they probably would have beat me , because I would have been nervous . But I got to mix it up with them before I realized I was not bad .”
Stith said the games are an opportunity for the firefighters to represent the Jeffersonville community .
“ The main thing is to show people who we are — if we win , we win gracefully , and if we lose , we lose with dignity ,” he said . “ You make friends along the way and get the word out about our city .”
At the 2017 games in Los Angeles , Stith received silver in Greco- Roman wrestling and submission grappling and bronze in freestyle wrestling .
A bracket for the Los Angeles competition showed his name and the city of Jeffersonville listed with international competitors from Sweden , Peru , Iran and Germany , he said .
“ It thought it was really cool ,” Stith said . “ You just really soak up and live in the moment and enjoy it and meet people you will never have a chance to meet again .”
The 2021 event was postponed due to the pandemic , but the next World Police and Fire Games is scheduled to take place next year in Rotterdam in the Netherlands . Stith said Jeff Fire intends to send at least two to three firefighters to the 2022 event .
City firefighter Cameron Wolfe won gold in the 2017 World Police and Fire Games in L . A . in bench pressing and push-pull events .
He also received a gold medal for bench pressing in the 2015 competition in Fairfax , Va .
“ It ’ s just an incredible experience — just getting to compete at that level in our profession ,” he said . “ It ’ s basically like the Olympics for first responders . Seeing that many athletes from all over the world , not just the United States — it was a pretty impressive thing to be a part of .”
Jeffersonville firefighter Jason Wiesenauer has taken part in several competitions . He trained for the triathlon for the New York City games in 2011 , but the event was canceled due to weather . Although Wiesenauer didn ’ t get to compete , he showed up to support Stith .
Wiesenauer did win gold in a triathlon at the Canadian-American games in 2013 , and he competed in a mountain biking event at the Fairfax games in 2015 , which was the last tournament he attended .
“ I did not do so great [ in Fairfax ] but I had a blast ,” he said . “ I was much older and a little more out of shape than when I first started competed , but it was a lot of fun .”
Competing in the games allows Jeffersonville firefighters to set an example , Wiesenauer said . They are focused on doing their best and putting “ Jeffersonville on the map , whether we win or not .”
“ I know on a personal level for both Josh and I , mostly what we wanted was to lead the department in physical fitness , and it is really about taking what we love and trying to be an example — not just in Jeffersonville , but representing Jeffersonville well on the world stage .”
FAR LEFT : JOSH STITH COMPETES IN A WRESTLING MATCH AT THE 2015 WORLD POLICE AND FIRE GAMES IN FAIRFAX , VIRGINIA .
LEFT : FIREFIGHTERS JASON WIESENAUER , JOSH STITH AND NICK STONE EARNED MEDALS AT THE 2015 CANADIAN- AMERICAN POLICE AND FIRE GAMES IN PENNSYLVANIA .
Jeffersonville Fire Department / 150 years 49