The Magazine for and Recreation Vol. 46 No. 3

May 2020

CHANGING LIVES Teaching wheelchair in South Sudan WORKOUT HYGIENE Avoid germs while staying active Fast & Physical Wheelchair builds momentum

Inside SPORTS ’N SPOKES Features

Healthy & 18 Clean Workouts

With the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and many gyms closed, working out has become a bit of a challenge. But here are some ways to — and suggestions to reduce the germs, too. by Shelly Anderson 22 Crosse-ing Things Up With 11 teams and more than 20 programs throughout the , wheelchair lacrosse is gaining traction in the adaptive sports world. by Jennifer Best 28 Tourney Crusher COVID-19 cut the season short and canceled other sports championships, but disappointed players and coaches think organizers did the right thing. by Dave Royse

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on sportsnspokes.com Scan This! Digital Highlights Or go to OFF THE COURT JUNIOR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR sportsnspokes.com Check out our new video series where There’s still time to nominate an outstanding young ath- we go in-depth with athletes and peo- lete for SPORTS ’N SPOKES (S’NS) Junior Athlete of the Year. ple who, despite being in isolation be- The winner receives a $1,500 educational scholarship, S’NS cause of the novel coronavirus (COVID- digital subscription and his or her photo on the cover of 19), still have amazing stories to share. the September issue. The deadline is June 30.

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

6 MY OPINION Disappointment & Hope by Tom Fjerstad

14 THE EXTRA POINT Paralympics Postponed by S’NS Staff

16 INNOVATIONS Bridging The Gap by Eric He 22 34 PEOPLE A Return Home by Bill Huber

Also in This Issue

8 In The Game

13 Spokes Stars

37 Sports Associations

38 On The Sidelines

41 Classifieds

41 ProShop 42 Final Frame 18

On the cover: Wheelchair SPORTS ’N SPOKES (ISSN 0161-6706). Published bi- Lacrosse USA has grown across month ly in January, March, May, July, September, and the U.S., with 20 programs November, by the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Inc., at 2111 East Highland Avenue, Suite 180, Phoenix, AZ representing male, female and 85016-4702, U.S.A. (602) 224-0500. Periodicals postage youth players across 11 states. paid at Phoenix, AZ, and at additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to SPORTS ’N Photo by Di Miller. SPOKES, 2111 East Highland Avenue, Suite 180, Phoenix, 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 | May 2020

TOM FJERSTAD My Opinion

Disappointment & Hope and practice. The fifth event, the 20K handcy- cle race, I chose for one reason only — it re- quired that I get my butt outside to train in et’s see if I can get through an attempt to shed a few pounds and regain this month’s column with- L some semblance of strength and endurance. out saying the name of the el- In light of current events, handcycling may ephant in the room. I’m certain also have been the easiest one to prepare for, as you’re as tired as I am of hearing the facilities required to practice my other four about it every waking minute of every day. events are no doubt closed for purposes of so- Canceled seems to be the word most used, cial distancing. centers, billiards halls, not only in wheelchair sports but in seem- recreation centers and gun clubs are, at the ingly every aspect of life over the last couple very least, operating under greatly altered rules Published by Paralyzed Veterans of America of months. I’m sure there are many opinions 2111 E. Highland Ave, Suite 180 and schedules, if not shuttered all together. Phoenix AZ 85016 • (602) 224-0500 among our readers as to what should be can- The inability to train was really not as big of a celed and what should be allowed to proceed EDITOR deal to me. I know it’s been for many of our read- as scheduled. ers, though — those of you who are actually ac- Tom Fjerstad, ext. 100 I have a T2 level spinal-cord injury (SCI), complished athletes, athletes who had plans to [email protected] and as much as I hate to admit it, I and many compete in Tokyo at this year’s Summer Para- others with SCI fall into what are classified OPERATIONS MANAGER lympics or other major sanctioned events. as “high-risk” individuals. While gyms may Many of the athletes at the NVWG are also Sherri Shea, ext. 102 be closed and team sports aren’t playing or [email protected] accomplished in their sports, train fervently practicing, I hope you can still take some and truly relish the spirit of competition. ASSISTANT EDITOR steps to maintain your level of fitness all For me, this trip to compete in Portland while keeping yourself as safe as possible. Andy Nemann, ext. 112 was more about camaraderie and seeing old If you’re a handcyclist who loves fresh air [email protected] friends — a trip where I’m certain I’d have and the wind in your face, you hopefully will consumed more calories than I’d have burned EDITORIAL COORDINATORS be able to continue your training as usual. I’m and would have spent more time connecting certain the idea of cranking away on an arm John Groth, ext. 105 with old friends than developing strategies to [email protected] ergometer in your garage is far from appeal- propel me to the win. ing, nor are the options, if any, for many other Brittany Martin, ext. 110 On one hand, this may very likely be a sum- [email protected] athletes, especially for those who participate mer full of heartbreaking disappointments, in team sports. but on the other hand, I’m hopeful we’ll find ART & PRODUCTION Personally, I had just received my registra- opportunities to fill possible voids in other Ann Garvey, ext. 103 tion confirmation to compete in the National aspects of our lives. [email protected] Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) that was Try to enjoy the beginning of summer, and scheduled to take place the first week of July Kerry Randolph, ext. 104 I hope a sense of normalcy returns soon. [email protected] in Portland, Ore. This would have been the first NVWG in which I had competed since the ADVERTISING S’NS 1995 Games in Atlanta. Steve Max, 215-284-8787 I registered to compete in five events. Four [email protected] of those — trapshooting, 9 ball, bowling and SUBSCRIPTIONS table tennnis — required little to no physical conditioning but needed considerable skills Suzi Hubbard, ext. 109 [email protected]

