In 1990, the lightning replaced Bill Christie with Tim Bell, and I moved on to another plant, The Atlantic Plant, and formed a team called Team Atlantic. The team consisted of Donnie Cagle, Tony Starks, Larry Mellor, and Todd McGovern. HRSD had a district competition that year again to determine who would go to the first ever actual state competition. Team Atlantic and Ches-Eliz came in first and second respectively. Wesley Warren was on a second Ches-Eliz team that year and was eliminated. Because of our friendship and working relationship, we asked Wesley to be a coach/ consultant for Team Atlantic. Team Atlantic, winning 4 out of 5 events, went on to win the State competition that year and along with Ches- Eliz lightning, went to Washington, D.C. to represent Virginia. The safety event coordinator that year, Jones chemical, chlorine cylinder suppliers, nicknamed Team Atlantic "the pink and black attack" and the name stuck through the years and roster changes. Ches-Eliz went on to win the pump, safety, and overall, and Team Atlantic won the lab event and 5th place overall.

            In 1991, since Ches-Eliz were the returning champs, the opportunity for an additional team to go to the nationals became available. That year Team Atlantic again won the district competition as well as a second Ches-Eliz team, thunder (get it thunder and lightning) went to the state. This team consisted of Mike Harris, Paul Cubilla, Dudley Wilson, and Bill Christie. Before the competition it was understood that HRSD would not send three teams to the national, so if HRSD finished first and second, the third place team would go instead of the second. Team Atlantic came in first again and thunder came in second, so the third place team, Alexandria Sanitation Authorities' Rookies went to Toronto. Team Atlantic consisted of Carolyn Cagle (coach)(the best looking coach of all time in my opinion), Donnie Cagle, Wesley Warren, Tony Starks, and Larry Mellor. Ches- Eliz went on to win the pump, safety, and overall, and Team Atlantic won collection, and 2nd overall.

            In 1992, the lightning retired and their title was put up in a district tournament to see who would win the right to defend the title in New Orleans. The newly formed Team HRSD, the pink and black attack with Mike Frazier (coach), Donnie Cagle, Wesley Warren, Tony Starks, and Bill Foy won the right to defend the title. A new team was formed from thunder team members Mike Harris, and Paul Cubilla, along with lightning team members Rich Roberts and George Gregory (coach), and newcomer Jeff Ueltschy and were called the Tornadoes. (notice all Ches-Eliz teams were named after natural disasters)(I couldn't resist) That year since pink and black returned automatically the ASA Untouchables (formerly the Rookies) won the state and the tornadoes came in second. Miraculously after about 30 hours of recuperation, the toxic remains of Pat O'Briens hurricanes had retreated enough that we, the pink and black attack, were able to win the national title. The untouchables came in 5th and won the collection event, and the tornadoes came in 12th.
 

            In 1993 our new team member Bill Foy, thought that since the first year he was on the team we won, we couldn't be beat. The other three team members new better (reference 1990 state and national results if you didn't catch it the first time). Again the three teams that went to Anaheim were the same. Tony Starks was getting tired of competing, working his job, and trying to play in a band, simultaneously. All things combined did not prove a winning combination in Anaheim. We went on to win the pump, safety, and fourth overall, the Untouchables won lab and 5th overall, and the tornadoes came in 6th.

            In 1994, three members of the pink and black attack, Mike Frazier (coach), Tony Starks, and Bill Foy hung up their hard-hats. Two members of the tornadoes, Rich Roberts, and Jeff Ueltschy did likewise. That left four team members and a coach, We had a few hurdles to overcome from the start, Mike, Paul, and George said they would not wear pink, and Wesley and I said that we would not be named after a natural disaster. Both parties agreed, and thus the formation of the current Team HRSD. For the first time in 5 years HRSD found itself with only one challenge team. The James River plant had some employees that were interested in competing ands George agreed to coach them and let them practice with us (The Hurricanes). That year we finished 1st in the pump, safety, collection, lab, and second overall. Two things happened after that, they announced first place and then I heard the rear doors of the ballroom open and the engines of the jet flying to Los Angeles starting. Oh yeh, The hurricanes won Division 2.

            In 1995, at the state competition Team HRSD came in 1st in Division 1 winning all 5 events, and the Hurricanes came in 2nd. Hopewell Haley's Comets won Division 2. At nationals, the hurricanes did not do as well in 1995 after stepping up to Division 1, and we won the pump, safety, and second overall. (After LAWC's Uncle Fred handed in the pump scores, whoops, I forgot, they don't like to discuss that! Sorry Clancy, Bill, Gus, and Steve!) Hopewell won the safety event and placed fifth overall so they had to move up to Division 1 the following year. The hurricanes lived up to their name, blew out to sea, and faded away.

