Victory Week concludes with Victory Cup awards
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Brig. Gen. Donald MacWillie, senior commander, Fort Riley, far left, and Fort Riley Command Sgt. Maj. Miguel Rivera, far right, congratulate 1st Bn., 16th Inf. Regt. command team Lt. Col. Roger Crombie, second from left, and Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew McCready, second from right, on the “Iron Ranger’s” Victory Cup win during the Victory Week awards ceremony June 14 on Custer Hill Parade Field. (Photo by Mollie Miller, 1ST INF. DIV.)
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Story by: Stephanie Hoff
1ST INF. DIV. PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Following a long week of running, swimming, "rucking," wrestling, climbing, weightlifting and more, the top athletic performers from the 1st Infantry Division were recognized before the entire "Big Red One" June 14 at Custer Hill Parade Field.
Announced just moments before a formation, led by Brig. Gen. Donald MacWillie, senior commander, Fort Riley, and Fort Riley Command Sgt. Maj. Miguel Rivera, to celebrate the Army's 237th birthday, the Victory Cup awards were presented to the top performing Soldiers who competed earlier in the week in events like volleyball, weightlifting, dodge ball, basketball, kickball, golf, combatives, a 10-mile run, color guard competition and more.
"We have some unbelievably strong Soldiers," MacWillie said. "They're always going and never quitting."
Victory Week is an annual event honoring the history of the Big Red One and celebrating the strength and courage of the men and women who have made the division what it is today.
In addition to athletic activities, the week included a Victory Park ceremony, Ceremony of Remembrance, carnival and concert.
The "Iron Rangers" of 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division were awarded the 1st Inf. Div. Victory Cup for their achievements during Victory Week.
To secure their prize, the "Iron Rangers" were able to achieve first place overall finishes in weight lifting and the Victory Warrior Competition.
"It was nice to take a break from the daily grinds of normal training," said Capt. Alexander Werner, 1st Bn., 16th Inf., who helped lead his team to victory during the Victory Warrior Competition, an event that is conducted locally similar to the Army's Best Ranger Competition. "This was my first time participating in Victory Week. I enjoyed the week of honoring our division's great history and remembering who we are."
For many Soldiers, winning or not, Victory Week served as a time to get closer as a unit and division.
"I'm proud of what you've done; I'm proud of this week," MacWillie said to the thousands of Soldiers who attended the ceremony. "You dedicated yourselves to our motto: 'No mission too difficult. No sacrifice too great. Duty first.'"
VICTORY WEEK EVENT WINNERS
Overall Victory Cup Winner: 1st Bn., 16th Inf. Regt.
Billiards: STB, 2nd HBCT
Golf: 75th Fires Bde.
Bowling: STB, 1st HBCT
Water polo: 299th BSB and 1st Bn., 7th FA Regt.
Arm wrestling: Spc. Burkholder, 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt.; 1st Lt. Kunz, 75th Fires Bde.; Pfc. Laurendios, STB, 2nd HBCT; Spc. Hern, 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt.
Paintball: 1st Sqdn., 6th Cav. Regt.
Call of Duty: 601st ASB
Weightlifting: 1st Bn., 16th Inf. Regt.
Tug-of-war: 4th Sqdn., 4th Cav. Regt.
Basketball: 4th MEB
Softball: STB, 2nd HBCT
Flag football: CAB
Sand volleyball: 2nd Bn., 34th Armor Regt.
Combatives: 4th MEB
Skeet shooting: 1st Sqdn., 6th Cav. Regt.
10-mile run: 3rd IBCT
Color guard: 1st Sust. Bde.
Victory Warrior: 1st Bn., 16th Inf. Regt.