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 | May 2020

NEWS FOR THE WHEELCHAIR SPORTS COMPETITOR In The Game

ARCHERY BASKETBALL Alim, Pavlik Earn Titles NWBA Adult Division inagpore’s Nur Syahidah Alim, wom- Tourney Winners en’s compound open world No. 1 and S espite the novel coronavirus (COVID- world champion, stayed atop her division 19) pandemic, the National Wheelchair as she captured the sixth Fazza Para Ar- D Basketball Association (NWBA) still held chery World Ranking Tournament its 2020 Toyota Adult Wheelchair Basket- in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in ball National Championship tournament in late February. Alim defeated Ita- Wichita, , in mid-March. ly’s Maria Andrea Virgilio, 135-131, The Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks knocked in the championship. off the defending champion Rol- Slovakia’s Marcel Pavlik edged out lin’ Knicks, 80-72, for the Division I title. Dallas’ Italy’s Alberto Simonelli to defend Bobbie Nickleberry Jr., was named the Divi- his men’s compound open title. sion I tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Pavlik won,

143-142, rallying CHRISTOPHER in the fifth and final end to win. DI

Romania’s Patru VIRGILIO Eugen upset Turk- ish Paralympian Sadik Savas, 6-2, for the men’s recurve open title. Turkey’s Merve Nur Eroğlu defeated Italy’s 2012 Paralym- pic silver medalist Elis- abetta Mijno, 7-1, for the women’s recurve open title. Hunga- ry’s Tamas Gaspar de- feated Finland’s Jean Pierre Antonios, 134- 126, to win the men’s W1 Open title, while Japan’s Aiko Okazaki rallied for a 115-111 win over Great Britain’s Victoria Rumary in the women’s W1 Open. In team events, Italy led the way with two gold medals (com- Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks player Bobbie Nickleberry Jr., was named the National pound men’s Wheelchair Basketball Association open team Toyota Adult Division I Wheelchair and mixed Basketball National Championship tournament’s Most Valuable Player. team W1).

88 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 EISENBERG JOSH

The Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks defeated the New York Rollin’ Knicks, 80-72, for the 2020 National Wheelchair Basketball Association Toyota Adult Division I Wheelchair Basketball National Championship tournament title in Wichita, Kansas. JOSH

In Division II, the Tampa Bay EISENBERG Strong Dogs, out of , de- feated the TIRR Memorial Her- mann Hotwheels, out of Houston, 58-50. The Strong Dogs’ Robert Gordon was named the tourna- ment Most Valuable Player. Brooks Ballers (Florida) captured the Division III title, with a 55-51 victory over the Rockford Chari- ots (). Brooks’ Tim Houston was named the Division III tourna- ment’s Most Valuable Player. The tournament was short- ened to two days from three be- cause of the coronavirus, and the NWBA canceled its junior di-

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Tampa Bay Strong Dogs players celebrate M B

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Wheelchair Basketball Association Toyota Y Adult Division II Wheelchair Basketball National Championship tournament title in Wichita, Kansas.

