Adrina Castro Nets 2020 SPORTS 'N SPOKES Junior Athlete of the Year

The Magazine for Wheelchair Sports and Recreation Vol. 46 No. 5

September 2020

LEVEL UP Quad Gods conquer adaptive esports OUTDOOR ESCAPE Discover accessible camping & hiking

Going For It Adrina Castro nets 2020 SPORTS ’N SPOKES Junior Athlete of the Year

Inside SPORTS ’N SPOKES Features

20 Finding Peace Adaptive camping and hiking offer wheelchair users the chance to push boundaries, find quiet and explore nature. And there are a handful of ways to try them. by Shelly Anderson 26 Beast Mode Although she’s just 12 years old, Adrina Castro is blazing a trail in Arizona with wheelchair basketball skills, character and work ethic, leading her to be named the 2020 SPORTS ’N SPOKES Junior Athlete of the Year. by Christopher Di Virgilio 30 Quad Gods Esports have taken off across the country, and people with spinal-cord injuries are joining in on the video game fun, too. by Jonathan Gold 36 Online Sports Family With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continuing to cancel sports events, adaptive sports organizations have found unique internet ways to keep athletes involved in sports and exercise. 26 by John Groth

on sportsnspokes.com Scan This! Digital Highlights Or go to ADAPTIVE WATERSPORTS VIRTUAL WHEELCHAIR MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS sportsnspokes.com SPORTS ‘N SPOKES will be at Arizona Adaptive The Virtual Wheelchair Motocross (WCMX) Watersports’ Day On The Lake Sept. 19, fea- and Adaptive Skate World Championships turing adaptive watersports at Bartlett Lake in take place on Oct. 3–4. Visit the website to Maricopa County, Ariz. Come say hello, or visit find out who won and watch videos from the Facebook for photos and video. online event.

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 3 Inside SPORTS ’N SPOKES

6 MY OPINION Telling A Great Story by Tom Fjerstad

13 THE EXTRA POINT Wheelchair Softball Returns by Brittany Martin

16 OUTDOORS Hatching Birdability by Brittany Martin 20 18 INNOVATIONS Granting Protective Masks by John Groth

42 PEOPLE Reaching The Summit by Jennifer Best

Also in This Issue

8 In The Game

45 Sports Associations

46 On The Sidelines

50 Classifieds

50 ProShop 30 51 Final Frame

On the cover: Adrina Castro, with SPORTS ’N SPOKES (ISSN 0161-6706). Published bi- ball, competes in the 2019 West Coast month ly in January, March, May, July, September, and Conference Bid Regional Wheelchair November, by the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Inc., at 2111 East Highland Avenue, Suite 180, Phoenix, AZ Basketball Tournament in Mesa, Ariz. 85016-4702, U.S.A. (602) 224-0500. Periodicals postage She was named the 2020 SPORTS ’N paid at Phoenix, AZ, and at additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to SPORTS ’N SPOKES Junior Athlete of the Year. SPOKES, 2111 East Highland Avenue, Suite 180, Phoenix, Photo by Christopher Di Virgilio. AZ 85016-4702, U.S.A. Subscription rates: $21 annually. Foreign orders: $27 (U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank).

44 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020

TOM FJERSTAD My Opinion

Telling A Great Story happened. I immediately dug out that list of heelchair basketball has veterans to see if he was on it. Not only was he Wuniversally been accepted on the list, he was also a PVA charter member. as the first organized wheelchair Three weeks later, I was on a flight, along sport and its creation credited to with editorial coordinator John Groth, to meet paralyzed World War II veterans. this amazing man at his home in south Texas. A new book by author David Jerry didn’t disappoint, and to say he was “a Davis sheds light on the underlying and power- character” would be an understatement. ful reasons that spawned the creation of wheel- A picture of Jerry was placed on the cover of the chair sports. Told through the eyes of wheelchair May 2017 issue of PN magazine, and his story was sports pioneers, Wheels of Courage gives you a covered in the feature article Hanging In There. Published by Paralyzed Veterans of America 2111 E. Highland Ave, Suite 180 heightened appreciation for the sacrifices of our I’ll never forget the time I spent Phoenix AZ 85016 • (602) 224-0500 World War II veterans. with Jerry, and now two years after his The book specifically brings passing, I was thrilled to learn even EDITOR awareness to paralyzed veterans more about him in Wheels of Courage. Tom Fjerstad, ext. 100 and their fight to change the ste- Another veteran in Davis’ new [email protected] reotypical perception of people book was someone I had person-

OPERATIONS MANAGER who used wheelchairs for mobil- ally considered a friend. Carlos Ro- ity. It also gives you a deeper un- driguez, who died in 2012, was a Sherri Shea, ext. 102 derstanding of why the develop- PVA past national president. I met [email protected] ment of sports for people with Carlos in 1990 at a PVA conven- ASSISTANT EDITOR disabilities was more about reha- tion, but until now, I had no idea he bilitation than recreation. had played wheelchair basketball. Andy Nemann, ext. 112 [email protected] In early 2016, I was doing my After being injured in the Korean DAVIS own research here at PVA Publica- COURTESY OF DAVID War, Carlos returned to New York, EDITORIAL COORDINATORS tions to identify World War II-era where he played wheelchair bas- John Groth, ext. 105 Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) members. I ketball with the Brooklyn Whirlaways, one of [email protected] wanted to capture the stories of the people who the sport’s oldest civilian teams. Brittany Martin, ext. 110 were active during the early years of the organiza- Whether you know a great deal or very lit- [email protected] tion — before it was too late. tle about wheelchair sports, you’ll come away I had a fairly sizable list, one that unfortu- from this book with a much greater under- ART & PRODUCTION nately has become much smaller since then. On standing of their creation and why they were Ann Garvey, ext. 103 that list was Gerald “Jerry” Fesenmeyer. At the so incredibly important. [email protected] time, he was honestly just another name on the The seemingly absurd concept in the 1940s Kerry Randolph, ext. 104 list, a person I had yet to contact. Later that year, of playing any kind of a sport from a wheel- [email protected] I received an email suggesting a story idea. chair and how that idea transformed from an The email was from Davis and contained a exhibition game into a worldwide sanctioned ADVERTISING link to an article in Los Angeles Magazine titled competition is chronicled in a truly engaging Steve Max, 215-284-8787 How SoCal Doctors Used Basketball to Rehabili- and enjoyable read. [email protected] tate Paralyzed Vets. Congratulations, David, on a book that tells SUBSCRIPTIONS The article was about the amazing journey of the story of so much more than the creation of injured World War II veterans, one of whom was wheelchair sports. Suzi Hubbard, ext. 109 Jerry. His story seemed more like a Hollywood S’NS [email protected] movie than anything that could have really WEB CONTENT

Christopher Di Virgilio, ext. 106 Now in its 45th year of publication, SPORTS ’N SPOKES is the nation’s premier magazine for wheelchair sports and recreation primarily for those [email protected] with spinal-cord injury, spina bifida, amputation and some congenital defects. Not respon sible for unsolicited material. SPORTS ’N SPOKES neither endorses nor guarantees any of the products or services advertised. © 2020 Paralyzed Veterans of America. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without permission is prohibited.

66 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 Changes on the Horizon

Beginning with the January 2021 issue, SPORTS ’N SPOKES is moving to a digital-only platform and ceasing the production of the printed magazine. SPORTS ’N SPOKES isn’t going away – we’re just adapting to the times. All print subscriptions will be converted to digital. We will deliver the same great sports and recreation content, directly to your desktop or mobile device, along with many additional benefits that are just not possible with a print publication.

• Lower subscription rate

• Faster delivery

• Ability to change the size of type

• Ability to download an issue

• Navigate the pages with a click of the mouse or swipe of your finger

• Searchable issues

• Library of past issues included SNS Digital

• Easy to access additional information with live links to websites and emails

• Extra coverage using embedded video and audio

• Environmentally friendly

An email address is required to receive the digital issue. Email your name, mailing address and current email address to [email protected] no later than Dec. 1 in order to receive the January 2021 issue. NEWS FOR THE WHEELCHAIR SPORTS COMPETITOR In The Game

ATHLETICS Cup fitness competition, disc golf, adaptive esports, a 30-day cycling challenge and the Tokyo Paralympics Schedule NVWG At Home Team Challenge. he Tokyo Paralympic Games schedule AIR RIFLE Thas been announced. The Tokyo 2020 SH1 Division Organizing Committee announced the new Gold: Steve Holbert (Kingwood, Texas; schedule in early August. The Games, which Marine Corps) — 388 points were postponed from 2020 because of the Silver: Frank Daebelliehn (Brookshire, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, run Texas; Army) — 366 points Aug. 24–Sept. 5, 2021, and will feature 539 Bronze: Ken Ness (Elm Grove, Wis.; events in 22 sports at 21 venues in Japan. Air Force) — 363 points Sports include: archery; athletics; badminton; boccia; sprint canoe; road cycling; SH2 Division G

O .

C track cycling; equestrian; football five-a- Gold: Dave Wylie (Murrieta, Calif.; Navy) I

P M

Y side; goalball; judo; powerlifting; rowing;

L — 395 points

A P shooting; sitting volleyball; swimming; Silver: Ventura Catala (Laurel, Md.; Army) table tennis; taekwondo; triathlon; — 389 points wheelchair basketball; wheelchair fenc- Bronze: Jim Castaneda (San Antonio; ing; wheelchair rugby; and wheelchair Navy) — 387 points tennis. Badminton and taekwondo are making their Paralympic debuts. CASCADE CUP FITNESS COMPETITION The first medals will be awarded Aug. Men’s Division II/III 25 in the C1-C3 women’s 3,000-meter Gold: Kenneth Hernandez (Westbury, track cycling event at the Izu Velodrome in N.Y.; Air Force) Shizuoka, and there will be medalists in 24 Silver: Joshua Maley (Medina, Ohio; events that day, including 16 in swimming, Air Force) four in wheelchair fencing and four in track Bronze: Gregory Asher (Lake Elsinore, cycling events. Calif.; Army) The biggest medal day comes on Aug. 29, when 63 medal events will be held, including Men’s Division IV/V 20 athletics, 13 swimming, five judo, four tri- Gold: Chris Thomas (Raleigh, N.C.; athlon and four rowing finals, along with the Marine Corps) wheelchair rugby championship match. Silver: Lloyd Thomas (New Orleans; The full schedule is available at Army) tokyo2020.org/en/paralympics/schedule. Bronze (tie): Lee Sexton (Coeburn, Va.; Army) and Robert Martin (Great Britain; NVWG At Home Awards Allied Forces) his year’s National Veterans Wheelchair Men’s Division IC TGames (NVWG) At Home medalists Gold: Michael Guilbault (Attleboro, Mass.; have been honored. Air Force) Individual winners, along with the NVWG Men’s Division IB At Home Team Challenge group, earned Gold: Steven Lewis (Wesley Chapel, Fla.; honors during the July 12–17 NVWG At Army) Home, cosponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of Women’s Division II/III America. Wheelchair athletes competed in Gold: Holly Koester (Walton Hills, six events, including air rifle, the Cascade Ohio; Army)

