Athletic spotlight: Terry Fryery

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman C.J. Hatch
  • 56th Firghter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Stepping to the plate he prepares himself; he digs in with his cleats and holds the bat loosely over his shoulder. The ball is pitched. He steps forward and swings, connecting with the softball, launching it far into centerfield.

Terry Fryery, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron heavy equipment operator, grabbed the attention of the Luke Air Force Base Fitness Center staff through his sportsmanship and involvement in base sports. He plays intramural softball, basketball and flag football as often as he can. 

"Fryery is a fierce competitor in any sport he plays," said Kevin Bruaw, 56th Services Squadron fitness center sports director.

Fryery has been playing baseball and softball since before he can remember.

"I think I was born to play sports," he said "I don't remember a time when I wasn't playing something."

In high school Fryery played baseball, football and basketball and dreamt of making it into major league baseball. He decided instead to follow in his family tradition and joined the Air Force.

"My grandpa and my dad were both Air Force," he said. "So here I am."

Through his Air Force career Fryery has been stationed at many bases and played intramural sports at all of them. His real passion though lies in baseball and softball, which makes Luke an ideal place for him because of the area's warm climate.

"Luke is a great base for softball," he said. "You can play almost year-round. I was at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., for a while and there you get only three or four months to play."

Another advantage of being stationed at Luke is that Fryery is now closer to family. He and his brother-in-law, who plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks, share a love of baseball.

"I once got to throw the opening pitch at a Diamondbacks game," he said with excitement. "My brother-in-law invited me out, it was a great moment."

Fryery has made a lasting impression on the people he plays with as well as other players in the Luke sports programs.

"He plays hard from start to finish and leaves it all on the playing field," Mr. Bruaw said. "He is one of those athletes who will be constantly in a great mood during the game, but still playing hard and playing to win."