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 9 The Tampa Bay Strong Dogs defeated the TIRR Memorial Hermann Hotwheels, 58-50, to capture the mid-March 2020 National Wheelchair JOSH

Basketball Association Toyota Adult Division II EISENBERG Wheelchair Basketball National Championship tournament title in Wichita, Kansas. JOSH EISENBERG

The Brooks Ballers celebrate after defeating the Rockford Chariots, 55-51, for the mid-March 2020 National Wheelchair Basketball Association Toyota Adult Division III Wheelchair Basketball National Championship tournament title in Wichita, Kansas. 1010 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 EISENBERG JOSH

Norway swept its series against Sweden with 3-1 (5-4 overtime) and 2-1 victories. Nor- way’s Ola Oiseth scored four goals in the series, and Morten Værnes added two, including the overtime game-winner, and also had four assists. Per Kasperi and David Nilsson scored two goals each in the series. The reigning Paralympic silver medalists, Italy won two of three games over . Italy won Brooks Ballers player Tim Houston was named the National Wheelchair its two games (2-0 and 4-3), while Basketball Association Toyota Germany earned a 2-1 victory. Adult Division III Wheelchair Basketball National Championship tournament’s Most Valuable Player. U.S. Takes Exhibition Olympic Oval in Richmond, Brit- eam USA took a two-game ish Columbia. The U.S. won two of vision tournament just days be- para ice exhibition se- three games in the series. T fore because of COVID-19. ries in mid-February against Team Catherine Faherty and Kelsey For more photos and sto- . After finishing in a 2-2 (1-1 DiClaudio each scored on penalty ries from the tournament, visit three-round shootout) first game shots in the shootout to help the sportsnspokes.com. tie, Team USA picked up a 2-0 win United States win the third and over Canada in the second game final game to take the series. in Elmira, . Canadian captain Christina The U.S. rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 Picton scored two goals and had deficits in the first game, as Brody Russia Wins World an assist, and Nandini Sharma Roybal and Declan Farmer each added another goal to lift Team Championships scored goals. Billy Bridges and Rob Canada to a 3-2 win in game Armstrong scored goals for the ussia captured March’s World one. Team USA evened things up Canadians. The teams went © GETTY I MAG Champi- with a 3-1 victory in game two, ES R / scoreless in overtime, and SA N onship title in Wetzikon, Switzer- as Erica Mitchell, Faherty and Di- C H each team scored once in E S N land, defeating Canada, 5-4, in the Claudio each scored goals. E T a three-round shootout — 1 gold-medal match. Russia scored The series celebrated the 10- Josh Pauls for the U.S. and a point in the eighth and final end year anniversary of the 2010 Auren Halbert for Canada. to earn the victory and the title. Vancouver Travis Dodson and Jack Wal- and was part of a larger project lace each scored third-period funded partially by the Hockey goals to lift the team to a 2-0 shut- SLED HOCKEY Canada Foundation called The out win in the second game. U.S. TrailblazeHERs Project — Growing U.S. Wins Women’s goalie Steve Cash finished with 10 Female Para Hockey. saves, and Canadian goalie Domi- Showcase Contributor: Stuart Lieberman nic Larocque had 13 saves. eam USA’s women’s sled Norway, Italy Win Series Thockey team defeated Team Vegas Wins PCSHL Title Canada in a penalty shootout to orway and Italy each cap- take February’s Women’s Show- Ntured a para series he Las Vegas Golden Knights case Series at the Richmond in late February. Tsled hockey team defeated

