TWHS lacrosse team motivated, humbled by Wounded Warrior speaker

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Woodlands High School lacrosse team traveled to Dallas to play in The Patriot Games held at SMU's Gerald R. Ford Stadium last weekend. The team is beginning to play better in its quest to earn a spot in the Texas High School Lacrosse League playoffs in late April. The trip turned out to be a humbling and learning experience for the players, coaches and parents, but it had nothing to do with the sport of lacrosse.

Proceeds from this annual event go to The Wounded Warrior Project whose mission is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. The purpose of WWP is to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured service men and women aid and assist each other and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.

Following The Woodlands 10-8 loss to Episcopal School of Dallas, the team and entourage met up in a luxury box for food and drink provided by event organizers. Little did the group know they were about to be brought to tears by a representative of The Wounded Warrior Project, Jeff Sinchak.

Sinchak joined the Navy in July 1984 because he wanted a sense of purpose and adventure. What he found as a Hospital Corpsman and Navy Diver was a deeper sense of duty to his country, to his fellow warriors, and to the needs of people around the world.

As a member of various Explosive Ordinance Disposal and Naval Special Warfare teams, Jeff served in Operation Southern Watch (93-94), Operation Restore Hope (94-95), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003 -04). Throughout it all, he suffered a number of service-connected injuries including a gunshot wound and a broken foot. "All contribute to who I am today", Sinchak said.

Jeff achieved the rank of Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (Diver) during his 24 year career. His service took him to many parts of the world and included assignment as an Independent Duty Corpsman attached to the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team. He also established a combat medical treatment facility in Al Taji, Iraq, where he treated those injured in combat. This facility continues to treat the injured and dying in Iraq.

Sinchak was introduced and took control of the room right away. His presence automatically demanded undivided attention and not a peep could be heard throughout his speech save for several failed attempts at hiding tears.

The content of the speech was geared towards how our brave service men and women fight for our freedom giving us the opportunity to be able to play lacrosse and the many other activities we enjoy in a free society. However, somehow this great speaker made everyone feel as if lacrosse was no less important than serving in the armed forces and that there are comparisons to be made between serving and playing lacrosse.

"You came out slow this morning and fell behind," he said. "In doing so, you could have stayed down but something inside you motivated you to pick yourselves up and come back as a team together. The effort did not bring you all the way back but it brought you back into the game and you had a shot at winning until very late in the game, " Sinchak continued. "You experienced high's and low's and showed pride in sticking together and not once did you quit because you always had something we all need when we get down in life - hope."

"You will face disappointment; you will face struggle. Like our service men and women you strive to never let it get you down. You let it motivate you to do better than anyone expected," he said.

"Through Wounded Warrior Project, our wounded service men and women have hope. We give them hope and courage to not only face fear and adversity but to take action in the face of it."

Sinchak segued back to lacrosse, gazing out at his audience he asked, "Where's your goalie?" Senior Hayden Stanifer raised his hand and the speaker acknowledged him in saying, "You had a tough day, son," to which Stanifer responded, "Yes, sir." Sinchak continued, "You know what? You never gave up and you came back with your team. You showed courage. You had hope. As people, we aren't beaten until we quit trying."

The speech was coming to a close and Sinchak thanked everyone for participating in The Patriot Games benefitting Wounded Warrior Project and concluded with one last message.

"The decisions each of us make come with results and regrets. Regardless of what others perceive, we get to choose which one. Success begins when you start to believe you can achieve something."

Immediately following Sinchak's speech, the whole room stood up and gave him a much deserved standing ovation followed by every player and coach shaking his hand. Less than 15 minutes before Sinchak had arrived, there were no less than 100 people not in the best of moods trying to shake off a tough loss. Fifteen minutes later those same people had full hearts knowing there wasn't a better place to be in the world.

Today, Jeff and his family continue to manage the effects he experiences from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He credits his family, fellow warriors and organizations like Wounded Warrior Project for helping him to evaluate the dark days of his trauma and move forward with his "new normal", giving him hope for tomorrow and the courage to continue caring for others.

If you would like more information on WWP. http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/