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TSgt. Michael Bergquist, a 36-year-old member of the Washington Air National Guard’s 242nd Combat Communications Squadron at Geiger Field in Spokane, has been named the Air Force Male Athlete of the Year for 2008. Bergquist is a multi-sport endurance athlete who competes in swimming, biking, and running races, or events that combine any of the three. In 2008, he took part in 19 events, including seven triathlons, winning each triathlon, which he considers his primary sport. He has been selected in each of the last six years to compete as a triathlete on the All Air Force Triathlon Team at the Armed Forces Triathlon Championships. On four occasions he’s qualified for the team that represents the US at the Military World Championships. Bergquist considers his love of sport a good recruiting tool. “It’s important to be active in the community and to demonstrate that military members are fit to fight,” he said. (Fairchild report by Sandy Smock)