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 11 JOSH EISENBERG

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS Chile, Argentina Advance hile’s men’s wheelchair tennis Cteam and Argentina’s wom- en’s wheelchair tennis team each advanced to the 2020 BNP Paribas World Cup finals in Portugal after earning mid-February victories in the Americas Qualification in Bue- nos Aires, Argentina. Chile defeated second- seeded Colombia, 2-0, in the men’s championship. Chile’s Jaime Sepulveda de- feated Colombia’s Manuel Qui- tian, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3, while Chile’s Alexander Cataldo, world No. ’s Miguel Vargas, No. 52, eyes the puck while Las 32, defeated Colombia’s Eliecer Vegas’ Ahmad Karimzada, Oquendo, 6-0, 6-1. No. 15, defends him. March Paralympic Qualifier in Richmond, British Columbia. Both will head to the now-2021 Para- reigning champ Arizona Coyote © G ET lympic Games in Tokyo. Because TY IM Parahockey to earn its first Pacific A G E of the novel coronavirus (COVID- S / Coast Sled Hockey League (PCSHL) G L 19) pandemic, the 2020 Summer A D championship in mid-March. C O Paralympic Games were post- V Las Vegas defeated Arizona, 8-1, poned in mid-March. in the championship game at the Canada finished the qualifying Ice Den in Scottsdale, Ariz. tournament undefeated, beating Ahmad Karimzada led Las Colombia, 57-46, to win the tour- Vegas — and all scorers — with nament and advance to Tokyo. two goals and three assists in the Canada defeated Switzerland (53- title game, while Isaac Escobedo 38), Colombia (62-35), Brazil (58-36), had two goals. Miguel Vargas In women’s action, Sweden (55-39), Germany (59-31) scored in the Coyotes’ lone win, Argentina’s Andrea Medrano and France (50-40). with Coyotes captain and coach defeated Chile’s Sofia Fuen- France, which finished 6-1, Paul Crane getting the assist. tes, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, while Argentina’s earned the first Paralympic berth, Las Vegas will now host the Maria Florencia Moreno defeated as it defeated Germany, 54-30, 2021 PCSHL championship. Dates Chile’s Macarena Cabrillana, world in its final game. France also de- have not been announced. No. 20, 6-2, 0-6, 6-2, avenging an feated Germany (52-31), Sweden earlier tournament loss. (48-31), Colombia (54-36), Bra- Chile will host the men’s finals zil (53-36) and Switzerland (52-36) for the first time since 2011, while and lost to Canada (50-40). Argentina is scheduled to host , Denmark, Great Brit- Paralympic Berths the women’s finals for the second ain, New Zealand, the United time in three years in May. anada and France each States and host country Japan S’NS Cearned Paralympic wheel- had already qualified for the chair rugby berths at the early- Paralympic Games.

1212 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 Each issue, SPORTS ’N SPOKES recognizes three athletes who have recorded outstanding accomplishments in wheelchair sports. Spokes Stars Interested in nominating someone for Spokes Stars? Then email editorial coordinator John Groth at [email protected] with a nomination and his or her accomplishment.

JO E K U SU M O T O ANDREW KURKA (Palmer, ) The 28-year-old, who has a T10 spinal-cord injury, won a gold medal in the men’s sitting Super G event and men’s sitting giant slalom skiing events in the mid-February Sakhalin 2020 World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup in Sakhalin, Russia.

J O E K U S U M O T O

LAURIE STEPHENS (Wenham, Mass.) Born with spina bifida, the 36-year-old captured three gold med- als in women’s sitting downhill skiing, two in women’s sitting Super G and one in the women’s sitting giant slalom, as well as a silver medal in the women’s parallel event in the mid-February Sakhalin 2020 World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup in Sakhalin, Russia.

© G ET TY IM AG ES / L IN T A O Z H A N G

JESPER PEDERSEN (Haugesund, Norway) The 20-year-old, who was born with spina bifida, was the only one of six downhill sit-skiers who didn’t crash on the opening day of the mid-Febru- ary Sakhalin 2020 World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup downhill course and ended up winning the gold medal in Sakhalin, Russia.

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 13 The Extra Point

Paralympics Postponed cited three main considerations for post- and difficult time. Now that the dates by S’NS Staff poning the Games: are confirmed, the IPC will work with the International Federations to estab- aralympic hopefuls and teams will have To protect the health of the athletes lish new qualification criteria which will to wait one more year for their chance • P and everyone involved fully respect those that have already to compete in the 2020 Summer Games. qualified for the Games.” Officials announced in mid-March • To support containment of the they were postponing the 2020 Tokyo COVID-19 virus HISTORY MADE Summer Paralympics because of the It’s not just the Paralympics that have novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. To safeguard the interests of the • been affected, either. The 2020 Tokyo Roughly a week later, officials said the athletes and of Olympic and Paralym- Summer Olympics also have a new date Games would be held Aug. 24–Sept. 5, pic and the global international and will run July 23–Aug. 8, 2021. 2021, in Tokyo. sports calendar © GETTY IMAGES/TAWATCHAIPRAKOBKIT/JÖRG SCHÜLER

International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons, right, announced in March that because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics would be postponed until Aug. 24–Sept. 5, 2021.

