Luke members win gold, silver

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class C.J. Hatch
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. - --  Two Airmen from Luke Air Force Base competed in the 2008 All Military National Racquetball Tournament in San Diego and returned with one gold and three silver medals.

Master Sgt. Todd Elias, ranked number 29 in the state of Arizona, and Maj. Chad Jennings are both avid racquetball players. They have participated in many fitness center tournaments and coach beginners.

"Elias and Jennings have been essential to the fitness center racquetball tournaments," said Kevin Bruaw, 56th Services Squadron Fitness Center sports director. "Their knowledge of the game is outstanding and has made the games at Luke better."

During the tournament Sergeant Elias, who is a team leader with the 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, played three matches to win the gold.

"I always start out thinking I can win," he said "After sizing up the competition, I could see that I was going to have two tough matches to reach my goal."

Even with the tough matches he faced Sergeant Elias was able to overcome the competition to win the gold for the 40-plus Men's B singles. Not only did the NCO play in the singles tournament, he also played with Major Jennings in the doubles tournament winning the silver.

"We won the first game of the three without trouble," Sergeant Elias said. "But because of the easy win I think Maj. Jennings and I relaxed just a little too much. We dropped the second game
7-15 and went into the tie breaker feeling as though we could win. I think we could have used our time outs more effectively to stop the other team's momentum."

Sergeant Elias and Maj. Jennings look forward to the next all-military tournament, scheduled for November 2009.

Major Jennings is a pilot assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron.