Team Ultra Share Toa Games 2022 Experience
Team Ultra from American Samoa took out 3rd place in the RX category of the 2022 Toa Games.
Photo: Fatutoa
The Captain of the only team from American Samoa to place in the Top 3 at the Toa Games this year, Mr. Lorenz Ripley of Team Ultra FunkFit American Samoa, stated during an interview with Eyespy Radio that he and his team are very grateful for the experience and lessons they've gained from the event.
The Captain of Team Ultra FunkFit American Samoa said that he was quite pleased with the result they got. "We worked hard and had a blast! The podium placing was a bonus,"
"We had our personal goals in mind. For instance our strongest guy Naima Lang was gunning for his heaviest squat.
He loves to lift heavy and he did it, and also recorded a Personal Best. Florence Wasko told us she’d like to target 6mins for our 1200m team run, we got it in under 5 minutes.Overall we came out proud, and very grateful to be a part of such an amazing event."
Mr. Ripley further said that it was a morale booster entering someone else's turf and going head to head with them. "I didn't realize it at first but it really does raise your game when competition is involved. During our time there at the Toa Games we learnt that teamwork is crucial to success.
Everyone needs to work together and be on the same page so the game plan works out," he said.He also added that they tried to make every rep count. "Trying to minimize mistakes or no-reps was both physically and mentally tough.
Then pushing through the pain to finish the wod was something else, but felt super satisfying when completed."When he was asked if there were any challenges his team encountered during the two days of competition, Ripley answered that the hardest part was being away from home.
"Our time there was almost like a vacation, but your not on a vacation, you're there to go all out against the other teams. Like you know the feeling on a Friday lunch break, just sitting back wanting to get drunk, yeah… well we couldn't do that. Because we had to throw sandbags over our shoulders.
"Ripley also mentioned that he hopes to participate in next year's Toa Games, saying,
"From what Brandon Sefo (Toa Games organizer) is saying, 2023 is looking to be an even bigger event. More teams internationally and locally, it wouldn't be very “ULTRA” if we did not compete. We hope to bring more teams from American Samoa and can’t wait for 2023 TOA games," he said.