FEBRUARY 7, 2017, ROTA, Spain (NNS) – Each year, one command aboard Naval Station Rota is presented the traveling Captain’s Cup trophy and is able to retain it at their command building for an entire year until the following year’s winner is announced.
Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 60 obviously enjoys displaying it in their building, because they’ll be holding on to it for a second straight year.
Capt. Mike MacNicholl, NAVSTA Rota commanding officer, presented the trophy to Cmdr. Andrew Bates, DESRON 60 officer in charge, and Chief Yeoman Marion Tart, DESRON 60 administrative officer, who accepted the hardware for the command during an awards ceremony Jan. 31.
“Each and every member of Destroyer Squadron 60 has a piece of this trophy,” said Bates. “This staff works extremely hard to keep the four Rota destroyers ‘in the fight,’ and I think this Captain’s Cup victory exemplifies the esprit de corps that keeps us going.”
The goal of the Captain’s Cup program is to enhance service members’ resiliency through sports, build teamwork within the installation, promote physical fitness, and to assist in developing and maintaining a high level of mental and physical readiness. To earn the Captain’s Cup trophy, commands compete in small tournaments in various sporting events throughout the year to accumulate points. The different events included basketball, flag football, soccer, tennis, and more.
DESRON 60 achieved these goals above and beyond the competitors. They won a total of seven individual event trophies and accumulated a total of 383 points to be crowned the 2016 Captain’s Cup Champions. They outscored the runner-up, U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, by 70 points and the third place finisher, 725th Air Mobility Squadron, by 147 points.
“DESRON 60 has set the standard in the Captain’s Cup program,” said Cmdr. Neil Hoffman, NAVSTA Rota executive officer. “They epitomize esprit de corps and lead by example in both fitness and teamwork. They are always in the fight!”
This is the second consecutive year DESRON 60 has won the Captain’s Cup. By regulation, if a command wins the trophy three years in a row, they’re able to claim ownership of it and enshrine it permanently in their headquarters building.
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Dietrick, Naval Station Rota Public Affairs