The Games are just the latest major “When the Paralympic Games do So, the Paralympics will continue to sporting event that’s been canceled or take place in Tokyo next year, they will run a couple of weeks after the Olympics. moved because of the COVID-19 virus be an extra special display of human- Team trials have been postponed, and new that’s affected the world. ity uniting as one, a global celebration dates for those will be announced later. of human resilience and a sensational It’s only the fourth time since 1896 STAYING SAFE showcase of sport,” says IPC President that the Olympic Summer Games won’t Officials from the International Olym- Andrew Parsons in the press release. have been held every four years. The pic Committee (IOC), Tokyo 2020 Orga- “ .... The priority for all those involved in other years were in 1916, 1940 and 1944, nizing Committee, Tokyo Metropolitan the Paralympic Movement must be to when the Games were canceled be- Government and International Paralym- focus on staying safe with their friends cause of war. The 1940 and 1944 Winter pic Committee (IPC) in a press release and family during this unprecedented Games also were canceled.

1414 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 It’s also the first time the IOC has had The IPC is issuing weekly coronavirus group was organized in February 2020 to postpone the Games outside of their updates on its website at paralympic.org. and meets on a monthly basis. designated year. IPC Athletes’ Council Chairperson Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike says the Tokyo MENTAL HEALTH HELP Chelsey Gotell, a former Canadian Para- Metropolitan Government will commit Mental health resources have also lympic swimmer and 12-time medalist, all its resources and work closely with the been created to help athletes. thought the quick decision to finalize dates Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the In early April, the United States Olym- offered a huge sense of relief for athletes, national government and other stake- pic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) an- who can mentally reset and start thinking holders to fully prepare for the delivery nounced the formation of an external about their 2021 plans. But athletes’ health of a Games that is safe and secure. Mental Health Taskforce to support Team and safety remain imperative. The IPC says Paralympic athletes and USA athletes, as well as coaches, officials “For now, though, training for Tokyo is teams who already qualified for the 2020 and administrators who serve them. It’s not the priority. Staying safe is, and I hope Paralympics will stay qualified. The In- a 13-member taskforce comprising U.S. all athletes, their families and their friends ternational Wheelchair Rugby Feder- Olympians, Paralympians, coaches, med- follow the advice of their local authorities ation announced that the eight teams ical and mental health professionals who during this difficult period for the whole — United States; Australia; Canada; Den- are charged with developing best prac- world,” Gotell says in the release. mark; France; Great Britain; Japan; and tices, resources and action plans to sup- For more information, visit teamusa.org, New Zealand — will remain qualified for port Team USA athletes’ mental health paralympic.org and sportsnspokes.com. the 2021 Paralympic Games, as well. needs and to advise USOPC staff. The S’NS

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 15 Innovations

Bridging The Gap ness to hoist himself. Jones, who is in the Shuman, an adaptive sports recre- by Eric He / photos courtesy of Melissa Oliver Servicemember Transitional Advanced ational therapist who works with veter- Rehabilitation (STAR) Program at the ans in peer groups to help integrate them hen Malik Jones started rehabilita- Hunter Holmes McGuire VA (Department back into the community, came up with Wtion, he thought his life was over. of Veterans Affairs) Medical Center in the original prototype — meant for veter- An accident during his U.S. Navy de- Richmond, Va., says he regained the con- ans who had paralysis on one side of their ployment in 2017 in Beach, Va., fidence to climb and do other activities body or the use of only of one arm. left him paralyzed on the left side of his by playing billiards — with the help of an “It was the first thing that made me body and with a traumatic brain injury. invention by VA rehabilitation experts. realize that there’s more than one way He was told he wouldn’t be able to walk Seth Hills and Nicole Shuman, two re- to do things,” Jones says. “It was pretty again, and he couldn’t do many of the habilitation experts at Hunter Holmes, big for me.” activities that he used to enjoy with his developed a rolling bridge device that Shuman made the bridge out of a little active lifestyle, such as CrossFit, lifting helps those with to play bil- wooden toy train and a strap of leather weights and snowboarding. liards. The VA has applied for a patent, and placed it on a pool cue. This allowed Three years later, the 22-year-old which was filed Dec. 26, 2019. the user to roll in a straight direction and Jones is more than just walking again; “It’s basically a wheel that you can at- hit the ball steadily. he is rock climbing. The veteran is un- tach to your pool stick so you can shoot “It’s hard to play pool with one arm,” able to use his left arm, but he uses a har- pool one-handed,” Hills says. Jones says. “You can only hold the stick

Malik Jones, 22, shows how to balance a pool cue with the rolling bridge device.

