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Wings of Blue wins national championship, drops into bowl games

/ Published January 13, 2012

Parachutists with the Air Force Wings of Blue Parachute Competition Team attempt to set a three-point, 32-way college record during a jump competition over Eloy, Ariz. Wings of Blue teams won multiple medals at the competition, held Dec. 28, 2011 to Jan. 2, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Mike Love)
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Parachutists with the Air Force Wings of Blue Parachute Competition Team attempt to set a three-point, 32-way college record during a jump competition over Eloy, Ariz. Wings of Blue teams won multiple medals at the competition, held Dec. 28, 2011 to Jan. 2, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Mike Love)

Jumpers link up in an attempt to break a three-point, 32-way collegiate sequential record during a parachuting competition in Eloy, Ariz. The Air Force Wings of Blue Parachute Team won several medals in the event, held Dec. 28, 2011 to Jan. 2, 2012, capturing the collegiate championship. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Mike Love)
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Jumpers link up in an attempt to break a three-point, 32-way collegiate sequential record during a parachuting competition in Eloy, Ariz. The Air Force Wings of Blue Parachute Team won several medals in the event, held Dec. 28, 2011 to Jan. 2, 2012, capturing the collegiate championship. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Mike Love)

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force Wings of Blue Parachute Team won the 2011 National Collegiate Parachuting Championships, held in Eloy, Ariz., Dec. 28-Jan. 2, and represented the U.S. Air Force at two nationally televised bowl games Dec. 30 and Jan. 4.

Wings of Blue bowl game appearances included the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., and the Orange Bowl in Miami.

Jumping into the Insight Bowl were Cadets 1st Class Ben Arneberg, Ryan Fantasia, Ryan French, Dane Lannon and Mike O'Donnell. Cadets 1st Class Richard Brennan and Willis Brown and Tech. Sgt. Brad Shimkus joined French, Lannon and O'Donnell for the Orange Bowl jump.

Wings of Blue cadets won 21 gold, 15 silver and seven bronze medals and set six new collegiate national records and seven Arizona state records at the competition.

Cadet 1st Class Shawn Johnson of Cadet Squadron 09 was named the outstanding competitor of 2011, with three gold medals and one silver medal.

The Air Force Academy makes more than 20,000 parachute jumps per year, and trains about 700 cadets in basic free fall parachuting annually.

Cadet parachuting at the Academy began in 1963 when interested cadets formed a recreational club. The basic Academy course evolved from that original club into today's program. The objectives of the parachute program are threefold: train cadets in basic free-fall parachuting, represent the Academy at competitions and demonstrations, and provide a leadership laboratory and motivational experience for cadets.

TEAM AWARDS

- Four-way relative work, open division: Air Force Intrepid (first)
- Four-way relative work, intermediate division: Air Force Legacy (first), Air Force Paradigm (second)
- Vertical formation skydive: Air Force Inception (first), Air Force Hysteria (second)
- Six-way speed formation: Air Force Be With You (first), Air Force Sierra Papa (second)
- Team accuracy: Air Force Lawn Darts (first), Air Force Legacy (second)

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

- Classic accuracy, masters division: Cadet 1st Class Shawn Johnson (first), Cadet 1st Class Zach Helton (second), Cadet 1st Class Travis Thornton (third)
- Classic accuracy, intermediate division: Cadet 2nd Class Jeremy Krohngold (second)
- Sport accuracy, masters division: Cadet 1st Class Casey Habluetzel (second), Cadet 1st Class Josh Moore (third)
- Sport accuracy, intermediate division: Cadet 2nd Class Danielle Griffith (third)