88 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 WHEELCHAIRGAMES.ORG/ATHLETES/NVWGATHOME

Division IV/V Silver: Laura Jeanne (Decatur, Gold: Chris Thomas (Raleigh, Texas; Army) N.C.; Marine Corps) Women’s Division IV/V Silver: Carolyn Andrews (Henrico, Gold: Sandy “Ipo” Valdez Va.; Army) (Honolulu; Army) Bronze: Candice Caesar (Fresno, Silver: LeToi Adams (Whitewater, Texas; Army) Wis.; Army) Bronze: Candice Caesar (Fresno, Division IB/IC Texas; Army) Gold: Aletha McBryde (Cincinnati; Army) DISC GOLF 30-DAY CYCLING CHALLENGE ADAPTIVE ESPORTS Division II/III Division II/III Gold: Scott Law (Mentor, Ohio; Gold: John Papai (Florissant, Gold: Toai Nolan (Snohomish, Air Force) Colo.; Marine Corps) Wash.; Army) — 1,694.4 miles Silver: Kenneth Hernandez Silver: Jessie Oliff (Manquin, Va.; Silver: Justin Ashbaugh (Ramona, (Westbury, N.Y.; Air Force) Army) Calif; Marine Corps) — 638 miles Bronze: Joshua Maley (Medina, Bronze: Keith Cooper (Alexandria, Bronze: Holly Koester (Walton Ohio; Air Force) Va.; Army) Hills, Ohio; Army) — 425 miles

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 9 In The Game

Division IV/V and Ruslan Reiter (Manchester, Championships in Prince George, Gold: Ken Ness (Elm Grove, Wis.; Maine) were named to the C team. British Columbia. Air Force) — 733.34 miles A four-time Paralympian, Masters Masters, who was born in Silver: Chris Thomas (Raleigh, won two golds, taking the 1.1-kilo- Ukraine, had both her legs dam- N.C.; Marine Corps) — 609.24 miles meter and 5-kilometer cross-coun- aged by in-utero radiation poison- Bronze: Jackie Jones (Winston- try races, and also earned two sil- ing from the Chernobyl nuclear Salem, N.C.; Navy) — 559.39 miles vers (6-kilometer biathlon and reactor incident. Division IB/IC 12.5-kilometer biathlon) and a Born with spina bifida, Gretsch Gold: Gary Scott (Oregon, Wis.; bronze (12-kilometer cross-country) won two golds at the 2018 Para- Air Force) — 226.4 miles at the 2018 Paralympics. lympics (6-kilometer biathlon and Silver: Michael Guilbault She also won five world titles 12-kilometer cross-country), and (Attleboro, Mass.; Air Force) — (middle-distance biathlon, mid- she also earned a gold in the Nor- 167.04 miles dle-distance cross-country, cross- dic skiing individual biathlon, four Bronze: Todd Kemery (Lakeville, country sprint, biathlon sprint and silvers (middle-distance biathlon, Minn.) — 11 miles long-distance cross-country) at middle-distance cross-country, bi- the 2019 World Para Nordic Skiing athlon sprint and long-distance Division 1A Gold: Mark Rosensteel (Apollo, ©GETTY

Pa.; Air Force) — 3.35 miles IMAGES/BUDA

NVWG TEAM CHALLENGE

Gold: Miami Adaptive Sports MENDES Team — 193 points Silver: Midwest Cheeseheads — 141 points Bronze: Team Buckeye — 103.8 points

SKIING U.S. Paralympic Nordic Team ive athletes, including three FParalympic gold medalists, were named to the 2020–21 U.S. Paralympic Nordic Skiing national team, while another two were named to the developmental team, in July. All seven represented Team USA at the 2018 PyeongChang Para- lympic Games in South Korea. Paralympic gold medalists Ok- sana Masters (Louisville, Ky.), Ken- dall Gretsch (Downers Grove, Ill.) Oksana Masters competes in the women’s cross-country and Dan Cnossen (Topeka, Kan.) 1.1-kilometer sit-skiing event at the were selected to the A team, while 2018 PyeongChang Paralympic Aaron Pike (Park Rapids, Minn.) Games in South Korea.

1010 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 REIS MARK

RACING Chicago Marathon Canceled

iting health concerns for all in- Cvolved because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, organizers have canceled the 2020 Bank of America Chicago Mara- thon, which was set to run Oct. 11. The decision was made July 13 to cancel this year’s race and all race weekend activities. Each registered participant will have the option to receive a refund for his or her 2020 race entry or to defer his or her place and entry fee to a future edition of the marathon in 2021, 2022 or 2023. Registered participants will be contacted via email with additional information and will have the opportunity to select one of those options.

NYC Marathon Canceled here will be no 2020 TCS New TYork City Marathon. The New Navy veteran and two-time Paralympian Dan Cnossen was York Road Runners, in partner- named to the 2020–21 ship with the Mayor’s Office of U.S. Paralympic Nordic Skiing the City of New York, canceled national team in July. silvers (cross-country sprint and the world’s largest marathon in middle-distance cross-country). June because of novel corona- cross-country) and a bronze (cross- A Navy SEAL team veteran, Cnos- virus (COVID-19) pandemic con- country sprint) at the 2019 World sen lost both his legs just above cerns. It was scheduled to take Para Nordic Skiing Championships. the knee in September 2009 after place Nov. 19 in New York City. A two-time Paralympian and stepping on an improvised explo- Registered athletes for the six-time Paralympic medalist, sive device in Afghanistan. 2020 TCS New York City Mara- Cnossen won one gold (7.5-ki- Pike is a four-time Paralympian thon should have already been lometer biathlon), four silvers and sustained a T11 spinal-cord contacted directly and have (12.5-kilometer biathlon, 15-kilo- injury from a hunting accident the option to receive a full re- meter cross-country, 15-kilometer at age 13, while Reiter competed fund of their entry fee or a guar- biathlon and 7.5-kilometer cross- in his first Paralympics in winter anteed complimentary entry in country) and one bronze (cross- 2018 and was born with an un- 2021, 2022 or 2023. Runners who country sprint) at the 2018 Para- derdeveloped right arm. gained entry through a charity or lympic Games. Additionally, at Joy Rondeau (Granby, Colo.) and tour operator should reach out to the 2019 World Para Nordic Skiing Grace Miller (Palmer, Alaska) were that organization for the options Championships, he earned two picked for the developmental team. available to them.

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 11 In The Game

Participants can take part in the and Jordan’s Tharwh Alhajaj In the virtual Team Captain third annual TCS New York City (105.07), a 2016 Rio de Janeiro Challenge, Team Yellow cap- Marathon – Virtual 26.2M from Paralympic Games medalist. Mu- tured the title. Oct. 17–Nov. 1. ratova has now won twice and Four team captains selected This year’s marathon would finished second once in the 2020 two female and two male ath- have been the 50th running of the online series. letes and tried to predict the re- event, and the next in-person mar- Muratova leads the overall wom- sults during the online series. athon is scheduled for Nov. 7, 2021. en’s rankings with 193.5 points, fol- Italy’s team coach Alessandro lowed by Russia’s Anastasiia Ma- Boraschi’s four picks — Garrido, madirova (138) and D’Andrea (124). D’Andrea, Algeria’s Hocine Bet- POWERLIFTING Kazakhstan’s David Degtyarev tir and Colombia’s Cristina Po- Muratova Wins Again won the men’s division, finishing blador — scored 577.83 points. with 203.03 points to defeat Jor- Team Yellow finished ahead of nother World Para Powerlifting dan’s Omar Qarada (193.86) and Team Blue led by Mexico’s Ama- AOnline World Cup Series, and Chile’s Juan Carlos Garrido (189.92). lia Pérez (563.73), Team Green another win for Vera Muratova. Italy’s Paolo Agosti now has (386.72) and Team Red (355.64). The Russian captured the July the men’s overall series lead with For more information and re- women’s para powerlifting title, 162.5 points, followed by Italy’s sults, visit paralympic.org. scoring 121.76 points to edge out Matteo Cattini (150.5) and Colom- S’NS Brazil’s Mariana D’Andrea (120.59) bia’s Jainer Cantillo (146).

1212 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 The Extra Point

Wheelchair Softball Returns competitively about four or five years could feel the excitement with the rib- by Brittany Martin / photos by Christopher Di Virgilio and has been practicing with the Royals bon cutting of the new field that Kansas at second and third bases. City got. All in all, it was a great turnout. ver 30 wheelchair softball players The 48-year-old, who has a T5 level There were several fans there. It felt like Ohad a chance to shake the dust off spinal-cord injury from a car accident normal, as normal can be right now.” their bats in Kansas City, Mo., July 11–12 in 1979, routinely makes the two-hour Besides temperature checks, a halfway to help Midwest Adaptive Sports and the drive for practices and didn’t want to line marking a runner’s commitment to a Kansas City Royals wheelchair softball pass up the opportunity to network base and only allowing force-outs, health team break in their new dedicated field. with other players from the region, de- and social distancing precautions included While live sports events and activities spite the pandemic. He says he wasn’t separate bases for the runner and defender have been effectively shut down across overly concerned about traveling for to prevent collisions, no high fives or post- the country for months and many have the tournament. game handshakes, each team using its

The Kansas City Royals wheelchair softball team hosted a tournament July 11–12 to break in its new dedicated field at Pleasant Valley Road Athletic Complex in Kansas City, Mo.

been forced to go virtual because of the “We took precautions, and the game own ball and widespread use of hand sani- novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, rules were set up where once you were tizer in the dugouts and restrooms. players from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, committed to a base, you had to go The tournament consisted of six games Oklahoma, Illinois and Iowa braved 90- there,” Hall says. “There was no touching over two days, and players who came indi- plus degree temperatures to play in of other players with the ball. We kept vidually were placed on teams. While the what, for many, could be their only com- social distancing. We had our temper- tournament had no effect on team stand- petitive sports opportunity this year. ature taken when we got there, so I felt ings, Hall says it was a good test to see fine. I didn’t have any worries or anything how he and everyone else was playing. NEW RULES like that with the effect of COVID [-19] “The first day felt like some heated Jerry Hall, who lives in Greenfield, going in the world right now. It was awe- competition and some good pushing,” Iowa, has played wheelchair softball some. It was a great opportunity. You he says. “The second day was more of a

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 13 Social distancing precautions at the softball tournament included a halfway line marking a runner’s commitment to a base, pictured left, and separate bases for the runner and defender to prevent collisions, pictured right.

learning opportunity for a lot of us and it Just like all of us, I think it was great to wasn’t as competitive, but it was fun. So get back in our sports chairs and feel we got a lot of people some great play- that push and sweat, so I think every- ing experience. It felt almost brand new body adjusted quickly to getting back to get in there. Some of the throws were into the softball frame of mind.” a little off at the beginning, but everybody kind of got dialed in, and then the BACK TO BEING ACTIVE competitiveness kind of took over, so But it wasn’t just the competition that things got heated, but in a fun way. got heated. The temperature was one reason Leslie Liv- ingston was glad players weren’t required to wear masks. Livingston, who has been playing mostly right field and first base for about three years in Tulsa, Okla., also has asthma, which would have made it tougher for her to play. Still, the 61-year-old was happy to help the Royals celebrate their new field. Nicole McConnell is a rookie on the Kansas City “Our last game was purely fun. We were Royals’ wheelchair softball team. like, ‘Oh, let him have another pitch,’” says Livingston, who had her left leg ampu- laughed. A lot of laughter and just cama- tated above the knee after a motorcy- raderie with the players from all over. It cle accident four years ago. “And we all was a hodgepodge. We even had interns play with us, which was really good for them to be able to experience playing in Leslie Livingston enjoyed the camaraderie with other wheelchair a wheelchair. It’s very eye-opening to an softball players at the tournament. able-bodied person.”

1414 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 Jerry Hall, right, takes a swing during the Kansas City Royals’ wheelchair softball tournament in July. Hall traveled from Greenfield, Iowa, to play.