1616 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 have enough clearance for a billiard ball. “It doesn’t seem like a huge number, With that in mind, they made other ver- but for what we do here for assistive sions to accommodate specific situations. tech, that’s one of the higher-use They also made a tackier wheel surface, devices,” Hills says. allowing users to run the wheel along the For Jones, who has been in rehab for al- upper outside edge of the table. most three years, billiards is a way he and And perhaps the most helpful im- other veterans at the facility can pass the provement of all was using a 3D printer to time with an activity that is therapeutic. replicate the rolling bridge, so they didn’t “It’s like a math game on the table,” have to make each one individually. Jones says. “It’s a strategy game. It looks

This rolling bridge device costs approximately $10 and helps people with disabilities play billiards. with one arm, but the pool bridge helps me balance the pool stick. So, I can still play even only with one arm.”

POPULARITY BOOST The invention helped and became popular, with more and more veterans requesting pool bridges. But it was time- consuming to create, and Shuman ran into an issue where the leather strap was wobbly and the wheel base too narrow, limiting the stability of the roll. “We didn’t realize it was going to be such a big hit at first,” Hills says. “She [Shuman] had maybe two or three pa- Seth Hills and Nicole Shuman, two rehabilitation experts at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA tients at first, at the time.” (Department of Veterans Affairs) Medical Center in Richmond, Va., developed this rolling bridge device to help those with disabilities play billiards. So, Shuman came to Hills for help. They worked together to simplify the materials, using nylon and carbon fiber “We didn’t want to have to fabricate a simple, but it’s a lot harder. It’s a chal- instead. They changed the design to ac- bunch of toy trains with leather straps,” lenge. And I get to beat people. I’m commodate cheaper hardware and Hills says. “We had design software to be competitive.” make it easier to assemble. They also able to model up a replacement. Once The team has shared the invention found that in some of the earlier designs, you have a design that works well, you with other VA facilities in hopes it will the wheel didn’t quite clip onto the cue just hit print. It’s nice because it’s hands- catch on beyond Richmond and even to as easily as they would like. off production. We can use our time bet- the everyday user. “It was an iterative process,” Hills says. ter elsewhere while it’s being printed. It “We would love to have this available Hills and Shuman also made product also has better materials than if we could for folks who are outside of the VA,” adaptations to allow users to shoot from do the arts-and-crafts approach.” Hills says. “Hopefully, somebody will be close to the table or from a longer range. able to pick it up and market it to the In billiards, there are some cases when HELPING VETERANS general public.” players want to get a closer shot, requir- Each device costs approximately $10. S’NS ing the cue and bridge to be on the other More than 20 veterans at the medical side of the table. The initial design didn’t center are currently using the product.

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 17 ILLUSTRATION BY KERRY RANDOLPH © GETTY IMAGES/ BGBLUE

With the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and many gyms closed, working out has become a bit of a challenge. But here are some ways to adapt — and suggestions to reduce the germs, too.

EV H IC K U L A L Y II veryone has been / and Prevention and other experts S E

G bombarded by mes- A for remaining safe. That particularly M I

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sages of germ avoidance dur- T applies to those who want to con-

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ing the novel coronavirus © tinue to train and work out. (COVID-19) pandemic. “I encourage people with disabili- by Shelly Anderson One in particular stuck with Dan ties to be physically active,” says Ste- McCoy, a 2014 Sochi Winter Para- phen Yerkovich, MD, chief of medi- lympic Games sled hockey gold med- cal services for Paralyzed Veterans of alist and a personal trainer in Pittsburgh. America. “It improves your well-being, not “I saw a meme on social media of some- only physical but mental. It’s very important.” one putting hand sanitizer on his hands and saying, Some among the disabled community have ‘Cool, my hands are clean. I can go about my day.’ compromised immune systems or are not able to And then, he touches his wheelchair and says, ‘Oh, produce a deep cough — issues that could make shoot. Gotta sanitize again,’” McCoy recalls. COVID-19 all the more dangerous, and therefore, call for diligence against the highly contagious virus, which can survive on surfaces and be trans- Stay Active, Use Guidelines mitted when people those surfaces and then For those with disabilities, there are some consid- their face. erations beyond the often-repeated general guide- Yerkovich points first to the general, widespread lines provided by the Centers for Disease Control messages of caution:

18 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 © GE Wash your hands often, McCoy, who specializes in training people with dis- TT Y •

IM A and do it for 20 seconds, which abilities, was ahead of the curve on that. He has G

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/ can be singing Happy Birthday worked with clients via the internet and has devel-

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A song, you’d better time it out stepped up during the pandemic, with videos on and make sure it’s 20 seconds,” YouTube and blogs and vlogs on his website, Yerkovich says, chuckling. danmccoyfitness.com. He’s also been practicing those workouts during the stay-at-home orders.

