Members of this year's first Wounded Warrior dragon boat team row their way to the starting line for their first race of the weekend, July 19 at Sloan's Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year's dragon boat race for more than month, they haven't had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. Come race weekend, the team was able to fill their boat and beat their personal record with a time of 1:19 during their first heat. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)

Home used to be Rickey Bennett’s only refuge.

Like so many other former military members returning to the United States after overseas tours, the transition back into life after combat has been daunting for the 52-year-old former Navy combat chaplain and aircraft weapons specialist.

Sports have become a significant lifeline for Bennett, who hopes to take another step forward July 19-20 as one of three Aurora veterans set to compete for the newly-formed Wounded Warrior Dragon Boat Team, which makes its competitive debut at the 14th annual Colorado Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan’s Lake Park.

Chelsea Elder, assistant coordinator for adaptive adventures, hands out life preservers to veterans before their last practice July 16 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Chelsea Elder, assistant coordinator for adaptive adventures, hands out life preservers to veterans before their last practice July 16 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Navy veteran Rob Martinez finds her spot in her team’s canoe July 16 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with Colorado Wounded Warrior and members of Adaptive Adventures have been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for over a month but the team hasn’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Veteran Rickey Bennett (center) talks with fellow wounded warriors before beginning their team’s practice July 16 for the upcoming Dragon Boat races at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with Colorado Wounded Warrior and members of Adaptive Adventures have been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for over a month but the team hasn’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Veteran Rickey Bennett discusses his seating position with fellow Aurora resident Michelle Randolph before beginning their team’s practice July 16 for the upcoming Dragon Boat races at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with Colorado Wounded Warrior and members of Adaptive Adventures have been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for over a month but the team hasn’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Veteran Rickey Bennett (left) gets comfortable in his seat before beginning the team’s practice July 16 for the upcoming Dragon Boat races at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with Colorado Wounded Warrior and members of Adaptive Adventures have been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for over a month but the team hasn’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Members of Adaptive Adventures and Veterans with Colorado Wounded Warriors hold their last team practice in the down pouring rain July 16 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Instead of a using a drum used by most Dragon Boat teams to call out rowing cadences, the Wounded Warrior Team calls out its own cadence verbally and in unison to help coordinate its strokes. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Team Coach Chris Wiegand sounds off cadence to members of Adaptive Adventures and Veterans with Colorado Wounded Warriors during their last team practice in the down pouring rain July 16 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Instead of a using a drum used by most Dragon Boat teams to call out rowing cadences, the Wounded Warrior Team calls out its own cadence verbally and in unison to help coordinate its strokes. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Team Coach Chris Wiegand has his team bring their canoe to a halt after spotting lightning during the team’s last practice July 16 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Instead of a using a drum used by most Dragon Boat teams to call out rowing cadences, the Wounded Warrior Team calls out its own cadence verbally and in unison to help coordinate its strokes. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Members of Adaptive Adventures and Veterans with Colorado Wounded Warriors bring their canoe to dock after spotting lightning during their last team practice July 16 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, the team hasn’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Members of Adaptive Adventures and Veterans with Colorado Wounded Warriors bring their canoe to dock after spotting lightning during their last team practice July 16 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, the team hasn’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Navy veteran Rob Martinez makes her way to dry ground after their team had to row to shore because of lightning July 16 at Sloan’s Lake Colorado. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, the team hasn’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Members of Adaptive Adventures and Veterans with Colorado Wounded Warriors take a time out from rowing after spotting lightning during their last team practice July 16 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, the team hasn’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Rain pours down on oars July 16 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. Their oars give different meaning to PTSD. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Team Coach Chris Wiegand asks his team to write in who they are paddling for before their first dragon boat heat at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Team Coach Chris Wiegand (left) takes his team through the stages of the dragon boat race before their first heat July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
An empty dragon boat waits to be filled with seats July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Team Coach Chris Wiegand (right) runs through more dragon boat training before their first heat July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Marine Veteran Jessica Berry (right front) practices being in sync with her team’s strokes July 19 before their first heat July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Marine Veteran Jessica Berry (right front) practices being in sync with her team’s strokes July 19 before their first heat July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Team Coach Chris Wiegand (center) instills the importance of calling out cadence before their first heat July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