While it took the players a few games William T. Kemper Foundation, which sup- The location at Pleasant Valley Road to adjust to dual bases and other so- ports education, health, human services, Athletic Complex was chosen because it cial distancing rules, for Nicole McCon- civic improvements and the arts. provides an opportunity to expand and nell, the whole experience was new. She The field is still in phase one of de- add a second wheelchair softball field or started practicing with the Royals as a velopment, and plans include paint- adaptive football field, Teegarden says. catcher in May, so this tournament was ing the outfield green and infield brown Additionally, the Nebraska Barons her first taste of real competition. and adding more shade, dugout gates, a hosted a tournament Aug. 1 in Omaha, The 36-year-old Kansas City, Mo., resi- scoreboard, permanent and Hall was there, bringing along three dent, who sustained a T5 level spinal-cord restrooms and a other players from Iowa. injury in a car accident at age 16, is eager concession area. “The benefit is getting back to being for more games and feels a sense of pride active, and that’s the biggest thing for in playing on her new home field. people like us in chairs is not sitting at “It was actually a lot of fun, and I could home,” Hall ssays.ays. “Everybody’s an put my practices to a real situation,” Mc- individual, so if they don’t feel Connell says. “And I could tell I even im- safe doing it, I understand. But proved in just the two days. Like, the if we’re showing that we can first day I didn’t get on base once, and be safe and everything then the second day I got on base and I is fine, then hopefully that gen- scored, so to be able to have games, you erates more people to get can do and see more than just practice.” out and want to try and With stay-at-home orders and travel re- enjoy what we have left of John Teegarden, strictions starting to lift, Midwest Adaptive Midwest Adaptive the summer.” Sports wheelchair softball director John Sports wheelchair For more photos and Teegarden says the timing was right for softball director, video from the Kansas pitches for the them to have an invitational tournament Kansas City Royals City tournament, visit and ribbon cutting with the Kansas City, during July’s sportsnspokes.com. Mo., Parks and Recreation Department. He tournament. says it took about 10 years to find the right S’NS location and secure funding for the field, which is the result of a public/private partnership and a $150,000 donation from the

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 15 Outdoors

Hatching Birdability I would commit, I would go and I would I hear them talking about the clothes they by Brittany Martin figure things out,” she says. “And I think have on. I hear them talking about the way that’s so key as a person with mobility chal- to carry a coffee cup full of coffee. I hear t first, birding, or birdwatching, may lenges, to continue to challenge yourself them talking about their shoes. I hear them Anot seem like it involves a great with things that may end up so empower- talking about ways to keep their feet on deal of physical activity. While that may ing. If you don’t put yourself in a situation the foot pedals. I hear them talking about be true for the casual observer, Virginia that may be difficult, you’re not going to different kinds of backpacks. And my heart Rose credits the hobby for building her achieve that accomplishment.” just lifted. I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is so strength, confidence and independence. The retired high school Advanced Place- much bigger than birds.’” The 61-year-old Austin, Texas, resident, ment English teacher is now on the Tra- who has a T10 level spinal-cord injury (SCI) vis Audubon board of directors and leads ON THE MAP from a horseback riding accident in Ever- Birdability walks for people of all abilities Although Rose says she’s a latecomer green, Colo., when she was 14, has now once a month. However, she often goes to birding, several of her family mem- ROSE VIRGINIA OF PHOTOS COURTESY

Virginia Rose, seated in blue jacket, leads one of her monthly Birdability events in 2019. Rose Virginia Rose has been birding for about 18 years and has led bird tours for seven years.

made it her mission to inspire others with birding alone and has identified 35 sites in bers, including her grandmother, Mary disabilities to challenge themselves, as Austin where she can bird independently. Paterson Rose, and younger sister, Cath- well as create awareness about trail and Being alone in nature brings Rose ryn Rose, preceded her in the hobby. park accessibility, through her two-year- peace and a sense of gratitude, but she “My grandmother had watched birds old initiative called Birdability. acknowledges the importance of cama- for her whole life, and I do have very Rose started getting serious about raderie with other birders. fond memories of her in her green birding at age 43 after attending a lec- “On one of my very first Birdability walks, leather jacket with her binoculars around ture she’d heard advertised on the radio. where I had three other people in wheel- her neck,” Rose says. “And when she From there, she took all of the birding chairs walking with me, they didn’t know died, she passed along her Peterson classes and field trips offered by Travis each other, of course,” she says. “And so, [Field] Guide to me with all her penciled Audubon in Austin. I’m listening to them. I may be in front of comments in it, and of course that’s a “Committing to a field trip with 12 other them looking for birds, but also secretly lis- treasure for me still.” people and not knowing if I can really do it tening, and I can hear them behind me dis- But in April 2018, the seed for Birdability is a little daunting. But time and time again, cussing their various mobility challenges. was planted when Rose decided to do her

1616 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 Virginia Rose, front row, far own version of a bird- left, is pictured with some athon, an annual fund- of her Birdability event raiser for Audubon chap- participants in 2019 in Austin, Texas. The events ters where participants are for people of all abilities. see how many birds they can “get” in a certain She’s really broken new number of hours. From ground, I think, for any- dawn to dusk, she vis- one, including vets, older ited five accessible parks people, younger people around Austin, wheeled who have impairments 10 miles and counted that keep them from about 52 bird species. doing anything.” “I decided rather than In addition to mak- try to keep up, and I will ing Birdability a 501c3 say some birders are re- nonprofit, Rose hopes ally hardcore, OK, they’re to connect Birdabil- like gunners, and I didn’t want to try to ments. I really didn’t want to have to abide ity walks with occupational and physi- keep up with gunners because I bird dif- by those for a couple of reasons,” she says. cal therapy departments at rehabilitation ferently,” she says. “I’m a slower birder. “I’m so happy that we have these ADA hospitals and offer Birdability program- I’m very much more methodical, and I guidelines, but if we are too dependent ming at camps for children with disabili- study when I observe. I don’t just see on them, then we are restricting ourselves ties all over the country. the bird and go. I study the bird so that I with a tool that was meant to free us.” Her ultimate dream is to create mobil- learn it. So, I decided I’m going to do my ity-challenged birding teams in each city own darn birdathon.” SPREADING THE MESSAGE across the country. When the National Audubon Society Thanks to Rose’s blog (birdability. “Once we have those, then I can invite heard what Rose was doing, she was in- com) and National Audubon’s public- [for example] the Seattle team down to vited to give a presentation at their con- ity, people from across the country have Austin for three nights. You guys can bird vention in Milwaukee in July 2019. There, reached out to her about how they can all of the places I’ve already found, and she connected with two geographic in- start similar efforts in their local area. then you guys can reciprocate,” she says. formation system (GIS) experts, Eliza- She’s dubbed 15 Birdability captains and In the meantime, she’s learning how to beth Todd and Ryan Hobbs with National communicates with them through regu- bird by ear and spends at least 10 hours a Audubon Society’s Enterprise GIS team. lar emails and phone calls. week researching the finer points of identi- Together, they built gis.audubon.org/ One co-captain is Bob Roarke, a fication in her bird books. While she’s seen birdability, a crowdsourced and curated 69-year-old retired physician who sus- at least 500 species, one bird she’d love to map of accessible birding locations, which tained a T12 level SCI in a climbing acci- see is the elegant trogon, which lives in the launched March 12. They now have over dent in Colorado at age 29. The Denver mountains of southeast Arizona. She likens 100 sites across the country and one in resident volunteers with Denver Audubon birding to fishing and finds joy in the mys- South America pinned on the map. and is using some of Rose’s access consid- tery and not knowing exactly what she’s The site includes a survey loosely based erations to assess birding hotspots in the going to see on a particular day. on Rose’s list of access considerations for metro Denver area for their own project, “It’s outside, it’s healthy. It’s a for- determining whether a birding site is ac- Birding Without Barriers. They’ve pinned ever learning hobby, and I feel like those cessible. The survey asks for informa- four sites in Colorado so far and have a list are the ways to keep going. Those are tion about the length, slope and surface of at least 30 other places for assessment. the reasons to get up,” she says. “If you of trails, accessible parking and curb cuts, “We’re just trying to carry on her [Rose’s] have a forever learning hobby that you ramps, gates, railing heights on board- vision,” Roarke says. “She’s patient, persis- can practice every day without a ton of walks or bridges, steps, benches, viewing tent and positive. A real trailblazer, com- money and without a ton of travel, why blinds and restrooms. mitted to inclusion and independence and would you not want that?” “These are not always perfect ADA very resourceful. This is like a full-time job [Americans with Disabilities Act] measure- she doesn’t get paid for. It’s just her thing. S’NS

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 17 Innovations

Granting Protective Masks by John Groth / photos courtesy of Joe Peters rielle Rausin developed an ingenious Away for her company, Ingenium Manu- facturing, to keep helping people with spinal-cord injuries and disease (SCI/D) during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It was all because a friend reached out to her. After four years of creating 3D printed racing gloves for wheelchair athletes, the 2016 University of Illinois graduate has teamed up with fellow University of Illi- nois doctorate student Joe Peters on a grant application and is now printing protective masks for those with SCI/D.

Connor Doherty, left, University of Illinois Disability Resources & Educational Services athletic trainer, and Arielle Rausin, right, work on developing 3D printed masks.

gloves in this time. There’s no races going funding provided through the Neilsen on, and so our number of orders definitely emergency grants. decreased. And so, with the printers just “It seems like the need is there just for being idle, it was really a perfect oppor- everyone in general for masks. It seems tunity to start collaborating with Joe and like everything was going to start requir- start making these masks.” ing them for public exposure,” Peters says. “I’ve worked with a lot of individuals with COMING TOGETHER spinal-cord injury. It seemed like a good Earlier this spring, Peters received an fit with Arielle, who has a spinal-cord in- Above, a 3D printed mask developed by Arielle Rausin and Joe Peters, who have email from Kim Collins, the university’s injury, and a good idea to make an impact teamed up to make masks for people with terim director of adaptive sports, letting on the world and in this crazy pandemic.” spinal-cord injury and disease. him know the Craig H. Neilsen Founda- tion, which helps fund projects for people MASK MAKING As of mid-July, they’ve printed 300 with SCI, was looking for grant applicants. Rausin researched plenty on mask de- masks. They plan to produce 750 masks Peters, 26, thought of his friend, sign and decided on one that had been ap- and mail those out free of charge to or- Rausin, whom he knew from work- proved by the National Institutes of Health ganizations across the country who work ing as a graduate assistant coach for for community use. with or help people with SCI/D. the wheelchair track and field team “They tested themselves to see how “I thought it was a great way to give at the university’s division of Disabil- safe the design is. This is the design that back,” says the 26-year-old Rausin, a Cham- ity Resources & Educational Services was picked as the safest, which is why I paign, Ill., resident who sustained a T11 SCI (DRES). And he remembered she owned chose it,” Rausin says. as a passenger in a car accident in Orlando, a 3D printing company. So they talked, Masks are 3D printed with a type of fil- Fla., when she was 10 years old. “I was look- hashed out a plan and submitted their ament called polylactic acid, which is a ing for a way to give back through my busi- application. Later, the foundation bioplastic and biodegradable polyester ness, and most people don’t need racing awarded them a $10,000 grant, with the made from lactic acid.