© GET TY COURTESY IM Use hand sanitizer contain- A G • E S / ing at least 60% alcohol. It’s a

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Practice social distancing, IMAGES/KAANC • A 2014 Sochi Winter GETTY remaining at least 6 feet from © Paralympic Games sled people in public and limiting hockey gold medalist, Dan gatherings to just a few people. McCoy is a personal trainer specializing in training people with disabilities and has developed various at-home workouts. © G ET TY

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C H recommendations if you must cautions that people with latex allergies should be go out. aware that many brands contain that substance. He suggests TheraBand as an affordable option with no latex. But workouts at home don’t have to involve purchasing specific equipment. “There are plenty of things around your house that Learning To Adapt you can use as extra weight in terms of resistance,” As part of the pandemic response, many or even McCoy says. “You could use a chair. You could lift that, most gyms and fitness facilities across the country you could do squats, you could do extensions off a were among the businesses ordered to be closed chair, a couch or even a bed. You can do pushups, sit- during the outbreak. ups, crunches, bodyweight exercises.”

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 19 Wheelchair athletes can shake up their workout routine by throwing a ball to each other or against a wall and catching it.

“Full disclosure, I would much rather work out at a gym,” McCoy says. “I’m just one of those people. I can’t really 100 percent focus when I’m in my apart- ment working out. At this point [during the pan- demic directives], you do what you’ve got to do. You’ve got to find a way to keep yourself healthy as much as possible for as long as possible.” Wipe Down Equipment MCCOY

DAN Even before the pandemic raised awareness, OF McCoy says he used safety and hygiene practices at gyms. COURTESY © Hold a water bottle while doing biceps curls. That GETTY

way, he jokes, you can take a drink with every repe- IMAGES/_KANAWA_STUDIO tition to keep hydrated and make the weight lighter as you go. “Different things like that you can add into your daily routine that don’t require huge lifestyle shifts and doesn’t require buying hundreds of dollars of equipment,” says McCoy, who has spina bifida and, at times while at home, simply ties a towel around his leg brace hinges and uses that for resistance exercises. McCoy sometimes oversees training sessions with Lifting weights is his longtime sled hockey team, the Mighty Penguins one way wheelchair athletes can work in Pittsburgh. That requires trips to a gym. out at home.

DAN MCCOY Wiping down your weights after working out is imperative. OF COURTESY “Before [the sled hockey players] came in, we would wipe down all the equipment. After they leave, we would wipe down the equipment, and after each person used certain equipment, we would wipe it down, as well,” he says. Yerkovich applauds that approach. “Wipe down anything your skin is going to touch — the seat, the hand grips, the weightlifting benches,” he says, adding that floor mats are some- thing that can be overlooked but should be sanitized frequently, as well as individuals’ and other mobility assistance equipment. Yerkovich says it matters what is used to clean equipment. Baby wipes, made to be gentle, don’t generally work, for example.

20 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 Wipe down anything your skin is going to touch — ‘‘ the seat, the hand grips, the weightlifting benches. — Stephen Yerkovich, MD ’’ IMAGES/_MILJKO IMAGES/_MILJKO GETTY GETTY © ©

Besides presoaked wipes, a spray solution used with a cloth can work.

He recommends something with an alcohol, bleach provide wipes that are very similar to what they use or ammonia base, with alcohol-based wipes contain- in hospitals,” LaZear says. “We have something where ing at least 60% alcohol. Besides presoaked wipes, a you wipe down the machines and you let the liquid spray solution used with a cloth can work. It should set, and that kills all the germs. We have our volunteers be noted that bleach and ammonia should never be going around on a regular basis doing that. We have, in mixed. In addition, some bleach-based cleaners can our group fitness room, a fitness mat that is similar to have a corrosive effect on some equipment. a Murphy bed that goes into the wall. That way, a chair For some time, wiping down equipment after use user who wants to get out of their chair to do yoga, if at gyms was considered a matter of courtesy. It be- they don’t want to go on the floor or a yoga mat, they came more of a safety issue several years ago after the can go on the therapy mat. It’s got a vinyl cover, so it’s spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus easy for us to clean and make sure it’s hygienic. We take (MRSA), a bacterial infection that is highly resistant to every precaution.” antibiotics. Those with disabilities who aren’t able to Even after the world gets a handle on COVID-19, clean equipment after use need to get assistance to LaZear is confident that facilities that cater to the dis- perform that important task, Yerkovich says. abled community will remain staunch in their attention Gus LaZear, vice president and general manager of to safety and hygiene. After all, there are still things that Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center in Phoenix, points have long been a concern, such as MRSA, staph infec- out that the organization’s 45,000-square-foot accessi- tions, the flu, bad colds and even stomach bugs. ble fitness facility — which, like so many others, closed The vigilance born of the pandemic “should be a during the height of the pandemic — already was vigi- constant practice,” Yerkovich says. lant about safety and cleanliness. “This is just putting a spotlight on it,” he says. “It’s “We have a lot of machines where people can just very important to establish this practice and use it the roll right up and exercise from their wheelchair, and rest of your life. That will take care of all these things.” [when] they want to transfer to [another machine], we S’NS

