For the ninth year, wounded Marines and veterans are converging on Camp Pendleton for the Marine Corps Trials. It's the Adaptive Sports Invitational.
Jay Phillips suffered a traumatic brain injury. He’s stationed with the Marines' west coast Wounded Warrior Regiment on Camp Pendleton.
“To see people who have issues that most people would think this would ruin my life; 'I can’t do anything now.' Then seeing guys and girls come out and do the stuff they do,” said Cpl. Jay Phillips. “It shows a lot. Hey, life is not all what happened to me. I have a lot more that I can do.”
The competition is between the west coast regiment and the east coast Wounded Warrior Regiment, based at Camp Lejeune. The third team is an international team that includes members from Colombia, France, Germany, Georgia, Italy, and the Netherlands.
The teams have been practicing since Tuesday. Competition begins Saturday and runs through March 9. The events include archery, cycling, rowing, shooting, power-lifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair rugby.
Part of the Warrior Athlete Reconditioning Program, the games are designed to promote healing and teamwork. Some of the best athletes will compete at the National Wounded Warrior Games set to take place in Tampa, Florida in June.