1818 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 I was looking for a way to give back through my business and ‘‘ most people don’t need racing gloves in this time. There’s no races going on, and so our number of orders definitely decreased. And so, with the printers just being idle, it was really a perfect opportunity to start collaborating with Joe and start making these masks.’’ — Arielle Rausin

Rausin and Peters have six printers producing masks, and each mask takes about four hours to make inside the DRES. Once masks are printed, they’re taken off the printer, and the edges are sanded down so they’re smooth. A filter and gasket are inserted, and a foam seal is put around it to make it more comfortable and airtight. Finally, elastic straps are attached to both sides so the mask can be hooked around a wearer’s ears. The filter, which is like the kind used in air conditioning filters, has a 1,500 Mi- croparticle Performance Rating (MPR), meaning it can capture particles between 0.3 and 1.0 microns in size. The higher the MPR, the more microparticles — such as pollen, pet dander, smoke, Pictured above, left and right, masks are made using 3D printers. bacteria and viruses — the filter will SENDING MASKS OUT catch from the air passing through. that it would be easy to size and stylize, so Six mask sizes — extra small, small, me- It’s been an adventure. When schools she started making them in the fall of that dium, large, extra-large and double extra- shut down, Rausin moved production to year. Before that class, she had no prior ex- large — are offered. They’re printing about her home 2 miles away. Since then, the perience with 3D printing, but she learned 15 masks per day, with printers running university has opened back up for work- plenty — and fast. throughout the night. ers, and they shifted their printing to the Rausin has already contacted youth “It was important to me when we were DRES basement. But learning on the fly adaptive sports programs, including the coming up with the internal specifications is nothing new for Rausin. That’s kind of Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Associa- for the mask to make sure that they were how she fell into starting her business. tion in Chicago and ParaSport Spokane strong and durable because I know people Rausin founded Ingenium Manufac- in Washington, about how many athletes with spinal-cord injuries are at a higher risk turing in August 2016, naming it Inge- they have and how many of each size for injury from falls, and I didn’t want the nium because the word means abilities mask they’d need to send. They want to mask to break or shatter or anything if they in Latin. It all started after she took a class send in bulk to youth programs first and fell. As a spinal-cord injured person, I know at the University of Illinois called Making then to people with SCI/D and the gen- that I’ve had my fair share of falls, and I did Things, taught by her coach Adam Bleak- eral public later this fall. want it to be durable and safe,” Rausin says. ney, and needed to bring in an object to People interested in purchasing a “But that’s really the only extra measure we scan. She brought in a pair of gloves. They mask can email Rausin at ariellerausin@ took, apart from the mask being different scanned them, 3D printed them and real- gmail.com. for able-bodied folks.” ized they were so durable and lightweight S’NS

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 19 Adaptive camping and hiking offer wheelchair users the chance to push boundaries, find quiet and explore nature. And there are a handful of ways to try them.

20 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 THIS PHOTOS SPREAD BY TARYN FERRO

Carly Pearson, who by Shelly Anderson has T12 and L1 level spinal-cord injuries, does adaptive hiking.

hy does anyone enjoy a hike or a camp- Pearson, 44, was destined to be outdoorsy. She grew Wing trip? It could be as simple as to escape up on a farm and earned a degree in forestry. After a a concrete jungle and enjoy nature or as complex as a fall 17 years ago while working as a wildland firefighter way to soothe an aching soul. for the National Park Service put her in a wheelchair, It’s likely a combination of reasons — along with, she remained active, including as a sled hockey player, this year, affording people a way to participate in an but that didn’t get her back outdoors. activity while still adhering to the social distancing “I kind of feel like there was an element missing from and crowd avoidance mandates associated with the the natural aspect of being able to get outside and novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which began push those boundaries,” says Pearson, who sustained in mid-March. There is at least anecdotal evidence that T12 and L1 level spinal-cord injuries (SCI) from the fall. outdoor activities such as hiking and camping are be- Two years ago, Pearson, at the urging of a friend, coming more common among the adaptive commu- went on a Camino trail trip to Spain with Justin Skees- nity, and in some cases, more accessible. uck and Patrick Gray of the 2016 documentary I’ll Push “I think with the Facebook groups I’m on, it’s rapidly You and others, doing about 16 miles a day of off-road growing,” says Carly Pearson of eastern Tennessee. hiking in a GRIT Freedom Chair.

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 21 Evita Rush, left, enjoys adaptive camping and being in nature, like she is here with a friend’s dog, Sam.

Washington resident Evita Rush, 38, who has a congenital “For me, it was life-changing,” she says. “It bridged incomplete spinal- another gap for me, to connect with the outdoors in a cord injury, enjoys way that I hadn’t in so many years.” adaptive camping because it helps improve her physical “The camping thing became something for me and social well-being. Learning To Be Self-Sufficient that was attractive because I felt as if it was It’s not sled hockey but wheelchair basketball that something I could do alone,” says the 48-year-old is the team sport of choice for 38-year-old Evita Rush, Baker, who was injured in a 1991 car accident. “I’m of Vancouver, Wash. However, Rush, who has a con- totally self-sufficient. I’m pitching my own tent. genital incomplete SCI, has also strongly tapped into I’m bringing my wood. I’m preparing all my food hiking and, in winter, snowshoeing, plus a little camp- with a cooler. I’m prepared for two or three days ing with Adventures Without Limits in Oregon. of solo camping. It is a good way to recharge, just “Besides just being out in nature, it has impacted my spend time with my thoughts, and just the fact emotional well-being, my physical well-being, and not that I can do it independently leads to a greater only that, but it’s contributed a lot to my social well-be- sense of empowerment.” ing,” Rush says. “It’s a time to kind of hit the reset button He camps everywhere from the desert to the and forget about the stresses of life and recognize the mountains, around California and Arizona. beauty of the outdoors, the sounds and everything.” That doesn’t mean Baker is a total loner. Later this Ryan Baker, a T6 paraplegic from San Diego, is an month, he and his wife, Kelly, have plans with another avid camper. He gets the nature angle, and he likes couple to take a much less primitive camping trip, stay- to camp near water to feed his love for fishing, but ing in a large accessible yurt on the Lake Cachuma Res- for him, it’s more about the accomplishment. ervoir in California with access to various amenities.

22 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 Evita Rush kayaks at Estacada Lake in Oregon.

PHOTOS THIS SPREAD COURTESY OF EVITA RUSH

I’m totally self-sufficient. I’m pitching my own tent. ‘‘I’m bringing my wood. I’m preparing all my food with a cooler. I’m prepared for two or three days of solo camping. It is a good way to recharge, just spend time with my thoughts, and just the fact that I can do it independently leads to a greater sense of empowerment.’’ — Ryan Baker

“The GRIT Freedom Chair has changed his life,” Trail Chairs Angie says. “Just being out in nature and being out In Meridian, Idaho, Tran- on the trails … We take him with us trail running a don Mechling’s trail excur- couple times a month. He has just blossomed. He sions have enriched his life greatly. Mechling, 22, doesn’t go to counseling anymore. He only gets one who has cerebral palsy, grew up traveling to watch massage a month. He’s no longer on antidepressants. his parents, Angie and Leonard, compete in Spartan We found this community of adaptive athletes who Races and aspired to tackle those obstacle courses. have given Trandon life.” After high school, though, Mechling lost interest in Trandon has participated in the Limbitless Chal- that and a lot of other things. lenge in Boise and enjoys the trail runs with his par- “He was in a really deep depression,” Angie says. ents. He works weekly with a trainer to get more effi- “He wasn’t even really communicating with us. He cient with the off-road chair. was regressing tremendously. We were kind of out “People think it’s kind of crazy to see this chair of options. We put him on antidepressants. We had going down this trail,” he says. “I just like to get peo- taken him to counseling. We were getting him mas- ple to know that there’s this chair out there. You can saged twice a week. We were trying anything and get places that my normal power chair can’t get.” everything. He wasn’t sleeping at night. He started GRIT founder Mike Halpert loves stories like that. grinding his teeth all day. It was pretty severe.” The Freedom Chair (gogrit.us), which hit the mar- Meeting some wounded veterans at a Spartan ket more than five years ago, is one advancement Race in Las Vegas in March 2018 changed things. in equipment that cleared a path for more people They introduced Trandon to a GRIT Freedom Chair, with disabilities to hike and otherwise get off which allowed him to get onto some trails. the pavement.

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 23 San Diego resident Ryan Baker, who is a T6 paraplegic, is an avid camper and loves fishing.

PHOTOS THIS SPREAD COURTESY OF RYAN BAKER The all-terrain chair has rugged tires, a sturdy front wheel and is lever-propelled. “A real joy for me is when I see three or more chairs — we call that a liberty of Free- dom Chairs — and you see that camaraderie,” Halpert says. “Everyone’s doing this together. That’s the really cool thing about group hikes.” Rush has done those group hikes, but she also uses a Freedom Chair to regularly go on solo outings. She and Pearson appreciate the trails that are now accessible because of the specialized chair. Pearson also has an adaptive mountain bike she likes. “I’ve kind of looked at being off the pavement as something I couldn’t do independently, so I wasn’t willing to branch out that way until [the Camino] trip,” Pearson says. Try Things Out & Adapt

Baker doesn’t use a Freedom Chair, but for his camping trips he uses an older chair fitted with mountain bike tires and a motorized Fire- fly front tire. He is a little dismayed that there doesn’t seem to be equipment made specifically for campers with disabilities and that they are left to figure out which standard equip- Ryan Baker’s truck is full as he prepares to go adaptive camping. ment, such as tents, might work for them.

24 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 Ryan Baker likes adaptive camping because he gets to pitch his own tent, and it makes him feel self-sufficient.

Baker has a small tent he can handle and puts down rugs and pieces of carpet at his campsites. Finding a good spot for camping — or, for others, hiking — can be challenging. “We’re working with state parks and national parks to really be aware that this [growth in adaptive hiking and camping] is happening,” Halpert says. “It’s not done on an organized level at all. It really is frustrating to go to national parks and see empty accessible parking spots.” Social media has been a boon. There are regional and national Facebook groups. GRIT is associated with Beyond the Pavement. There are also a growing number of organizations. In addition to Adventures Without Limits (awloutdoors.org), Rush has come across Un- likely Hikers (jennybruso.com/unlikely hikers) and Wild Diversity (wilddiversity.com). Pearson has been active with Catalyst Sports (catalystsports.org) and appreciates the work done by the Legacy Parks Foundation (legacyparks.org) in Tennessee. Baker looks for Bureau of Land Manage- ment properties or state campgrounds. “If you don’t know where to start, reach out to some of these outdoor facilities — your state parks, your national parks — and start asking questions,” Pearson suggests. “Start getting involved at the local level.” S’NS Adaptive camping helps Ryan Baker, 48, recharge.

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 25 26

ILLUSTRATION BY KERRY RANDOLPH SPORTS ’N SPOKES

September 2020 by Christopher Di Virgilio photos by Christopher Di Virgilio

Although she’s just 12 years old, Adrina Castro is blazing a trail in Arizona with wheelchair basketball skills, character and work ethic, leading her to be named the 2020 SPORTS ’N SPOKES Junior Athlete of the Year.

or Adrina Castro, personal accountability duced to wheelchair basketball, and I just fell in love Fmeans everything. From keeping current on with the game.” her virtual schoolwork to maintaining physical read- iness, the 12-year-old from Tucson, Ariz., is a major Family Helped Her example for many to follow. It’s in part because of her strong character and per- Castro is the 38th athlete to earn the SPORTS ‘N severance that Castro is the 2020 SPORTS ‘N SPOKES SPOKES Junior Athlete of the Year title. She will re- Junior Athlete of the Year. ceive a one-year complimentary digital subscription Castro, who was born with spina bifida, enjoys to SPORTS ‘N SPOKES, a $1,500 educational scholar- sports and has played wheelchair basketball for ship and an engraved award. nearly three years. She likes the intensity of the sport “I didn’t even know that I was nominated until I as much as the teamwork and skills needed to be suc- won the SPORTS ‘N SPOKES Junior Athlete of the Year,” cessful, all of which have allowed her to excel as an Castro says. “It really means a lot to me. My team athlete in a relatively short amount of time. nominated me, and I want to thank them for that. I’m “I like the competitiveness, being able to travel so happy I got this award.” and being part of a team,” Castro says. “I used to play She’s had to endure plenty of surgeries to play. able-body soccer but after my second spinal surgery, When she was just 3 months old, Castro underwent a I didn’t get to play many sports until [I was] intro- spinal-cord release surgery. Despite her birth defect, Castro lived a fairly typical childhood that allowed her a great deal of mobility, as well as the opportunity to participate in able-bodied soccer with her older sister, Mia, who is now 13.

