Van Wert Fire Fighters Brian Ankney, Pat Freeman, Jon Jones, Craig King, Mike Eversole are pictured with YMCA Wellness Coordinator Trisha Breese. The firefighters recently participated in a nationwide fitness competition. Not pictured are Jeff Henderson, Brad Etter and Jeff Jones.

Fit for a challenge!

Leaner, stronger, faster
By JILL DEWERT

Times Bulletin

Multimedia Editor

jdewert@timesbulletin.com

VAN WERT - The Van Wert Fire Department (VWFD) is leaner and stronger following a recent nationwide competition. Team "Flashover Four" from the VWFD took home a fourth-place finish in the northeast region.

A second team from the VWFD, "Smokin' Bones," also participated in the 12-week competition called 911 Fitness Challenge. Smokin' Bones took home a 13th-place finish.

The two teams were up against 138 teams from 17 states in the northwest region.

The Fitness Challenge is a weight loss contest for teams of public safety personnel to lose fat and gain muscle. Participants are disqualified if they fail to gain muscle.

Only active or retired police, firefighters, paramedics, EMS, military, corrections, nurses, physicians or the spouses for any of these occupations that fall under the 911 responder category are eligible to participate.

Team Flashover Four had a team body fat loss of 60.39% and gained 12.78 pounds of muscle. Smokin' Bones came in with a 47.89% team body fat loss and gained 10.88 pounds of muscle.

Making up team Flashover Four was Jon Jones, Craig King, Brian Ankney and Mike Eversole. Team Smokin' Bones consisted of Jeff Henderson, Brad Etter, Pat Freeman and Jeff Jones.

The challenge began for the two teams on Jan. 13 with an initial weigh-in and body fat percentage calculation. Trisha Breece from the Van Wert YMCA worked with the crew on strength training and cardiovascular workouts and made suggestions for healthy diets during the competition.

"It was a great experience," said King. "Especially since we had another team from here to compete against."

Breece was a likely choice as a trainer for the competition because she has been working with the department on physical fitness for the last two years. Fire fighters reported they've lost quite a bit of weight since they've started a fitness regimen with Breece.

The ranges lost over the last two years for the men have varied based on their starting weight - 20 pounds here, 100 pounds there and 40 pounds there. The competition was an opportunity for eight of them to step it up another notch.

"They did awesome in the competition," said Breece. "I was excited for them. They were very dedicated and did really well throughout the whole twelve weeks."

In addition to bettering themselves for serving the community, the teams were also aiming to win prizes. Up for grabs for the first place team were flights to Las Vegas to accept checks with airfare and a hotel stay paid for. The proceeds of the competition go to Shriner's Hospital.