More than 200 soldiers crowded into Tenkaichi Stadium in Chatan Thursday to watch a boxing smoker in which soldiers from various units fought as part of the first Army on Okinawa Week. (Cindy Fisher / Stars and Stripes)
CHATAN, Okinawa — Cheers and jeers echoed through the room as a crowd of more than 200 watched soldiers slug it out in the ring Thursday at Tenkaichi Stadium in Chatan.
More than 20 soldiers from 58th Signal Battalion, 1st Battalion of 1st Special Forces Group and 1st Air Defense Artillery Battalion participated in the boxing smoker. The smoker was one of the many events held as part of the first Army on Okinawa Week for the 1,700 soldiers stationed here.
Smokers "build camaraderie, even for soldiers not participating," said Col. Jim Woodard, commander of the 10th Support Group, as troops enjoyed the action.
For boxer Pvt. 2nd Class Travis Brogan, with 1st Special Forces Group, stepping into the ring at his first smoker was slightly nerve-racking.
But it wasn’t his opponent in the 170- 180 pound weight division causing the butterflies.
"I didn’t think there would be so many people at this," Brogan said. "The crowd made it a little anxious for the first 30 seconds."
Brogan, who overcame his anxiety to win his match, said he enjoyed the experience so much that he thinks this is something every unit should do at least once a year.
And the winner is ...More than 20 soldiers participated in a boxing smoker with eight weight divisions.
The winners are:131-140 poundsFirst place: Pfc. Michael Parker, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces GroupSecond place: Sgt. 1st Class Mark Willis, 58th Signal Battalion141-150 poundsFirst place: Pfc. Jonathon Moore, 1/1 SFGSecond place: Sgt. Michael Ryan, 1st Air Defense Artillery Battalion
151-159 poundsFirst place: Sgt. Derek Woodard, 1/1 SFGSecond place: Sgt. Kellan Willis, 58th Signal Battalion
160-168 poundsFirst place: Spc. Cordic Coleman, 1/1 SFGSecond place: Spc. Terry Norman, 1/1 SFG
169-180 poundsFirst place: Pvt. 2nd Class Travis Brogan, 1/1 SFGSecond place: Spc. Lamont Melton, 1/1 SFG
181-184 poundsFirst place: Spc. Marcus Smith, 58th Signal BattalionSecond place: Sgt. Paul Preble, 1/1 ADA
185-199 poundsFirst place: Pfc. Chris Speed, 1/1 SFGSecond place: Staff Sgt. James Geah, 1/1 ADA
200+ poundsFirst place: Sgt. Jason Welch, 1/1 SFGSecond place: Staff Sgt. Christopher Caldwell, 1/1 ADA
Source: Torii Station Public Affairs Office
More than 200 soldiers crowded into Tenkaichi Stadium in Chatan Thursday to watch a boxing smoker in which soldiers from various units fought as part of the first Army on Okinawa Week. (Cindy Fisher / Stars and Stripes)
Sgt. Derek Woodard, left, with 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, swings at Sgt. Kellan Willis, 58th Signal Battalion, during a boxing smoker at Tenkaichi Stadium in Chatan Thursday. Woodard won the match. (Cindy Fisher / Stars and Stripes)
