MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Team Scrubs took first place in the dodgeball competition, which kicked off the 2012 Commander’s Cup at the IronWorks sports courts here Jan. 20.
“The Commander’s Cup is about camaraderie and getting together and having a good time,” said Barbara Roman, Marine Corps Community Services SemperFit fitness coordinator.“These events challenge Marines physically and mentally. Marines challenge themselves all the time with (Combat Fitness Test’s) and Physical Fitness Test’s); this is just a different kind of challenge.”
The dodge ball competition was a double-elimination, bracketed tournament.
Each match had three-minute rounds, pausing half way through to allow teams to substitute a player. Whichever team had the most players left on the court after three minutes won the round and whichever team was the first to win two rounds won the set.
“The Commander’s Cup is a challenge, and who doesn’t like a challenge?” said Roman.
The tournament started with Team Dirty-6 against Team Scrubs and Team Bacon Strips against Team Freqs. Teams fought vigorously, trying their best to mix strategy with speed and strength.
“We were losing with everyone randomly picking, but as soon as (Lance Cpl. Albert Post, a Scrubs player,) picked the players we won every game after,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Anderson, Scrubs player.
As teams continued to battle each other, eliminations slowly started to take place. Dirty 6 was the first team to be eliminated, losing their first two sets, and Bacon Strips was beaten a second time soon after.
Aside from formidable competition, the dodgeball tournament gave Marines from within the squadrons a chance to meet and build friendships.
“This is the first time that I’ve gotten to meet some of the Marines on my team,” said Anderson.“We got to know each other and participate in some healthy competition.”
With only two teams remaining, Freqs, with no losses, went head-to-head against Scrubs, who had suffered a first round loss. In a show of perseverance, Scrubs came back from a oneloss disadvantage, beating Freqs in two consecutive rounds and taking first place.
“I’m really competitive,” said Albert Post, Scrubs player.“I like winning so I had a good day. I had a good time.”
The Commander’s Cup is a yearround competition open to all ranks and units.
A monthly event is scheduled to take place from Jan. to Oct., with the Gladiator’s Challenge being the final and most anticipated event. A “mystery” endurance challenge is slated for this February.