Through the eyes of a Champion

Photo By Sgt. Woodlyne Escarne | The Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division Combatives Team places 2nd in the tactical team competition during the Lacerda Cup All-Army Combatives Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 13, 2023. The Lacerda Cup All-Army Combatives Championship gathers the most lethal fighters from across the force to demonstrate hand-to-hand fighting skills, exemplifying the lethality of the Soldier as a stand-alone weapon. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Woodlyne Escarne)  

FORT CARSON, COLORADO, UNITED STATES

04.20.2023

Story by Pfc. Dominique Mendoza 

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORT CARSON, Colo. – The referee’s voice echoed through the room as he instructed the fighters to obey his commands at all times. The distinct ding of a bell reverberated off the cage, letting the audience know round one was starting. The referee yelled out, three, two, one, FIGHT! All around the room the crowd chanted the same name in synchronization, Patrick Terry. With a gleam in his eye, Terry stepped forward eagerly touching gloves with his opponent, locking eyes with his coach, and knowing it was time to execute his game plan. This was day three, the finale involving mixed martial arts techniques, and the last fight Terry had to win, to be named champion.
He lunged forward and struck his opponent square in the jaw, the crowd reacting with roars of encouragement. Terry closed the distance between himself and his opponent, going in for another strike. His opponent got the edge and returned him with a punch to the body. The audience let out a collective “Oooooo!” Terry shook off the hit, took a deep breath and focused on the sound of his coach’s voice instructing him on what to do.
“Going into the fight I knew there was a very real chance I might lose,” said Sgt. Patrick Terry, unit supply specialist, assigned to 569th Mobility Augmentation Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. “I was facing some of the best fighters the Army has to offer, and I knew that things could take a turn for the worse at any moment.”
The adrenaline rushed through him, and he let his nerves fuel him. He took two steps forward and hit his opponent not once, but three times repeatedly to their face. Once the referee had seen enough he moved in between the fighters and waved his arms, ending the fight by technical knockout. The referee lifted Terry’s hand into the air, announcing his victory to the crowd as they jumped to their feet, cheering in triumph.
“When they announced I had won, I felt relieved,” said Terry. “That moment was the culmination of months of hard work, dedication and sacrifice.”
Terry was one of many to compete in the All Army Lacerda Cup Championship, which is a competition designed to bring together the best the army has to offer in the hand to hand combat sport, combatives. All Soldiers participating compete for individual championship titles, proving their combat readiness in fighting without a weapon.
Terry has plans to continue training and competing for both the army, and in the civilian sector. Before the competition he trained twice a day for the past six months, focusing on both military combatives training, while also training at a local Colorado Springs gym in preparation for the Lacerda Cup.
“I have always enjoyed fighting as a sport, and it wasn’t until just recently when I got into competing,” said Terry.
Terry claimed that the coaching staff for the Fort Carson combatives team was absolutely amazing, and he wouldn’t have won any fights without them.
“I would train every morning at the Fort Carson combatives gym, working with the coaches on different techniques such as striking, wrestling and jiu jitsu,” said Terry. “The coaching is what allowed me to remain undefeated. I am so appreciative of everything they put into me, and into the team.”
Sgt. Todd Bevan, assigned to 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, is one of the coaches for the Fort Carson combatives team.
“During the training I was extremely impressed with Terry’s determination and dedication, I couldn’t have asked for a better competitor or teammate to have in my line up,” said Bevan.
Bevan expressed that watching Terry take home the championship was one of the single proudest moments of his coaching career.
“Terry dedicated early mornings and late nights of training into that moment in the cage of getting his hand raised,” said Bevan. “I couldn’t be more proud of Terry, he truly went out and earned his championship.”
Terry said as his hand was being raised, and he was claiming the title, he felt the overwhelming sense of relief and couldn’t help but notice all of the smiling faces staring at him through the cage.
“It’s that feeling right there, when you see everyone cheering you on, you hear them chanting your name, and you catch sight of your coach smiling back at you, that makes you feel like a true winner, and makes me want to keep fighting,” said Terry.
Sgt. Patrick Terry is the 2023 flyweight All Army Lacerda Cup Champion.

• Date Taken: 04.20.2023
• Date Posted: 04.21.2023 11:55
• Story ID: 443001
• Location: FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US