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 27 But as Castro grew, Earning Honors her mobility started weakening and by Castro has turned her challenges into success. She’s age 7, she went in for built an impressive résumé of achievements so far that a second spinal-cord include the 2019 National Wheelchair Basketball Asso- release surgery. The ciation (NWBA) Sportsmanship Award, the 2020 Pio- second spinal-cord re- neer Classic Sportsmanship Award and the 2020 DK3 lease surgery was lit- Mamba Mentality Scholarship, along with the SPORTS tle help and caused a loss ‘N SPOKES Junior Athlete of the Year award. of sensation in both legs. Castro’s feet Castro’s on-the-court play caught the attention of started to turn inward, and she devel- the Arizona Storm during the 2019 Toyota NWBA Na- oped pressure sores as a result. Over tional Wheelchair Basketball Women’s Tournament. Up two years, she had two skin grafts to to that point, she had only played three games with close those sores on her left the juniors before being invited to play with the Storm. foot and a short time “I think Adrina’s situation is unique from the time after that, doctors per- she first started,” says Castro’s father, Alex Castro. “She formed a procedure has been practicing five times a week, multiple times a that moved the ten- day with juniors, D-I [Division I] and college teams. Tuc- dons in both feet son doesn’t really have a junior team, so the fact that to help her walk she’s earned enough respect from the adults [to play] better. By the says a lot about the type of player she is.” time she was 9, But it’s not the medals and trophies that drive her she had lost the thirst to be the best. ability to con- “I feel that if you really want it, you should go for tinue sports. it,” Castro says. “Follow your dreams, even if you “She be- don’t believe you can.” came de- There was a time when Castro didn’t want to try pressed not wheelchair basketball out of fear she would feel awk- being able to ward and isolated. keep up with “Once I tried it, I felt normal and it was just awesome, Adrina Castro, at her sister any- and I always tell others to give it a try,” she says. free throw line in top more,” says Despite the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) photo, has continued to practice and Dee Castro, Adrina’s mother. “But being the awesome and cancellation of wheelchair sports across the coun- work out despite big sister that she is, Mia dragged her out of that de- try, Castro is putting in plenty of practice and prepar- the cancellation of pression by challenging her, working out with her and ing her body for competition. wheelchair sports events due to the participating in adaptive sports together. I think her sis- “I’ve mostly been working out and trying to stay on novel coronavirus ter and the rest of the adaptive sports community have top of things so that way if we do have a season, I’m (COVID-19) pandemic. turned her into the athlete she’s become today.” already in shape,” Castro says.

28 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 Fortunately, she lives near an outdoor recreation cen- games. Off the court, she enjoys drawing, playing ter that offers a host of amenities, including a covered video games and working out. basketball court, where she can often be found honing “A lot of people wonder why I train so hard at my age,” her skills with Mia or Arizona Storm wheelchair Castro says. “I tell them that if I want to be my best, I have basketball teammate and U.S. Paralympic women’s to do what it takes and even though I have to train hard, I wheelchair basketball team member Courtney Ryan. think it’s worth it just to be the player I want to be.” “I train a lot with Courtney,” Castro says. “She’s fun Castro hosts the Instagram account itty_bitty_ to train with because she’s really competitive and even beastmode, where she offers training and workout ad- thought we mess around a little, I still get a lot out of it.” vice, talks about living with spina bifida as a superpower Scholastically, Adrina is just as steadfast in her and spreads positivity through visual storytelling. studies as she is at sports. Despite the pandemic’s re- “My best videos are my season videos where I strictions and uncertainty of returning to the class- show clips from throughout the season,” she says. “I room this fall, she continues to put in the hard work use them to see how I did and what areas I need to to maintain her schoolwork, albeit virtually. work on. I go over the tapes while editing and think

Adrina Castro, left, “Having no school has actually been really nice be- it’s good for me to see where I messed up or where plays basketball in Tucson, Ariz., with her cause I get to sleep in more,” says Castro, smiling. I’m doing really good and see what areas I need to be older sister, Mia, right. “But it’s more responsibility in order to keep on top better in or just to see what I’m getting good at.” of your studies. Normally, the teacher makes sure we Her current mission is working to get the Interna- have everything needed, but now we have to make tional Paralympic Committee to review and amend sure. I think that’s good.” its 10-category coding system to include all athletes and all disabilities. Producing Change “There shouldn’t be such a thing as not disabled enough,” Castro says. “If they [athletes] have a diag- Castro is a self-proclaimed math whiz, enjoys com- nosed disability, they should play.” puter coding and hopes to one day work on creating S’NS special effects for the film industry or to make video

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 29 by Jonathan Gold Esports have taken off across the country, and people with spinal- cord injuries are joining in on the video game fun, too.

ILLUSTRATION BY KERRY RANDOLPH © GETTYIMAGES/ PIALHOVIK

ichard Jacobs never thought he’d walk R again, much less fly, jump, shoot, dunk, score touchdowns or shoot aliens. But when he entered Mount Sinai of New York’s Life Challenge Program years ago, he rediscov- ered his joy of video gaming. He’d always been a gamer, dating back to Nin- tendo's Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt. His father was a wizard with electronics, and Jacobs in- herited the bug. He’d stay up for hours playing his favorite games, lost in another world. After he was shot and paralyzed in a random

New York City mugging five years ago, Jacobs JESSICA JACKLIN thought that part of his life was over. He had The esports category is considered among the fastest- trouble gripping an Xbox or Playstation controller. growing forms of entertainment. Live competitions with Worse, he had trouble coming to grips with an even huge monetary prizes draw huge crowds. This isn’t just a starker reality. thing for kids anymore. Would anyone ever want him on their team again? Nor is competition relegated to those without move- That’s when the Quad Gods came calling. ment difficulties. And after they came calling, Jacobs found his calling: In 1981, Montana-based engineer Ken Yankelevitz created a bringing esports to the quadriplegic community. mouth-operated Atari controller, and for more than three de- cades, he continued to provide game controllers to quadriple- Growing World Of Esports gics at prices low enough that they essentially just covered the In 1972, Stanford University put on a competition fea- cost of parts. This was his passion, and his movement, but his turing the then-10-year-old video game, Spacewar. Invit- output began to slow as he aged. In 2014, inspired by Yankele- ing students for the “Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics,” vitz and unwilling to let the movement die, fellow Montana- the event featured five competitors, and the main prize based inventor Fred Davison created the QuadStick with the was a year’s subscription to Rolling Stone magazine. help of a successful Kickstarter campaign and financial back- That event is commonly regarded as the world’s first video ers, including Yankelevitz himself. game competition. The world has changed greatly since then. Four years later, Microsoft introduced the XBox Adaptive How much? In 2019, global esports revenue topped Controller, which was named one of TIME Magazine’s Best $1 billion. Inventions of 2018.

30 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 Richard Jacobs, left, Alejandro Courtney, middle right, and Blake Hunt, far right, are part of the Quad Gods adaptive gaming group based in New York.

Gaming As Rehabilitation who didn’t want to be seen walking around short of breath. But Putrino knew they needed to move. More than a decade before meeting Jacobs, David The Nintendo Wii had just come out, and Putrino Putrino, director of rehabilitation innovation for the had an idea. Mount Sinai Health System in New York, had come to “I knew I worked up a sweat playing the boxing learn the power of gaming as rehabilitation. Working game, and surely someone with a lung infection in a cystic fibrosis ward, Putrino had some patients would work harder than I did,” Putrino says. “Not to

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 31 JESSICA JACKLIN

Prentice Cox, left, Richard Jacobs, middle, and Alejandro Courtney, right, get together to work on their adaptive gaming techniques.

It was just so clear to me that we needed to form a team, a team of ‘‘ high performers who were finally engaging in a sport where they could take on able-bodied players and kick their asses. For me, it felt like a really empowering project’’. — David Putrino

mention, which patient doesn’t want to punch out And then Scott showed him his QuadStick, a video their physio?” game controller specifically designed for quadriple- Putrino’s kids loved it. Adults, too. And he discov- gics, which features sip-and-puff functionality and ered an important fact. only requires head movement. They played NBA2K “There is a correlation between enjoyment and against each other. recovery. The more people have fun, the more they “It began with an ass-kicking, that’s for sure,” Pu- recover,” he says. trino says, laughing. Eventually, gaming became an integral part of Scott — who was paralyzed in a skydiving accident Putrino’s rehab programs, even if the then-current in 2014 — ruled the day. He dunked all over Putrino, technology left him wanting. Then, he met Chris Scott. JESSICA “When I met Chris, he was low,” Pu-

trino says. “He was struggling with his in- JACKLIN jury and the level of function he had. His was a C3 injury — no arm movement, no leg movement — and he was very, very down. He didn’t expect me to be able to help him. I also didn’t expect to be able to help him. But he said, ‘I just want to do something. I don’t know what I want to do, but I need to do something.’” Putrino asked about his hobbies, and Scott told him he loved playing video games. Putrino was confounded. How? This is one of the adaptive gaming controllers the Quad Gods use.

32 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 JESSICA JACKLIN JESSICA JACKLIN virtually. He rained down threes. He pasted him. Pu- So Jacobs trino realized his next steps. wrote out the “It was just so clear to me that we needed to form a two words. team, a team of high performers who were finally en- “‘Quad’ — gaging in a sport where they could take on able-bod- the reason I chose to put it there, in my ied players and kick their asses,” Putrino says. “For view, that’s our way of telling the whole me, it felt like a really empowering project.” world we’re not ashamed to let you know And, thus, the Quad Gods were formed. who we are,” Jacobs says. “‘Yes, I am a quad.’ That was important — it’s not Prentice Cox, top just for us. The whole world was going left, and Alejandro Coming Together Courtney, top right, to see this. They need to see it’s not something to be are two of the Quad They sat at a table brainstorming. These were ashamed of. You don’t need to stay home and stay out Gods adaptive men who’d been reborn, finding a strength in one of public view. This is me, I’m a quad, and I’m here.” gaming players. another that none were sure they had left. Each Jacobs chose the second word — Gods — resolutely. had been dealt a brutal hand. To that point, they’d “A lot of people, when they go through this trau- felt lesser. matizing event, you can lose hope. You lose all hope They’d come together over a mutual love of gam- in yourself. You feel useless. You feel like there is no ing, one they thought had been extinguished. But use for you in the world. You’ve got to shake that what really brought them together was the need for feeling away. I had to realize within myself, I’m the a purpose. They each put three team names into a same person. I’m still ambitious. I’m still hard-work- hat. Some were too weak, some too strong. ing. I just had to find a different way to do it. Now “We needed a name that could do two things,” that I realize the power I had inside, it wasn’t about Jacobs says. “One, to make people think twice. And me being to able to stand up and run,” he says. “As two, we needed to be powerful. If they announce long as I keep my mind in the right place, I have the Adaptive gaming us, ‘Here come the River Lilies,’ people were going power of a god inside of me. When you realize you has given adaptive athletes, like the to say ... 'Who?’” have that power, you understand that power is al- Quad Gods, a new lease on life.

