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Warrior Games
Captain

Luis Avila

Archery | Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air Sports
  • Hometown

    Metairie, LA
  • Previous WG

    Warrior Games 2022 and 2024, Warrior Games Challege 2023
  • Branch

    Army
  • Sport

    Archery | Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air Sports

Cpt. Luis Avila enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2000, later earning his commission in 2004. With degrees in Accounting, Computer Science, and Business and Organizational Security Management, he pursued a
distinguished career in the military police, serving in various leadership roles and completing multiple combat tours including Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom, his fifth deployment, where he faced catastrophic injuries from an IED explosion that left him completely paralyzed. Despite sustaining significant physical and cognitive trauma, he defied
the odds, emerging from a coma and gradually regaining speech and motor functions through resilient determination and multidisciplinary
rehabilitation, notably incorporating music therapy.
Discovering a passion for singing and harmonica playing during recovery, he utilized these talents to inspire others and aid in his own
healing journey. Remaining an active advocate for fellow service members, Cpt. Avila excelled in adaptive sports, achieving first place
in the Amputee Warrior Men category of the Army Ten-Miler and earning a spot on Team Army for the Warrior Games, where he secured multiple medals.
He had the honor to be a member of Team US competing at the 2025 first ever Winter Invictus Games in Canada. His unwavering dedication to service has garnered prestigious honors such as the
Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and The Order of the Marechaussee in Silver.

Quote:
“I remain an active advocate for fellow service member. I defied the odds, emerging from a coma and gradually regaining speech and motor functions through resilient determination and multidisciplinary rehabilitation, notably incorporating music therapy.”

– Cpt. Luis Avila

Other Teammates

Alberto Alvarez

Field | Powerlifting | Precision Air Sports | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Track

John Michael Britton

Archery | Cycling | Field | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby

Earlie Brown

Field | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air Sports | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby

Jimmy Candelario

Archery | Field | Precision Air Sports | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby

Allaijah Churchwell

Archery | Field | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby

Jeremy Ditlevson

Field | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air Sports | Swimming

Henry Escobedo

Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Swimming | Track

Anthony Farve

Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby

Amanda Feindt

Cycling | Field | Precision Air Sports | Swimming | Track

Samantha Frey

Archery | Field | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air Sports | Swimming | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby

Bianca Hayden

Archery | Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Precision Air Sports | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Track

Tam Hoang

Archery | Cycling | Field | Precision Air Sports | Sitting Volleyball | Track

David Hong

Archery | Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Track

JP Lane

Archery | Field | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Sitting Volleyball | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby

Kyra Maggio

Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Swimming | Track

Nathaniel Mateo

Archery | Field | Powerlifting | Precision Air Sports | Track

Colby Maury-Rice

Archery | Field | Indoor Rowing | Precision Air Sports

Jani Merritt

Archery | Powerlifting | Precision Air Sports | Swimming | Track

Channda Mitchell

Archery | Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Precision Air Sports | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Rugby

Christopher Morago

Cycling | Field | Powerlifting | Swimming | Track

Alexis Pantoja

Field | Indoor Rowing | Swimming | Track

Jeffery Peters

Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Swimming | Track

Tyler Pollard

Archery | Field | Precision Air Sports | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby

Adam Proctor

Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby

Jodi Pyle-Vandersys

Archery | Cycling | Field | Precision Air Sports

Mercedes Rangel

Cycling | Field | Indoor Rowing | Track

Carlos Rivera

Field | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby

Sherri Sanders

Archery | Cycling | Field | Precision Air Sports | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming

Avery Short

Field | Indoor Rowing | Swimming | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby

Jason Smith

Field | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby

Amy Sparks

Field | Indoor Rowing | Powerlifting | Sitting Volleyball | Swimming | Track

Derrick Thompson

Archery | Field | Precision Air Sports | Sitting Volleyball | Track | Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby

Joann Tsuhako

Archery | Cycling | Field | Precision Air Sports | Swimming

Coty Tuck

Archery | Field | Precision Air Sports | Sitting Volleyball | Track | Wheelchair Rugby

Valerie Watkins

Archery | Field | Powerlifting | Precision Air Sports | Sitting Volleyball | Track