenworth gym were 10 cadets from K-State Army ROTC. Together, the group raised nearly $8,000 for three nonprofit organizations: the Special Operations Warriors Foundation, which supports the families of U.S. military special operators who are injured or killed in combat; Camp Patriot, which provides injured veterans with outdoor adventuring experiences; and the CrossFit Kids Foundation, which promotes fitness among children and the Infant Swimming Resource program that teaches children water survival and self-rescue techniques.
Finishing at the top in the physical activities were K-State Army ROTC cadets Ryan Easterling, senior in English, Lansing, who took first place; and Jacob Gardner, sophomore in kinesiology, Leavenworth, who took second.
Other cadets participating in the event included:
From Leavenworth: Brian Lee, freshman in mechanical engineering; Sam Metivier, freshman in sociology; and Dylan Wendt, freshman in history.
Matthew Prem, sophomore in sociology, Lenexa; Alexis Geidel, sophomore in history, and Villa Landavazo, sophomore in arts and sciences-open option and professional pilot, both from Manhattan; and Nathan Reynolds, junior in sociology, Salina
From out of state: Jakob Miles, freshman in history and political science, Miles City, Mont.
