Skydivers raise the bar at nationals

By Ann Patton
Academy Spirit staff


Academy parachutists took the plunge with hundreds
of other sky divers in September during the U.S.
Parachute Association's national skydiving
championships in Ottawa, Ill. They were up against some of the country's best parachutists. "Everyone did an outstanding job," said team coach Bill Wenger. "It was by far the best overall performance that the team has had at the nationals."

The Academy's cadet team members at the event included Cadets 1st Class Zach Alexander, Tadd Lahnert, Chris Oppenlander and Erik Towal. They, along with camera operator Master Sgt. Ted Burgess with the 306th Flying Training Group, competed in intermediate category of the 4-way event. Five staffers with the 98th Flying Training Squadron, including Steve Archuletta, Maj. Matt Cunningham, Master Sgt. David Fremin, Tech Sgt. Kevin Vance and Tech. Sgt. Frank Zientek on camera also competed in the 4-way intermediate category.

The cadet group finished fourth in the intermediate division and staff finished second in the intermediate.

Steve Archuleta finished second in the 2-way open division for the canopy formation event and Coach Wenger first in men's accuracy event and fourth overall for the open division.

The coach's gold medal was the first in an open event for the Academy. "We did pretty well," said Cadet Oppenlander of his team's performance. "We were all hoping to medal but missed it by one spot."

Cadet Lahnert also felt the team performed well.

"We were disappointed that we didn't medal but we got beat by teams legitimately better than us," he said. "We learned an immense amount about performing under pressure, which I think was the most valuable part of the whole thing." Cadets also competed last month in the Gauntlet wind tunnel competition in Eloy, Ariz. Cadets had mixed reactions
about the event.

"It was an amazing experience. The dives constructed for the event were much more technical and difficult than the dives will be at the collegiate competition," said Cadet Yeagley. "Some of the best coaches and fliers in the world were at the event and offered all kinds of advice and coaching."

He said open sky and wind tunnel competitions both have advantages and lessons, but he, nonetheless, prefers the air. "The tunnel is great for training, instant feedback and is much more concentrated," said Cadet Oppenlander. "But there is nothing to compare with jumping. I can sometimes get bored in the tunnel, but I never get bored when I'm
jumping."

In preparation for the Collegiate National Championships over the winter holiday break, cadets will compete at a regional competition this weekend at Fort Bragg, N. C., sponsored by the Army parachute team.

At 11,000 feet in the air teamwork for parachutists becomes paramount. "The senior competition team is the tightest knit group of guys at this school hands down," Cadet Yeagley said. "We have a blast no mater what the dive-flow is.

Cadet Lahnert also said differences don't stand in the way of the overall good of the team.

"We fight and bicker like any close group who spends an inordinate amount of time together would," he said. "We have team meetings on a fairly regular basis, where we sit and get everything out that we're teed off about, then define and see how we are meeting goals."

Cadet Oppenlander's take on teamwork varies only slightly from the others.