Last Saturday, the P.M.A. Fitness Team traveled to New York City to compete with four other fitness teams. At the competition, I witnessed an amazing feat. A competitor had only one arm and he was kicking our butts. At first no one on P.M.A.'s team noticed the competitor’s difference. The drill instructors asked us to separate into group levels; we were separated into the Alpha, Bravo, and Golf teams. Alpha was supposed to be our best team, with the highest scores and fastest runners in the school. Bravo was just as good, but with slower timed runs. Golf, the girls' team, was by far the most physically fit females in the school, some females topping out at 55 push ups and 73 sit ups.
As the lines were formed the TACs went around giving encouragement to those competing by offering pats on the back and a "hoo-rah" here or there. As the competition got underway, we knew we were in for a stiff competition. The competitor with the amputated arm was in Cadet May's squad. Not even noticing, May was gearing his mind for the exercise, getting his head in the game, so to speak. Alpha team was up, all the non-competitors from P.M.A. began to cheer and offer encouragement from the top of their lungs. It was all over in two minutes, two minutes of pushing and struggling, trying to do their best.
Some of our best competitors only topped out at 70 push ups or so. After the competitors gave their score to the graders we all convened. Thirty seconds later we heard loud shouts of encouragement, "Come on man, you're doing great!" they said, or "Only a minute left man, give 'em hell!" After hearing the 5..4..3..2..1..STOP count, I saw a competitor jump up and start to yell. Soon after he was joined by his team mates, I heard the score: Jack, 129 push ups. My gosh, 129 push ups with one arm. Some one get this kid a medal, he is an amazing athlete, in my opinion.
By Paul Maiellano
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