COURTESY OF LOGITECH

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 33 most God-like. You feel like there’s nothing that In the past few years, though, she’s come out of can stop you.” her shell. She’s gone skydiving and skiing, with the So, the goal was twofold. help of others. Let the world know who they are, and let them But striving to regain a measure of independence, know their power. Stevens has taken up mouth-painting, and now video “I’m not nothing to look down on,” Jacobs says. games. Playing under the gamer tag Sittin-pr3ttii (Sit- “Matter of fact, I’m something to look up to.” ting Pretty), Stevens has become enthralled with her Like Jacobs, Quad Gods teammate Nyree Stevens new passion. What started as simple car racing games hails from New York. Like Jacobs, the lone Quad God- has turned into marathon sessions of Fortnite. dess was paralyzed in a senseless shooting. And like “Some people probably never thought they’d be Jacobs, she’s found peace through adaptive gaming. able to play again,” she says. “Now, we have this op- Stevens was never a die-hard video game player — portunity, we’re trying to take it further. This isn’t just not, she says, “like how boys are.” playing games. We want this to be our careers.” She was introduced to adaptive gaming by Angela Riccobono, PhD, of Mount Sinai of New York’s Spinal Following Scott’s Vision Basketball and Cord Injury Transitions Support Group. Stevens was sports games are shot in 2009, and for a long time, she struggled to Things have moved so quickly for the Quad Gods, popular among the find her place in her new reality. it’s almost difficult for them to comprehend it. Quad Gods.

JESSICA JACKLIN

34 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 JESSICA JACKLIN

JESSICA JACKLIN After reading a lengthy article on the team on CNET, a media website dedicated to all things related to technology and consumer electronics, the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban decided to help the cause by donat- ing $60,000 to the team. The NBA's Brooklyn Nets, who put together their own esports squad — the Nets Gaming Crew — have dedicated a part of their practice facility to the Quad Gods. Logitech, a Swiss man- ufacturer of computer peripherals and software that has entered the gaming space with David Putrino, left, says. “It started out as something small, but as time a flourish, has donated ample software and attach- talks to former Quad went by, it turned into something bigger than we Gods member Chris ments to the team and is dedicated to the cause. thought it would be.” Scott, right and top For Ujesh Desai, vice president of gaming for Logi- right. Scott was the Putrino has to pause as he describes his last in- tech, the future of adaptive gaming is bright, even if it original Quad Gods teraction with Scott, his inspiration. That day, the team member but died took a while to get here. Quad Gods had found out about Cuban’s funding last July because of a “Shame on us in the gaming industry,” Desai says. lung infection. of the team. “I don’t think we looked at it closely enough. Then, “I walked him up to the front desk and his ac- some bigger folks in the industry like Microsoft took cessories had arrived, and he was on his way out, a stand. That opened some eyes with us at Logi- stopped his chair, turned around, and he said, ‘We tech, [that] we really should be in this space. It just really have a shot at making this a career,’” Putrino dawned on me — life is just more fun when you says. “I said, ‘Yeah, man, what have I been saying?’ play. If you really believe that, everyone should be He smiled, and he said he was just so excited. That able to experience that. The light bulb went off. If was it, the last interaction I had with him. I just felt we mean everyone, we mean everyone.” so gutted. I just wish we’d had a few more months. With Logitech’s involvement and a budding busi- If he had to go, I wish he could’ve seen all the ness built around the team, there is much excite- things that we’re accomplishing now.” ment among the Quad Gods. That excitement is S’NS muted, however, because the original Quad God is no longer here. Scott, who inspired Putrino to assemble the team in the first place, died last July because of a lung infection. His death has hit his teammates hard. “We’ve tried to continue in his honor to make sure his vision is brought to the world,” Jacobs

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 35 With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continuing to cancel sports events, adaptive sports organizations have found unique internet ways to keep athletes involved in sports and exercise.

o Angel City Sports founder Clayton Frech, two separate ones in August, adaptive athletes Tadaptive athletes are family. could feel at home. So as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic “When you live with a disability, it can be a really continued to cancel sporting events in full force this isolating life, pre-coronavirus, and society doesn’t al- summer, he didn’t want them to feel alone. ways look like it’s been built for you,” Frech says. “But by John Groth Although the Angel City Games wouldn’t go on as for the three weeks this summer at the Angel City Vir- an in-person event, there was no reason why orga- tual Games, or if we were back at UCLA [University of nizers couldn’t find a way to come up with an enter- California Los Angeles] for the four days of the physi- taining, exciting, motivational, familial atmosphere cal games, this is a place where if you’ve got a disabil- — even online. ity, you really feel like you belong. So, I think that’s a So, they extended the Games from four days to really key piece as we go forward, which I think that three weeks, offered more coaching clinics with the event app, or really it’s more of a digital platform well-known Paralympians and featured tons of ac- to host, that hopefully people get that sense that it’s tivities. There, for at least one week in late July and really like a home base for them.”

36 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 IMAGES/SCANRAIL GETTY GAMES-© OF ANGEL CITY COURTESY RANDOLPH-PHOTOS BY KERRY ILLUSTRATION register through the angelcitygames.org website and then download the Angel City Games app developed by AdaptivApps. Improving Spirits & Hope Each day of the week featured a theme. Virtual sports COVID-19 has forced many adaptive athletes to clinics ranging from basketball to swimming to archery stay home more. Instead of traveling to play in sports ran on Mondays. Resource nights were held Tuesdays, tournaments, joining others in wheelchair basketball, rugby and sled hockey games or heading to COURTESY their adaptive sports center or gym to work out and exercise, they’ve been grounded. As the COVID-19 OF ANGEL pandemic enters its seventh month, athletic event organizers and adaptive athletes have had to em- CITY brace change and find different ways to link up. GAMES Frech hopes the Angel City Virtual Games left adaptive athletes with buoyed spirits. Angel City Games officials made their announce- ment to move to a virtual event March 12, giving them four months to plan for their major extravaganza. They turned what was a four-day-long, in-person event into three one-week-long virtual experiences running from July 13–19, Aug. 3–9 and Aug. 24–30. Athletes could The Angel City Virtual Games offered concerts during each of its three weeks.

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 37 COURTESY OF PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA

allowing athletes to connect with leaders, corporate and government executives and elite coaches to build their networks and look for mentors. Workout Wednes- days allowed athletes to join specific workout classes based on their age and ability level. The Angel City Concert Series took the stage on Thursdays, spotlighting adaptive and able-bodied mu- sicians performing concerts. Family and Friends Fridays included a cooking night, game night or movie night. Saturdays highlighted virtual challenges, where athletes could participate in a virtual sports clinic and then NVWG At Home take part in a challenge afterward. Sundays focused on community fun, which included fun runs, rolls and rides, The National Veterans Wheel- scavenger hunts and celebrity surprises. chair Games (NVWG), co-spon- Frech says organizers wanted to keep the event fun sored by the Department of and light. To avoid Zoom video chat fatigue, they broke Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed events into chunks and tried to give people something Veterans of America (PVA), built to look forward to each day. The NBA’s Pau Gasol was the its brand in a different way and guest speaker on opening night, and they also had Para- helped veteran athletes exercise lympians, such as wheelchair basketball players Matt with the NVWG At Home in July. Scott, Megan Blunk and Trevon Jenifer, wheelchair racer Air Force veteran Kenneth Hernandez was glad he Tatyana McFadden and archer Lia Coryell, teach clinics. found out about it. When he learned the 2020 NVWG in Portland, Ore., was canceled, the 41-year-old Westbury, N.Y., resident was bummed out. “It was great. It kept me busy, kept me occupied. It kept me focused on that rather than what’s going on in the world,” says Hernandez, who sustained C7 and T4 spinal-cord injuries (SCI) from a 2014 motor vehicle accident in New York City. “I liked the fact that it was a competition, knowing that I was going against other athletes and just I had that competitive edge, and I was just ec- static to just get started and see the end result and if I’d be able to place.” That’s one way co-organizers, NVWG Director Dave Tostenrude and PVA Senior Director of Sports and Recreation Jen Purser, hoped the Games would help paralyzed veterans.

COURTESY OF ANGEL CITY GAMES Tostenrude and Purser thought about what paralyzed Angel City Virtual Games athletes athletes could do at home but also wanted to challenge and instructors “It’s a hard year so far, and it’s a hard summer for kids them with some new and different events. They came participated in because they can’t do camps and all the things maybe up with six events, including air rifle, the Cascade Cup Zoom video and online adaptive they have done historically. Adults are stressed because Fitness Challenge, disc golf, adaptive esports, a 30-Day sports clinics. kids are at home. It’s like stress all the way around. But, Cycling Challenge and the NVWG At Home Team Chal- also, like, if you come to the Games, we kind of just try to lenge. They also had to find officials to judge and score go big. We try to think really as big and as globally as we submissions and do plenty of work with Challenge Me can,” Frech says. “We’re kind of hoping that this is a mo- Training for the fitness competition. ment in our trajectory where we can kind of start build- Athletes had to accomplish certain tasks in each ing a global brand and where we’re keeping athletes en- event and then upload and submit videos and pic- gaged no matter where they are on the planet.” tures from their phone to the NVWG or Challenge

38 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 ALL PHOTOS THIS PAGE COURTESY OF PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA

Air Force veteran Me Training apps. They had a month to attend event up video equipment, kept his repetition tallies and Kenneth Hernandez education sessions and learn how to take videos recorded his times so Hernandez could just focus participated in July’s National Veterans and upload them to the app. on the movements. Wheelchair Games At Organizers wanted to keep the spirit of the Games Competing in the Men’s Division II/III preliminar- Home, winning a gold alive and build a sense of community. Tostenrude thinks ies, Hernandez, who also earned a silver medal in Di- medal in the Division II/III Cascade Cup they did, as 127 veterans with spinal-cord injury and dis- vision II/III disc golf, had 12 minutes to complete a Fitness Challenge, ease took part in the event, which is 25% of the NVWG’s five-rep series of kettlebell raises, ball slams and U- shown above, and average number of participants. turn box jumps. After edging out a competitor by a silver medal in Division II/III disc golf. “The goal is to continue our support for advocacy for just three reps, he advanced to the finals, where he sports and fitness and to help veterans be educated in had nine minutes to complete two rounds of 30 wall what you can do in these crazy times,” Tostenrude says. balls (where he had to throw a ball in the air and hit a “We want them to stay fit and still engage in sports and 7-foot high marker with it), deadlift a 10-pound ket- fitness and recreation. That’s the core mission of what tlebell, wheel over to a station to pick up two odd ob- the National Veterans Wheelchair Games is all about.” jects (his were a 10-pound medicine ball and a 10- Hernandez won a gold medal in the Cascade Cup Fit- pound weight) and then place each on a 2-foot high ness Challenge, where athletes participated in fitness box, and finally, do a two-round, 25-meter sprint, challenges based on their ability level. which included a figure-eight. Even his two CrossFit coaches — Vinny Greco “When they finally reviewed the results, I was ec- and Nicki Doyamis — volunteered to help. They set static and so happy for me — that what I had done was paid off,” Hernandez says. Just Winging It While the NVWG At Home and Angel City Games organizers took months to prepare for their big events, 21-year-old wheelchair racing phenom Daniel Ro- manchuk and his mom, Kim, pulled off a Zoom video wheelchair marathon event in just 30 hours. Back in April, they celebrated the Boston Marathon by bringing wheelchair racers together to take on its 26.2-mile distance at home via Zoom. About a day and a half before the race, they emailed and texted some of the top wheelchair racers in the world to see if they wanted to push together. They posted the event on social media, offered it to youth, and it picked up steam. Then, they had to learn the ins and outs of Zoom meetings, since Kim had never run one. Daniel’s agent and other race directors helped, and they even invited someone to sing the national anthem. More than 60 wheelchair racers representing 13 New York resident Kenneth Hernandez, 41, shows his National countries attended, including U.S. Paralympians Taty- Veterans Wheelchair Games At Home set list instructions. ana McFadden, Aaron Pike and Kelsey LeFevour,

Daniel Romanchuck and his mother, Kim, put together April’s Zoom video wheelchair Boston Marathon event, shown at left, in just 30 hours.