After a quick pep talk, veteran Rickey Bennett (second from right) and other members of the Wounded Warrior dragon boat team yell out their strokes July 19 before their first heat July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Veteran Rickey Bennett (center) gives a quick pep talk for his teammates July 19 before their first heat July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Veterans with Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures practices being in sync with her team’s strokes July 19 before their first heat at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, the team hasn’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. Come race weekend, the team was able to fill their boat and beat their personal record with a time of 1:19 during their first heat. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Navy veteran Rob Martinez waits for her team to be called up for their first heat July 16 at Sloan’s Lake Colorado. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures, who formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team, wait for their heat to start July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, they haven’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. Come race weekend, the team was able to fill their boat and beat their personal record with a time of 1:19 during their first heat. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Team Coach Chris Wiegand (left) thanks Veteran Rickey Bennett for all his hard work before their team’s first heat July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, they haven’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. Come race weekend, the team was able to fill their boat and beat their personal record with a time of 1:19 during their first heat. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Veteran Rickey Bennett (left) goes over the team’s motto July 19 before their first heat July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team and yelled out “Power, Teamwork, Strength and Diversity” before they loaded their Dragon Boat for their first race. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Marine Veteran Jessica Berry consoles her son Jaxon before she finds her seat in the boat for the Wounded Warrior team’s first dragon boat race July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Jaxon was able to practice rowing with his mom on many of the team’s meet ups and didn’t understand why he couldn’t join her for the race. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Marine Veteran Jessica Berry consoles her son Jaxon before she finds her seat in the boat for the Wounded Warrior team’s first dragon boat race July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Jaxon was able to practice rowing with his mom on many of the team’s meet ups and didn’t understand why he couldn’t join her for the race. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Veteran Rickey Bennett yells the team’s motto July 19 before their first heat July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team and yelled out “Power, Teamwork, Strength and Diversity” before they loaded their Dragon Boat for their first race. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Program and members of Adaptive Adventures formed this year’s first Dragon Boat Team. Their oars give different meaning to PTSD (Power, Teamwork, Strength, Drive.) (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Members of this year’s first Wounded Warrior dragon boat team walk the dock to their first race of the weekend, July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, they haven’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. Come race weekend, the team was able to fill their boat and beat their personal record with a time of 1:19 during their first heat. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Members of this year’s first Wounded Warrior dragon boat team row their way to the starting line for their first race of the weekend, July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, they haven’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. Come race weekend, the team was able to fill their boat and beat their personal record with a time of 1:19 during their first heat. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Members of this year’s first Wounded Warrior dragon boat team stay at a close second during their first race of the weekend July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, they haven’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. Come race weekend, the team was able to fill their boat and beat their personal record with a time of 1:19 during their first heat. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Members of this year’s first Wounded Warrior dragon boat team stay at a close second during their first race of the weekend July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, they haven’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. Come race weekend, the team was able to fill their boat and beat their personal record with a time of 1:19 during their first heat. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Members of this year’s first Wounded Warrior dragon boat team come in second during their first race of the weekend July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, they haven’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. Come race weekend, the team was able to fill their boat and beat their personal record with a time of 1:19 during their first heat. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Members of this year’s first Wounded Warrior dragon boat team celebrate with high fives after discovering their race time July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, they haven’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. Come race weekend, the team was able to fill their boat and beat their personal record with a time of 1:19 during their first heat. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Members of this year’s first Wounded Warrior dragon boat team celebrate with high fives after discovering their race time July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, they haven’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. Come race weekend, the team was able to fill their boat and beat their personal record with a time of 1:19 during their first heat. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)
Members of this year’s first Wounded Warrior dragon boat team celebrate with high fives after discovering their race time July 19 at Sloan’s Lake Park. Even though the team has been practicing for this year’s dragon boat race for more than month, they haven’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day. Come race weekend, the team was able to fill their boat and beat their personal record with a time of 1:19 during their first heat. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)

