Skip to Content

   

Meet Team Navy 2024

April 4, 2024 | Story by Alyssa Ross | Navy Wounded Warrior

WASHINGTON - Navy Wounded Warrior has named the athletes who will compete for Team Navy during the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games, held this year at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla., June 21 - 30. This year's team includes 36 Sailors and 4 Coast Guardsmen who will compete against Team Army, Team Marines, Team Air Force, and Team Special Operations Command (SOCOM), as well as invited international teams.

The adaptive sports and recreation program promotes the mental and physical well-being of wounded, ill, and injured service members as part of a larger continuum of care that service members receive through Navy Wounded Warrior. For many, participation in adaptive athletics represents another milestone along their path to recovery and an opportunity to meet other wounded warriors who face similar challenges. Part of the larger DoD Warrior Care program, these reconditioning activities and competitive athletic opportunities help build self-esteem, lower stress levels, and invite service members to rejoin a team environment.

Modified equipment and additional classification systems allow each athlete to compete, regardless of their injury or illness. This year's team will compete in archery, cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, track, field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, shooting, indoor rowing, and powerlifting.

Team Roster

DC3 Jose Acostamejia, Navy

SN Kolawole Arubuolawe, Navy

MM3 Austin Belschner, Navy

HM3 Michael Best, Navy

AC2 Dafne Bonachea Tamargo, Navy

HM1 Johnathan Boswell (ret.), Navy

LT Justin Chase, Coast Guard

MMN3 Isaac Cho, Navy

OS2 Tiffany Clark, Navy

IT1 Maria Edwards, Navy

HM1 Vincent Falcetta, Navy

ETV2 Edward Farnon, Navy

HMCM Steven Flemming, Navy

MA1 David Fuller, Navy

GSM3 Jonathan Gancayco, Navy

AN Abigail Garcia, Navy

YN1 Angela Harris, Coast Guard

HM3 Kaitlin Harris, Navy

MA2 Kyle Higginbotham (ret.), Navy

FT2 Abdulrahman Ibn Asadullah, Navy

LS2 Rachel Iglesias (ret.), Navy

IT2 Ainesey Inguanzo, Navy

HM2 Jerome Jeffrey, Navy

EM2 Malik Jones, Coast Guard

MA3 Bryce Laake-Stanfield, Navy

MASN Roberto Lopez, Navy

AWO2 Levi Moore (ret.), Navy

LT Jarek Neczypor (ret.), Navy

MA2 Storm Oliver, Navy

HM3 Johnathan Paige (ret.), Navy

CTT1 Jiesyl Rama (ret.), Navy

MA2 Dillon Ripperger, Navy

FCA2 Kayla Saska, Navy

YNCS Michele Schmidt, Navy

CWTCS Mitchell Sheppard, Navy

RDML Edward St. Pierre, Coast Guard

HM3 Gabrielle Varhola (ret.), Navy

NC1 Tiffany Whetstonestaley, Navy

PS2 Maria Concepcion Yuvienco, Navy

IS3 Gabriella Zamora, Navy

About Adaptive Athletics

Fitness and teamwork are a way of life in the military. Serious illness or injury can profoundly impact that way of life, often confining a service member to a hospital bed and significantly altering their physical capabilities. Adaptive athletics are sports that have been modified to meet the abilities of injured or ill individuals. They help wounded warriors build strength and endurance, while also drawing inspiration from their teammates. All wounded warriors enrolled in Navy Wounded Warrior are encouraged to include adaptive athletics in their recovery plans to build strength and endurance. Sports also helps build self-esteem, lowers stress levels, and invites service members to rejoin a supportive team environment. 

Numquam Navigare Solus – Never to Sail Alone

Navy Wounded Warrior is an unbiased advocate that bridges the needs of commands, care teams, and service members in planning a way forward after a serious wound, illness, or injury. Staff guide Sailors and Coastguardsmen, with their families and caregivers, to create a comprehensive recovery plan, which provides a holistic approach tailored to individual recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration needs. The program allows service members and their families to feel empowered and supported as they adapt to their new normal. To date, nearly 10,000 seriously wounded, ill, and injured service members located throughout the country received assistance from Navy Wounded Warrior.

Sailors and Coast Guardsmen may self-refer to Navy Wounded Warrior, or be referred by a family member, their command leadership or their medical team. Contact the Navy Wounded Warrior call center at 855-NAVY WWP / 855-628-9997, or email navywoundedwarrior.fct@navy.mil.

Newsfeed

Tony Jungblut finds new life after 26 years in the US Navy through Navy Wounded Warrior. For Jungblut, the Navy Wounded Warrior program offered ways to stay active though adaptive sports and avenues to receive help and care during and after his transition to civilian life.
DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Cycling |From the DoD Warrior Games events to the sport’s origin, here is a list of four facts to know about the sport.
Check out the Fall 2022 Edition of the Navy Wounded Warrior's Family Newsletter! --- October - December 2022
Former Marine Sgt. Dario Santana continues his life of service by serving as the Family Program manager at Navy Wounded Warrior headquarters
Check out the Spring 2022 Edition of the Navy Wounded Warrior's Family Newsletter! --- April - June 2022
DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Swimming | From the explaining the sport’s Paralympic Games history to the different types of starts, here is a list of six facts to know about the sport.
DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Field | From the explaining the term athletics to the Paralympic Games history, here is a list of five facts to know about the sport.
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Shanice Dansby shares her journey with Navy Wounded Warrior. ---- Story shared from DVIDS.
Join us in congratulating ITC Deatrice Sumlin! Sumlin was selected as the Navy Wounded Warrior of the Month by Navy Region Southwest for February 2022.
Congratulations to YN1 (Ret.) Lorraine Currow, who was selected as 2021 Navy Wounded Warrior of the Year by Navy Safe Harbor Foundation.
DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Sitting Volleyball | From the sport’s origin to explaining why one team member wears a different color jersey, here is a list of four facts to know about the sport.
DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Shooting | From the sport’s Paralympic Games history to explaining the competition style, here is a list of three facts to know about the sport.
DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Indoor Rowing | From an overview of indoor rowing’s origins to competition style, here is a list of five facts to know about the sport.
Check out the Summer 2022 Edition of the Navy Wounded Warrior's Family Newsletter! --- July - September 2022
Congratulations to MA2 Robert Orr! He was selected as Navy Region Southwest's Navy Wounded Warrior of the Month for October 2022.
Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Tiffany Hamilton shares her personal story of her recovery journey with PTSD.
DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Powerlifting | From the sport’s Paralympic Games history to explaining the difference between weightlifting and powerlifting, here is a list of four facts to know about the sport.
DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Field | From an overview of golf’s origins to your chances of getting a hole-in-one, here is a list of six facts to know about the sport.
Join us in congratulating LCDR (Ret.) Jeffery Dewey. Dewey was selected as the Navy Wounded Warrior of the Month by Navy Region Southwest for March 2022.
DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Archery | From the types of bows to sports origin, here is a list of facts to know about the sport.
Back to top