Day of Rivals Names Wounded Warriors as Honorary Captains

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Smartlink Day of Rivals has named four wounded warriors as honorary captains for their April 17 showcase of college lacrosse rivalries.  This annual event pits Army against Navy and Johns Hopkins University against the University of Maryland with each team being represented by an injured service man or woman.

Army veteran Leslie Smith will captain the West Point team.  Smith gave her left leg below the knee and vision in her left eye while on active duty in Bosnia.  She has remained active in sport and politics since her injury, which she credits with making her the person she is today.

Retired Marine Corporal Ryan Lamke will represent the Navy side.  Now serving as a Warrior Outreach Coordinator for Wounded Warrior Project, assisting and mentoring fellow wounded warriors at military medical facilities across the Capital region, Lamke incurred a traumatic brain injury and orthopedic injuries following several improvised explosive device explosions. "It's an honor to be given the chance to stand with the future leaders of the Marine Corps and Navy," said Lamke.

For Maryland, retired Army Capt. Ryan Kules will serve as captain.  Kules gave his right arm and left leg in an IED explosion in 2005 which took the lives of two fellow soldiers.  Now working full-time as Wounded Warrior Project Alumni Director, he lives in Maryland with his wife and two daughters.  "It is an honor to represent WWP and the University of Maryland," said Kules.  "The support that I received from WWP during my recovery was immeasurable.  The opportunity to promote the organization with the University of Maryland's help is something that I couldn't pass up."

Also a Maryland resident, Adam Mattis will represent Johns Hopkins University.  An Army veteran, Mattis was injured in an attack on his Humvee in December 2005. Now a technology manager in Orchard Beach, Mattis hopes one day to enter politics.

Each team's honorary captain will have the honor of taking to the field at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the Army-Navy Game at 4 p.m. followed by the Maryland-Hopkins game at 6:30 p.m. The wounded warriors will also be featured in the day's program and be specially outfitted by Under Armour in their honorary captain's uniforms.  Under Armour will also feature its summer line of exclusive Wounded Warrior Project gear at the game.  Fifty tickets have been set aside for other wounded warriors. Some still in treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC are expected to attend.

How to Purchase Tickets for the Smartlink Day of Rivals

Lacrosse fans interested in ticket information for the Smartlink Day of Rivals can call the Baltimore Ravens box office at 410-261-RAVE.  Fans can also visit DayofRivals.com to get the latest news on the event and download a ticket order form.

Tickets prices for the event are $30 for Club Level seats, $20 for Lower Level reserved seats, $15 for groups of 10 or more and $10 for groups of 100 or more.  All seats for the event are reserved.  Fans are urged to make their plans early to buy the best seats in the house.

About Wounded Warrior Project

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors.  Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service members, to help severely injured men and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, apolitical organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project