DCA Update - Competitive Clubs

Triathlon:

• Last year over 100,000 triathletes from around the world competed in the Ironman 70.3 events; less than 2800 qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship held in Zell Am See Austrial
• On 31 August, the Army West Point Triathlon Team sent six members to compete in the Iron-man 70.3 Championship event
• West Point was represented by LTC Ken Allen, and CDTs Catherine Sedy (‘16), Angelica Dick-son (‘16), Remington Ponce-Pore (‘18), Jacob Slife (‘18), and Paige Dougherty (‘18)
• Each of the West Point athletes earned their qualification spot by winning their age group division in a qualifying event last year
• The team had outstanding results against the top world athletes, with CDT Slife finishing first with a time of 4hrs37mins for the 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1mile run; CDT Slife was 18th in his division, 241st overall, and 2nd US male 18-24 years old
• The top Army female was CDT Sedy with a time of 5hrs21mins; CDT Sedy was also 18th in her division, and the 4th US female 18-24 years old
• All of the other West Point athletes were close behind on a difficult course that included a climb of nearly 3000 feet over an Alpine mountain
• In addition to the race, the team conducted a special Ring Weekend ceremony for the two firstie cadets; the ceremony was held at the dock of the Grand Hotel in Zell Am See, made famous in WWII by MAJ Dick Winters who commanded “The Band of Brothers”
• MAJ Winters used the hotel as his jumping off point when they led the assault on enemy forces and later returned after the fall of Berlin, and used it as his headquarters during the occupation
• LTC Allen, USMA ‘93, had the honor of presenting the rings, and Mr. Dave Alberga, USMA ‘84, provided the remarks

Support Clubs

Glee Club:

• On 28 August, the West Point Glee Club’s Knight Caps support-ed West Point Stakes Day at the Saratoga Raceway
• The event was extremely well attended, as the track was also hosting the prestigious Travers Stakes the following day
• The cadets performed the National Anthem as the track opened, then performed the Alma Mater in the Winner’s Circle at the conclusion of the seventh race of the day - the West Point Stakes itself
• In between performances, the cadets spent several hours socializing with the West Point Society of the Capitol Region and other event guests
• Congressman Paul Tonko also stopped by the Winner’s Circle to visit briefly with the cadets, one of whom was nominated by him
• West Point Thoroughbreds were also present in force, and had a few horses in the competition
• After one of their horses won the 8th race (just the second time he’s competed), the Knight Caps were invited back to the Winner’s Circle for the celebration and photos
• During the celebration, the Knight Caps rallied the crowd of grads and supporters with an impromptu, and well-received rendition of “On, Brave Old Army Team”, with plenty of help from the enthusiastic crowd

Parachute:

• On 29 and 30 August, the West point Parachute Team and 2nd Aviation conducted five demonstrations
• Four of the demonstrations were performed at the New York Airshow at Stewart Airfield, and the other was performed at the Saratoga Race Track for the Travers Stakes
• The first demonstration weekend of the season was a huge success
• The team performed in front of over 100,000 spectators at the New York Air Show, and 50,000 at the Saratoga Race Track

Hobby Clubs

Ultimate Frisbee:

• On the weekend of 29-30 August, Army West Point Ultimate competed in the Metro New York Sectionals Tournament for the fall college club series
• Fifth-seeded Army posted a 2-2 record on Saturday, defeating teams ranked lower, and losing to teams ranked higher
• Thirteen cadets, including nine new players who were only with the team for two weeks, carried Army to two wins on Saturday
• Four returning players, CDTs Mitchell Smith, Ian Betzel, Joseph Woolfork, and Montana Bilger, exhibited great leadership, and on-field skills in the season’s first tournament
• With ring weekend activities going on, the team’s three Firsties did not travel in this tournament
• Army started strong, defeating seventh-seeded Voodoo Child from NYU in Manhattan 13-6; many of the new players stepped up to make plays in crucial moments
• The second game for Army was against the top seed, and eventual tournament champion, Colt from New Haven, CT; Colt’s very experienced team ran away with the game, defeating Army 13-1
• Army persevered as always, and came back with a win against ninth-seeded Yale Superfly
• In the final Saturday game, Army fell to the third-seeded, and eventual regionals qualified team, Westchester Magma Bears
• On Sunday, Army faced a very tough team, Caliber from CT, in an elimination game; a close first half saw Army down 8-7 at the half of the game to 15
• Caliber earned a 13-9 lead, but Army never gave up and came back to force overtime in the win-by-two-points games; Army tied the game at 14, 15, and 16-all, finally losing on the universe point 17-16
• Army was eliminated from advancement to regionals, but played a scrimmage against Voodoo Child to gain more experience, and to have some fun
• Plebe Gino Nicosia was awarded a tournament disc signed by all team members for his great defensive coverage, hard-running, and smart decisions on offense
• Army Club Ultimate looks forward to hosting a tournament at West Point in late September, two scrimmages against Marist and New Paltz during some of the Sunday afternoon practices, and to travelling to at least one more fall tournament

Cadet Programs

On 28 and 29 August, 3600 Cadets and guests attended the Class of 2016 Ring Weekend activities, including the Ring Presentation Ceremony at Trophy Point, the Class Reception, the Ring Weekend Banquet, and the Ring Weekend Hop. General Daniel Allyn, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, was the guest speaker at the Banquet. GEN Allyn’s son, Joshua, is in the Class of 2016. The USMA Band supported Ring Weekend activities at the presentation ceremony, class reception, banquet, and hop. The hop featured music by the popular “Benny Haven’s Band.”