Bennett’s used sports as a significant lifeline and clung to it a little tighter July 19-20 as one of three Aurorans who competed for the newly-formed Wounded Warrior Dragon Boat Team, which made its competitive debut at the 14th annual Colorado Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan’s Lake Park.

“I kindof have panic attacks being around large crowds and loud noises, so we’ll see; this is a stretch for a lot of us,” Bennett said a few days before the team competed.

“I’m a lot better than I used to be. For awhile there, I never left my house except to go to the doctor’s office. Sports is what got me out of my house.”

Bennett’s story is not unlike many other members of the team, which is made up of Wounded Warrior alumni, former members of the military who have suffered physical injuries, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) or have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), their spouses and civilian supporters.

Times were pretty dark for Bennett  — who has lived in Aurora with his wife since 1990 — after more than 20 years serving in some capacity in nearly every branch of the military.

In 2004, while serving as a chaplain in Housaba, Iraq, Bennett suffered a TBI when he was hurled across a courtyard and into a building head-first after an explosion ignited a weapons cache in a building next to him. Later, he was diagnosed with PTSD, an alarmingly common mental illness suffered by today’s soldiers than can often lead to depression or suicidal thoughts. Bennett didn’t want to come home despite his injuries because of the reality that awaited him.

“It’s a different world; everything over there is life and death,” Bennett said. “People over here are worried about not having a remote control for their TV, or that they can’t find it, but people over there don’t have legs. It helps you get a new perspective and shows you that a lot of things over here are trivial, minor. They don’t understand us and we don’t understand them. It’s mutual.”

Bennett’s inner turmoil caused him to avoid people, which took a toll on his health. Until a couple of years ago, when he began to get involved with some athletic programs through Adaptive Adventures — the organizer of the Wounded Warrior Dragon Boat Team — and he’s continued to get more and more active recently.

Adaptive Adventures employees who have known Bennett for awhile have seen him come out of his shell and become one of the more gregarious members of the group. He’s part of Team Semper Fi — with which he plans to run the Marine Corps Marathon in the fall — the Denver Rolling Nuggets’ wheelchair basketball team and he has an upcoming dive set for the Aurora Reservoir where he’ll try to earn his SCUBA certification. He never even knew about the existence of Dragon Boat racing — one of the largest sports world-wide which involves synchronized team paddling— or the Dragon Boat Festival, but he wanted to give it a try.

Chris Wiegand of Adaptive Adventures, the Wounded Warrior team coach, said the team element of Dragon Boat is an ideal way to help people used to military service and difficulty dealing with society come together.

“We have several people who aren’t comfortable in a social setting because they lock themselves up at home and kindof seclude themselves in their safest place,” said Wiegand, who suffers from disabilities himself. “We try to pull them out slowly and show them that a little fitness and healthy lifestyle can help the social component because you build trust in this team…We’re trying to get them to understand this is your new unit if you are returning home.”

Wiegand also wants the team to be competitive, which has required him to “do everything non-traditionally,” and much differently than when he works with Olympians in canoe events.

Fitting together a group of any kind is difficult enough, but people with medical challenges or who don’t have access to transportation makes it even more difficult. In fact, the Wounded Warrior team hasn’t had a practice session with more than 15 participants, seven less than must be in the boat on race day.

Also, instead of a drum used by most Dragon Boat teams to call out rowing cadences, the Wounded Warrior Team calls out its own cadence verbally and in unison to help coordinate its strokes. Bennett has been impressed with how the team has performed in practice sessions at times considering how little practice they’ve had together and the complete newness of the sport to some of them.

“It’s really neat when we are in a groove; we’re really moving and it’s exhilarating,” Bennett said. “Our coach is really encouraging and positive and very skilled. He’s taken people that basically knew nothing or hardly anything about the sport and teach us how to paddle. We’re not like Olympians or world class athletes, we’re just a hodgepodge of everything together. We’re kindof like the Bad News Bears, but I think we’re going to surprise some people and turn some heads. When we get in a groove, I’m telling you, we move.”

Besides the therapeutic aspect of the Dragon Boat race, there’s significant motivation for the Colorado Wounded Warrior team.

If it can beat the time posted by a team from Chicago, the Colorado team can earn the chance to compete in a national meet in Minnesota. From there, the possibility exists of a trip to Hong Kong for an international meet.

Notes: Due to high volume around Sloan’s Lake Park, parking for the Dragon Boat Festival is available at Sports Authority Field at Mile High for $5 per car. A free shuttle transports visitors to and from the park from 6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. both days…the honorary chairpeople for the event are former Aurora Mayor Paul Tauer and his wife, Kate.

Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel

14TH COLORADO DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

July 19-20 at Sloan’s Lake Park, Denver

Saturday: Festival hours, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Dragon boat races, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Opening ceremony, 10 a.m.-noon; All stages, Noon-7 p.m.; Gateway to Asia Martial Arts Stage, Noon-7 p.m.; Sunday: Festival hours, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Dragon boat races, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; All stages, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Gateway to Asia Martial Arts Stage, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Lion Dance Extravaganza, 3:30- 5 p.m.

Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor and photographer with Sentinel Colorado. A Denver East High School and University of Colorado alum. He came to the Sentinel in 2001 and since then has received a number...