First Lieutenant
Jani Merritt
Archery | Powerlifting | Precision Air | Swimming | Track
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Queens, NY
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2025
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Army
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Archery | Powerlifting | Precision Air | Swimming | Track
1st Lt. Jani Merritt has dedicated more than nine years to the National Guard, first enlisting and later earning a commission. While mobilized in 2023, Merritt began noticing signs that something was wrong. After seeking medical care, she learned one of her kidneys was failing and her life was in danger. Following multiple surgeries, she continued to experience complications that resulted in severe nerve damage, including left foot drop and a progressive loss of sensation and function in other areas of her body. Merritt struggled to find positivity until arriving at the Fort Stewart Soldier Recovery Unit, where she fully immersed herself in adaptive sports. Through training and competition, adaptive sports helped her stay connected to the activities she loves while adapting to new physical limitations. She represented Team Army at the 2025 Warrior Games, competing in archery, precision air rifle, powerlifting, swimming, and wheelchair track racing. Meritt enjoys archery, bowling, golf, listening to music, and snowboarding.
Other Teammates
Carlos Rivera Agnew
Field | Pickleball | Swimming | Track | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Daniel Agosto
Archery | Field | Powerlifting | Swimming | Wheelchair Basketball
Alberto Alvarez
Field | Powerlifting | Precision Air | Track | Sitting Volleyball
Luis Avila
Archery | Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air
Eric Blake
Cycling | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air | Swimming | Track | Sitting Volleyball
DJ Bush
Field | Indoor Rowing | Pickleball | Swimming | Track | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Gene Calantoc
Archery | Cycling | Field | Pickleball | Track | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Jose Corona
Archery | Field | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air | Swimming
Aaron Frederick
Archery | Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Swimming | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Nate Gepford
Archery | Field | Indoor Rowing | Swimming | Track | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Allan Hartung
Archery | Cycling | Field | Precision Air | Swimming | Wheelchair Basketball | Sitting Volleyball
David Hong
Archery | Cycling | Field | Track | Sitting Volleyball
Jacob Malven
Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Track | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Nate Mateo
Archery | Field | Pickleball | Powerlifting | Precision Air | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Bruce McCormick
Cycling | Field | Swimming | Track | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Channda Mitchell
Field | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Ruth Morris
Cycling | Field | Precision Air | Track | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Eric Patton
Archery | Field | Pickleball | Precision Air | Swimming
Brittany Ramsey
Archery | Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Precision Air | Swimming | Track | Sitting Volleyball
Mercedes Rangel
Cycling | Field | Precision Air | Swimming | Track | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Jeyson Ruiz
Field | Indoor Rowing | Swimming | Wheelchair Rugby
Adrian Saenz
Cycling | Field | Swimming | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Chelsey Scott
Field | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Precision Air | Swimming
Elon Smith
Archery | Cycling | Field | Precision Air | Track | Sitting Volleyball
Tony Smith
Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Track | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Jon Tallman
Archery | Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Precision Air | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Rugby
Tuki Salanoa Tuioti
Field | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Precision Air | Track | Sitting Volleyball | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby
Valerie Watkins
Archery | Field | Powerlifting | Track | Sitting Volleyball
Trish Zumwalt
Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air | Swimming