South Afri- ca’s Ernst Van Dyk, Switzer- land’s Marcel Hug Racers sprinted the and Manuela Schär, final 800 meters, and af- Australia’s Eliza terward they chatted about the ex- Ault-Connell and Great Brit- perience and how they were doing in gen- ain’s Johnboy Smith. eral. Daniel had been so used to traveling and racing Some athletes raced from their all the time that it was tough for him to adjust to the homes, using roller machines, while others, includ- downtime. He was happy to have the chance to see ing some Japanese racers, watched. Boston Ath- his racing friends again. letic Association COO Jack Fleming showed up and “Sometimes, stuff takes a while to sink in. For some described the race action. He took Hug’s world- people, it’s dates, I know that hearing the anthem play. best Boston course time and broke it up mile by But for me, it was really just seeing all those racers again mile, then let racers know when the lead group had and just that great community come together,” Dan- passed by each mile marker. iel says. “… Everyone knows at some point in the future “So, Jack was describing what was on the course we’ll all be able to really get back and actually to race because he knows the course so well at all those dif- and see each other. I think it was an all-around great ex- ferent places,” Kim Romanchuk says. “The different perience for everyone, I think. It really just kind of made race directors from Boston and New York and Lon- me realize just how large and how truly dedicated the don, they had gotten on. They’re usually in the lead community is, that the racing community is. For that vehicle for each other’s races because they know the many racers to show up in that kind of a time period racers, and they can call out what’s happening in the and just across world is just incredible.” race for any of the broadcast stuff. So, they pretended S’NS to be a lead vehicle. They were giving us status up- dates on who was surging now. It just kind of really added to the atmosphere.”

40 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 Last chance Order yours

Great wheelchair NOW! sports moments bound to bring back memories

Wheelchair sports history is at your fingertips in a SPORTS ’N SPOKES classic bound volume. Flip through the pages of S’NS from the glory days of wheelchair basketball, tennis, marathons and much more. SPORTS ’N SPOKES covered it all, year in and year out. A handsome S’NS bound volume with red imitation leather and gold-foil-lettering makes quite an impression on any shelf! With S’NS going digital in 2021, this is your final opportunity to own a SPORTS ’N SPOKES bound volume.

• Don’t delay - Order today • Limited quantities available • When these are sold, they are gone! • Call 602-224-0500, ext. 109, to order Volume $25 per volume includes shipping Issue/Dates Included Quantity • Number Foreign shipping: Add $30 for first volume 15-16 May/June ‘89 - Mar/Apr ‘91 7 • and $15 for each additional volume 17 May/June ‘91 - Mar/Apr ‘92 9 18 May/June ‘92 - Mar/Apr ‘93 1 19 May/June ‘93 - Mar/Apr ‘94 1 22 1996 1 25 1999 3 26 2000 1 30 2004 1 31 2005 1 34 2008 2 35 2009 2 37 2011 1 42 2016 1 43 2017 1

Call 602-224-0500, ext. 109, to order People

Reaching The Summit nity “stoked on getting other peo- by Jennifer Best ple outside.” The film, due for release in 2021, also follows Danielle Lance- nna Soens will tell you she’s no great lot Watson’s 100-mile handcycle ride Aathlete. With light-hearted laughter, along Utah’s White Rim Trail and Josh the lifelong outdoorswoman will tell you Hancock’s multi-day river-rafting trip not only that she’s not exceptional, but down Idaho’s Salmon River. that her climbs up Oregon’s Mount Hood “The truth is that everything that any- and Washington’s Mount Baker were just one else has ever done that’s notable harebrained ideas that thrived on her in- has always started as a harebrained idea. nate stubbornness. A lot of people will dismiss those, but if In fact, when she summited Mount you go at it, people will be surprised by Anna Soens, green shirt, climbs in Yosemite Hood in May 2018 with a handful of how much they can do,” Soens says from National Park for the first time after her fall as guide Madaleine Sorkin, blue shirt, helps her hearty friends, she became the first fe- the comfort of her Bend, Ore., home. in September 2016.

DAN given month. She lived out of the back of RUFFONI a pickup truck for work, then spent her weeks off camping and rock climbing. “That kind of climbing was about long hikes into isolated spots, soli- tude,” she says. But a 35-foot fall from a climbing wall in December 2015 forced her to change her mindset around climbing, her pro- fessional wanderings and the outdoor experience as she had known it. A T12 level spinal-cord injury compromised her functionality below the waist and left no functionality below her knees. “I didn’t know if conservation biology was feasible if I couldn’t hike,” Soens says. “Every job I’d ever had before was very mobile. I’d never had a sedentary job.” The first couple of weeks out of the hospital were the toughest, but she doesn’t look back that often. Soens

Anna Soens, light blue jacket, participates in free skiing with Oregon Adaptive Sports at Mount adds that losing a brother to cancer Bachelor in April 2019 with Julie Hackbarth, left, and Jirka Harris, right. several years prior helped shape her perspective. male para athlete to peak it. In May 2019, LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS She took a year off to focus on reha- she became the first female para athlete Soens thrives in the great outdoors. biltation to regain as much function as to summit Mount Baker, too. An avid rock climber, backpacker, hiker she could. Now, the 32-year-old is among and adventurer, her life as a conservation “During that year, I met other young, three wheelchair athletes featured in biologist, tracking wildlife and study- active paras who introduced me to this Adapted, a Paul Bikis film focused on ing mountain lion kill piles across re- whole new world of adaptive sports that overcoming obstacles, defying expec- mote Nevada mountain ranges and des- I’d never had a realm of understand- tations, humans’ invaluable connection ert, was her ideal. She was paid to camp ing about. I’d never known anyone in a with nature and the unique commu- and explore three weeks out of any chair. It was all abstract to me. They were

4242 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 KYLE QUEENER

From left, guide Mike Elges, Anna Soens, Brianna Goehring and Adam Glos make a summit push on Washington’s Mount Baker on the Roman Wall in May 2019.

PAUL BIKIS DAVID

just everyday people getting out and EDWARDS being active like it’s normal, like how it should be. That’s exactly what you need when you’re freshly injured,” Soens says. She started climbing again, skiing, off-road handcycling and ex- ploring her new world.

ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER Those toys came with hefty price tags, so Soens went on the hunt for grants. A substantial grant from Hawkeye Johnson’s GoHawkeye Foundation out of Telluride, Colo., provided a sit-ski. “Getting connected to all these foundations that give grants was pretty fundamental to me coming out of my injury. Knowing there are re- Anna Soens goes on a sit-ski trip in sources to afford these astronomical the Monashee Mountains in British prices really opened a world of possi- Columbia with the Live It! Love It! Foundation and Mustang Powder bilities,” Soens says. “I was doing what- in April 2019. ever I could to get back outdoors, back to the places that meant the most to

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 43 DAN RUFFONI

From left, Joselyn Cook, Anna Soens, and Pat Dougherty participateFrom in left, Cascade Joselyn Crankfest, Cook, Anna an annual cyclocrossSoens and racePat Dougherty and off- roadparticipate handcycling in Cascade event organized Crankfest, byan Oregon annual Adaptive cyclocross Sports race andin off-road handcyclingOctober 2018. event organized by Oregon Adaptive Sports in October 2018. BERIN KLAWITER

me. The more active I got, the more Anna Soens heads down a comfortable I was being back outside trail at the annual Wydaho Rendezvous Teton Bike Festival and knowing my limits and, suddenly, at Grand Targhee in Wyoming, it didn’t seem totally impossible to coordinated by Teton Adaptive climb the mountains.” Sports, in September 2019. She had no idea what that would look like. sported custom-made “If that meant me in a sled with 25 crutches formed from ski people pulling me up the mountain, I poles and put one foot was down,” she quips. in front of the other. At In actuality, what began with Mike Elges times, they dragged her in She helps coach kids at an annual ski of Baker Mountain Guides in Bellingham, a sled. At other times, they swooshed camp in Sun Valley, Idaho, and has be- Wash., and some volunteers came to in- beside her down glaciers. come part of the adaptive sports com- clude 15 friends who helped carry her “Everyone was so jazzed, no one munity, which she likens to a fam- sit-ski and other equipment, while she wanted to drop off the team,” she says. ily, with heavy involvement in Oregon KELLIE STANDISH Adaptive Sports in Bend, Ore. UNUSUAL PATH “It’s a world that naturally attracts the Today, Soens is a bi- best kind of people, whether it’s people ologist with U.S. Fish & with disabilities or the people helping Wildlife, working with the community,” Soens says. “It’s pretty federal and state part- awesome. I don’t feel like I’m missing out ners to minimize proj- at all right now. I have a great life, great ect impacts on endan- job, and I’m doing all the things I could gered species. ever hope to do.” “I mean, ultimately, For more information or to help cover a permanent, comfort- production expenses for Adapted, visit able job in conserva- adaptedthefilm.com. For more information biology is where tion or to contribute to GoHawkeye, visit you hope to be,” gohawkeye.org. Soens says. S’NS Anna Soens, right, with her friend, training partner and Oregon Hers was just an Adaptive Sports instructor Kellie Standish and their dogs, as they train for the Mount Hood climb at the summit of Oregon’s Tumalo unusual path into the Mountain in April 2018. office gig.

4444 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 SportsSports Associations Associations