            In 1996, the state competition was held in Williamsburg and this year the Hopewell team had to step up to Division 1. The eventual winners were HRSD in Division 1 and the Hopewell Avis Fecalis in Division 2. After consecutive years of being the perennial bridesmaid, we finally won the national championship.(We also won the pump, safety, and process control events.) Hopewell Avis Fecalis came in 10th.

            In 1997, the state competition was held in Roanoke, and Virginia could once again send three teams since Team HRSD (America's team)(ha!ha!) was the defending national champs. Instead of having two divisions that year they just pooled all teams together and the top two teams would go to Chicago. The Hopewell Wild Cards and the ASA D-Train were the eventual winners. Team HRSD was pulling hard for the Connoissewers that year so that @#$% team from California wouldn't win again. We took first in the pump and third overall that year.

            In 1998, the state competition was held in Norfolk. Once again the Hopewell team had to move up to Division 1. Team HRSD won 4 out of 5 events in Division 1, and ASA D-Train won Division 2 again. And whodathunk that when the smoke cleared on October 6,1998 at approximately 7:30 PM that we would be the 1998 champs. If you heard our reaction when they announced we won, definitely not us (reference 1994 national championship section of this story if you wonder why we do not get prematurely excited about overall standings.) What a crazy day!!!!! When third and second were called I thought "Oh great!!! We came in fourth and those @#$% guys from California won again!" I sure wish we had won in prettier fashion, but hey, a win is a win. It was good to see so many different teams win though, especially when one of my two favorite teams win (Team HRSD and anybody other than the LAWC!).
 

            If anyone other than the Wrecking Crew reads this, and thinks that we hate them, think again. This message is being sent to Bill Shuck to be put on a web page that he created for us. We are both members of a mutual admiration society for each other. They are a great bunch of guys. (to John Dyer, I miss seeing you at the competitions and hope you and yours are doing well).
 
 

Team Bio's Mike Harris  
Favorite food                       Steak
Favorite desert                     Steak
Favorite soft drink                Pepsi x24
Favorite bed time snack        Steak and Pepsi
Favorite pasttime                 Billiards
Favorite saying                    "piece of cake"
Favorite event                     The billiard competition w/ the AYCE steak and Pepsi bar (not an event yet, but we all have dreams)

        Mike Harris    is a Sewage Treatment Plant Operator at the Chesapeake Elizabeth Treatment Plant and has worked for HRSD for about 9 years. He is an intelligent fireplug sort of guy that is a great asset to our challenge team, plant, and company.

        Paul Cubilla    is also a Sewage Treatment Plant Operator at the Chesapeake Elizabeth Treatment Plant and has been with HRSD @15 years. He has also worked in the Industrial Waste division for @ 2 years. Paul is almost always the life of the party due to his animated personality. He is also a siding and window contractor in his spare time.

        George Gregory     retired in 1996 from HRSD at the Chesapeake Elizabeth Plant as Plant Superintendent with 40+ years of service. He eats, drinks, and sleeps Operations Challenge. For about a month prior to competitions lays in bed wide awake and thinks about ways to improve our times and routines.

        Wesley Warren     is a Sewage Treatment Lead Operator at the Nansemond Treatment Plant in Suffolk, Va. He has been with HRSD @ 16 years. Wesley and I have a part time business together called Bio-Logical Treatment Technologies and we do contract operation for wastewater treatment plant. We currently have three that we are operating. When we are not practicing, he spends his time surfing the net trying to collect Hard Rock Cafe guitar pins. (He is ANAL when it comes to HRC paraphernalia.)

        Donnie Cagle    I am a Solids Handling Chief Operator at the Chesapeake Elizabeth Treatment Plant. I have worked for HRSD for 14 years and have competed in Operations Challenge national competitions since 1990 in Washington, DC. Other than working full time for HRSD, part time with Bio-logical Treatment Technologies, I also build race car chassis, do custom painting, etc. in my garage. Although my new favorite thing is playing with my daughter, Emerson Marie. Most difficult thing about challenge- trying to come up with new hardhat designs each year. Favorite thing about nationals- seeing people that I haven't had the opportunity to see or talk to since the last year's competition. Spending time with those hosers from the great white north.(Al, Bruno, Paul, and Tony from CehNehDeh)(The Highlanders)