Reserves celebrate sports program success

Adam Hawkins serves the ball during a casual match May 31 between Reserve White and Reserve Gold football teams to settle some scores over the outcome of the season (Reserve Gold won the football championship). The volleyball court is at the 38th Cyberspace Engineering Installation Group just east of Tinker Air Force Base. (Courtesy photo/Released)

Reserves celebrate sports program success

Published June 10, 2016
By 513th Air Control Group Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Tinker's two Air Force Reserve flag football teams finished out their 10th season on May 31 with a few modifications to the traditional league rules. Reserve White challenged spring champion Reserve Gold to sand volleyball at the 38th Cyberspace Engineering Installation Group courts east of Tinker Air Force Base.

Despite the threat of spring thunderstorms and the occasional shower, both teams declared the evening a success.

"Even on a rainy night, we were able to get 20 people out to play volleyball and relive the highlights of our flag football season," said Gold team captain Jeffrey "Red" Inferrere. "Between volleyball and pizza, we had a pretty good time."

No scores were kept, but rumors have it that White exacted the revenge they sought from their losses to Gold during spring football matchups.

According to intramural sports coordinator Ralph Hawkins, much of the success of the Reserve intramural athletics comes from remaining active year-round and building camaraderie through all the different leagues.

"The key to success in our intramural program is including as many people as possible and making it fun for everyone," he said. "That's the way we get people to keep coming back, season after season."

The combined 507th Air Refueling Wing and 513th Air Control Group sports program includes spring and fall flag football, softball, basketball, bowling and volleyball.
This was the first year the Reservists entered a team in the base intramural basketball league, and they plan to enter a team into the base intramural soccer league this season - also for the first time. The Reserve intramural sports program has won several base championships in spring and fall football, softball and bowling.