AMPUTEE SPORTS International Wheelchair Aviators Move United SKIING 82 Corral Drive 451 Hungerford Drive, Ste. 608 Move United Keller, TX 76244 Rockville, MD 20850 Move United 451 Hungerford Drive, Ste. 608 (817) 229-4634 moveunitedsport.org 451 Hungerford Drive, Ste. 608 Rockville, MD 20850 [email protected] Rockville, MD 20850 moveunitedsport.org wheelchairaviators.org World T.E.A.M. Sports moveunitedsport.org 4250 Veterans Memorial Highway, ARCHERY Ste. 420E Ski for Light, Inc. FOOTBALL Holbrook, NY 11741 1455 West Lake Street Disabled Archery, USA (855) 987-8326 / 288-3377 (fax) Minneapolis, MN 55408 Move United (612) 827-3232 c/o Coach Glen Harris 451 Hungerford Drive, Ste. 608 worldteamsports.org [email protected] P.O. Box 698 Rockville, MD 20850 sfl.org Langley, WA 98260 moveunitedsport.org (360) 321-5979 QUAD SPORTS [email protected] Universal Wheelchair Bay Area Outreach & Recreation SOFTBALL disabledsportsusa.org/archery Football Association Program (BORP) U.C. Raymond Walters College 3075 Adeline St., Ste. 155 National Wheelchair BASKETBALL Disability Services Office Berkeley, CA 94703 Softball Association 9555 Plainfield Road (510) 849-4663 / 849-4616 (fax) 13414 Paul Street Wheelchair Basketball Canada Cincinnati, OH 45236-1096 [email protected] Omaha, NE 68154 6 Antares Drive, Phase 1, Unit 8 (513) 792-8625 borp.org (402) 305-5020 Ottawa, Ontario K2E 8A9 [email protected] [email protected] Canada United States Quad Rugby wheelchairsoftball.org Association (613) 260-1296 GOLF [email protected] 4000 Ridgeway Drive TABLE TENNIS wheelchairbasketball.ca U.S. Golf Association Homewood, AL 35209 1631 Mesa Avenue (205) 999-3092 American Wheelchair International Wheelchair Colorado Springs, CO 80906 usqra.org Table Tennis Association Basketball Federation (719) 471-4810, ext.15 23 Parker Street 5 Route Suisse usga.org Port Chester, NY 10573 1295 Mies RACQUET SPORTS (914) 937-3932 Switzerland National Amputee Golf Association International Tennis Federation [email protected] +41-22-545-00-00 11 Walnut Hill Road (Wheelchair Tennis Department) iwbf.org Amherst, NH 03031 Bank Lane, Roehampton TRACK & FIELD (800) 633-6242 London SW15 5XZ, England National Wheelchair [email protected] (011) 0044-(0)208-878-6464 Adaptive Track & Field USA Basketball Association* nagagolf.org 0044-(0)208-392-4744 (fax) (ATSUSA) 1130 Elkton Drive, Ste. C [email protected] https://www.atfusa.org Colorado Springs, CO 80907 HOCKEY itftennis.com (719) 266-4082 WATER SPORTS/RECREATION nwba.org U.S. Sled Hockey Association United States Tennis Association 710 N. Lake Shore Drive, 3rd Floor 70 W. Red Oak Lane American Canoe Association BILLIARDS Chicago, IL 60611 White Plains, NY 10604 7432 Alban Station Boulevard (312) 908-4292 / 908-1051 (fax) (914) 696-7000 / 696-7029 (fax) Ste. B-232 National Wheelchair [email protected] usta.com Springfield, VA 22150 Poolplayers Association usahockey.com/sledhockey (703) 451-0141 / 451-2245 (fax) 9757 Mount Lompoc Court americancanoe.org Las Vegas, NV 89178 RECREATION [email protected] HORSEBACK RIDING Turning POINT (Paraplegics Handicapped Scuba Association North American Riding for the On Independent Nature Trips) 1104 El Prado BOWLING Handicapped Association 403 Pacific Avenue San Clemente, CA 92672 P.O. Box 33150 Terrell, TX 75160 (949) 498-4540 / 498-6128 (fax) American Wheelchair Denver, CO 80233 (972) 524-4231 [email protected] Bowling Association (800) 369-RIDE / (303) 252-4610 (fax) [email protected] hsascuba.com c/o Gary Ryan, AWBA Secretary pathintl.org turningpointnation.org 16006 Congo Lane Water Skiers With Houston, TX 77040 Disabilities Association (713) 444-7588 LACROSSE SHOOTING 1251 Holy Cow Road [email protected] Move United Polk City, FL 33868 Wheelchair Lacrosse USA (800) 533-2972 / (863) 324-4341 awba.org 4245 West Overlook Drive 451 Hungerford Drive, Ste. 608 Rockville, MD 20850 325-8259 (fax) San Diego, CA 92108 usawaterski.org FENCING (619) 807-9327 moveunitedsport.org wheelchairlacrosse.com U.S. Fencing Association National Wheelchair 1 Olympic Plaza Shooting Federation* S’NS Colorado Springs, CO 80909 MULTISPORT 102 Park Avenue (719) 866 - 4511 Casa Colina Adaptive Sports Rockledge, PA 19046 usfencing.org & Outdoor Adventures (215) 379-2359 / 663-0102 (fax) 255 East Bonita Avenue NRA Disabled Shooting Services Pomona, CA 91769 FLYING 11250 Waples Mill Road (909) 596-7733 / 593-0153 (fax) Fairfax, VA 22030 Freedom’s Wings International casacolina.org 324 Charles Street, Apt. 25 (703) 267-1495 / 267-3941 (fax) Coopersburg, PA 18036 (800) 382-1197 freedomswings.org

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 45 RECREATION FOR THE WHEELCHAIR SPORTS ENTHUSIAST On The Sidelines

BASKETBALL sion tournaments, while the Adult Divi- sion’s games were shortened to two days NWBA Sets 2021 Tournament because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit nwba.org. fter some of this year’s tournament Awas affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the National Wheel- Wheelchair Basketball chair Basketball As- Added To Olympic Channel sociation (NWBA) is looking forward to heelchair basketball is coming to the next year. WOlympic Channel. The NWBA an- The Olympic Channel announced in late nounced in late July July that it reached an agreement with the the dates and loca- International Wheelchair Basketball Fed- tions for all events of eration (IWBF) to collaborate on content the 2021 NWBA Toy- for the International Olympic Committee’s ota National Cham- global streaming media platform. pionship Series. The Intercollegiate, Adult Launched in 2016, the Olympic Channel and Junior division tournaments will be held offers Olympic and Paralympic sports pro- in Wichita, Kan., while the Women’s Division

championship will take place in Phoenix. OLYMPICCHANNEL.COM More than 125 teams from across the country will be taking part in nine tournaments as part of the National Champion- ship Series. These are the specific dates and sites for the events.

Intercollegiate Division Women’s and Men’s March 11–13 Heskett Center, Wichita State University Wichita, Kan.

Women’s Division March 19–21 olympicchannel.com Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center Phoenix gramming 24 hours a day in 12 languages. Working with 95 sports federations, the Adult Division channel is available as a mobile app and on Divisions I, II & III Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and March 25–27 the Roku platform. Wichita Hoops & Wichita Sports Forum In addition to collaborating on live events, Wichita, Kan. the Olympic Channel actively works with Junior Division its federation partners to present event and Prep, Varsity and Varsity Invitational news coverage, highlights, magazine shows March 26–28 and original programming. Wichita Hoops & Wichita Sports Forum “Wheelchair basketball has become in- Wichita, Kan. creasingly more popular for Paralympic au- diences over the past few years, and we are Earlier this year, the NWBA canceled the very excited to embark on this new collab- Junior, Women’s and Intercollegiate divi-

4646 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 The United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum opened in Colorado Springs, Colo., in July. oration with the Olympic Chan- nel, which we hope will continue to grow and reach new viewers for the sport,” IWBF President Ulf Mehrens says in a press release. “A partnership with a global mul- timedia platform is a major step forward for the sport and by in- creasing the visibility of wheelchair basketball, we hope to dem- onstrate the athleticism and dynamism of the game.” For more information, visit olympicchannel.com.

PARALYMPICS PHOTOS THIS PAGE COURTESY OF UNITED STATES OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC MUSEUM Museum Opens ollowing a roughly two- Fmonth delay because of the novel coronavirus (COVID- 19) pandemic, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum is finally open. The one-of-a-kind tribute to the Olympic and Paralympic movements officially opened its doors to the public in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 30. Originally set to open in May, the 60,000-square- foot building features 12 universal and interactive galleries, including athlete training, a theater, Sum- mer Games and Winter Games. “This museum has been nearly 10 years in the making, and we are excited that these incredible stories will come to life in Olym- The 60,000-square-foot pic City USA,” says museum CEO United States Olympic Christopher Liedel. “The museum & Paralympic Museum features 12 universal and is more than a sports museum. It The museum is taking pan- Accessibil- interactive galleries. is a museum of hopes and dreams. demic precautions. Guests and ity is also a key And we think the U.S. Olympic staff are required to have their feature. All gal- & Paralympic Museum will pro- temperature taken and wear face leries are wheel- vide athletes and fans alike with a coverings. Additionally, guests are chair accessible, and the facility space to celebrate friendship, de- issued timed tickets, and there features gentle-grade ramps. Ad- termination and all the best val- are minute-by-minute attendance ditionally, guests have the op- ues Team USA athletes embody.” caps in each gallery. portunity to customize their ac-

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 47 On The Sidelines

cessibility needs by answering The fund is intended to pro- ROWING questions when first entering. vide a one-time stipend to U.S. Information on someone’s athletes who have incurred fi- Madsen Passes hearing or vision is transferred nancial hardship as a result of tragic accident during a dar- to a computer chip in a ticket vis- the COVID-19 pandemic and the Aing voyage claimed the life itors wear around their necks. postponement of the Olympic of three-time Paralympian and The interactive exhibits read that and Paralympic Summer Games Paralyzed Veterans of America chip as guests go by and auto- in Tokyo. California Chapter member matically customize its content The USOPC has enlisted its Angela Madsen. for the individual’s needs. fundraising arm, the United The 60-year-old Marine Corps The museum is open seven days States Olympic & Paralympic veteran died during her solo a week. Admission ranges from Foundation (USOPF), to work rowing journey across the Pa- $14.95 to $24.95, and health and with its network of donors to cific Ocean in late June. Madsen’s safety measures are in effect. raise funds, 100% of which will wife, Debra, confirmed the tragic For more information, visit go directly to eligible athletes news on the Row of Life Face- usopm.org. who are currently training and in book page June 23. contention to represent the U.S. Madsen was trying to become COVID Financial Assistance at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and the first paraplegic and old- Beijing 2022 Games. est woman to row across the Pa- aralympic and Olympic ath- The USOPF’s fundraising ef- cific Ocean. She had been at sea Pletes in the United States forts around the fund will run alone for 60 days, was 1,114 nau- being financially affected by the through Sept. 30, with a target tical miles from Los Angeles and novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pan- of providing direct financial sup- headed to Honolulu when any- demic have a place to turn for help. port to athletes by one last heard from her, accord- November 2020. ing to rowoflife.org. An anonymous The website notes that Mad- longtime USOPF sen’s last update on June 21 said supporter made she was going into the water to an initial contribu- fix her bow anchor. When friends tion of $500,000 and family didn’t hear from her TEAMUSA.ORG/COVIDAAF to help launch the the next day, they called the U.S. fund, and Ralph Coast Guard. Lauren, an official An aircraft was dispatched, Team USA outfitter and a German cargo vessel since 2008, is com- headed to Tahiti was rerouted mitting 25% of to check on her. They confirmed the purchase price Madsen was deceased upon ar- from each unit of riving at her location. its Team USA One- A world-class rower, Madsen teamusa.org/covidaaf Year-Out Collec- had rowed solo and with teams tion to this effort. to cross the Atlantic and Indian In partnership with the Ath- An AAC and USOPC survey re- oceans, and she circumnavigated letes’ Advisory Council (AAC) vealed that 75% of U.S. athletes Great Britain. She set a stagger- and national governing bod- who responded have had their ing 14 Guinness World Records ies, the United States Olympic & earnings impacted as a result of in rowing and the shot put dur- Paralympic Committee (USOPC) the pandemic, with 26% losing ing her lifetime. Her love of row- announced in late July the more than half. ing led her to found the Califor- launch of the COVID Athlete As- For more information on the nia Adaptive Rowing Program in sistance Fund. fund, visit teamusa.org/covidaaf. Long Beach, Calif.

4848 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 Madsen’s athletic prowess wasn’t limited to rowing, ei- ther. She also competed at the 2008 Beijing Summer Paralympics in rowing, earned a bronze medal in shot put at the 2012 London Paralympic Games and competed in shot put and javelin at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Final arrangements for Madsen were still pending at press time Three-time Paralympian in August. Angela Madsen died in late June while attempting a For more information, visit solo row from Los Angeles rowoflife.org. to Honolulu. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROWOFLIFE.ORG S’NS

September 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 49 Pro Shop

CLASSIFIEDS

2005 – 2020 10” LOWERED-FLOOR MINI-VANS: 50% off delivery. Call 866-869-0808.

WANTED W/C ACCESSIBLE MOTORHOME for charity fundraiser May – October 2021. Rent or buy. Wayne [email protected] or 781-545-3744.

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE: Contact Sherri Shea, [email protected] or 602-224-0500, ext. 102.

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Abilities Expo...... 5 Cliff's Editorials Book ...... 49 Hollister Inc...... 52 Invacare Corporation ...... 9 Ki Mobility ...... 2 Orion Medical Group Inc...... 50 PVA 2021 Summit + Expo ...... 12 S'NS Bound Volumes...... 41

5050 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | September 2020 Final Frame

Xxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxt. Photo by Xxxxxx During the February 2020 Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Code of Honor Quad Rugby Invitational, Team PVA’s Sarah Behrend reaches for the ball with Sportable Possums player Howell Smith in pursuit at The St. James in Springfield, Va. Photo by Christopher Di Virgilio.