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 21 With 11 teams and more than 20 programs throughout the United States, wheelchair lacrosse is gaining traction in the adaptive sports world.

by Jennifer Best

photos by Di Miller

rian Galloway was look- Bing for a physical, fast- paced sport beyond basketball when he picked up his first crosse. Mike Looney redis- covered his passion for the sport of his youth the first time he was checked from his wheelchair. Ryan Baker wasn’t looking for anything. “In a weird turn of events, lacrosse found me,” says Baker, a T6 paraplegic athlete who cofounded Wheelchair Lacrosse USA (WLUSA) with Bill Lundstrom in 2009. Today, the growing national organization oversees more than 20 programs repre- senting male, female and youth players in 11 states. It has been supported through- out its development by team equipment drives and clinics sponsored and led as Eagle Scout and bar mitzvah projects. Now, with support from US Lacrosse, the national governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse in the United States, and a growing body of players, coaches, vol- unteers and sponsors, WLUSA has set its sights on the Paralympic Games. “While it may be an adaptive sport, it’s a sport. It’s not only therapeutic, but we still want to compete,” says Galloway, now WLUSA president, a T10 paraplegic and mem- ber of Indy Rip in Indianapolis. “We’re athletes. I still want to compete as long as I can. I don’t want people to see me in a chair and think I’m not up to the challenge. We have the same competitive drive and enthusiasm and love for sports as anyone else would.”

22 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 There are currently more than 20 Wheelchair Lacrosse USA programs respresenting male, female and youth players in 11 states.

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 23 Wheelchair lacrosse players use the head of the lacrosse stick, or crosse, to carry, pass, catch and shoot the ball into a goal.

Coordination Is Key “When I was injured, I didn’t have that outlet any- more, and it was tough,” Looney says. North America’s oldest was played by He played wheelchair basketball during his recov- indigenous peoples before it was adapted and ad- ery in Philadelphia and through college at Edinboro opted by European colonizers. Players use the head University in western . When he spotted of the lacrosse stick, or crosse, to carry, pass, catch wheelchair lacrosse on the cover of US Lacrosse mag- and shoot the ball into a goal in a game that blends azine, he was intrigued. soccer, basketball and hockey. Through WLUSA, he connected with Mark Floun- “Lacrosse provides a good balance of contact, ath- lacker’s Thunder, one of the first teams on letic ability and strategy. It’s simple: score goals, win the East Coast. Looney became a key player and in the game,” Galloway says. 2017 took over the Thunder’s leadership. The game is played on open fields or closed hockey “I’ve always loved the physicality of the game. I rinks or “boxes.” Wheelchair athletes play box la- enjoyed that when I was able-bodied, and I enjoy crosse for its smaller field, better rolling surface, walls it now. When I started playing and we had our first for ball containment and smaller teams. game with San Diego, I got checked in the first “Lacrosse is like hockey, but with the ball in the air in- 10 minutes, fell over and remember lying there, stead of on the ground. It has strategy like basketball laughing and thinking, ‘I’m back. This is what I with picks and setting up someone to score being a big loved and missed.’ It was the first time in a long thing. And it’s like soccer because it’s on a field,” says time I’d been hit, knocked over, and I absolutely Looney, the WLUSA vice president. loved it,” Looney says. The greatest challenge of the game is coordinating Galloway is quick to point out that while checking the crosse with the wheels. and contact are part of lacrosse, finesse is the name “Because I played tennis and had learned to push of the game. the chair with a racket in my hand, I knew I could “When wheelchair lacrosse started, there was a push with a crosse in my hand,” says Baker, a Carls- lot of ramming and winning ground balls. As play- bad, Calif., resident. “I knew it was team-oriented, ers’ skills, as a whole, have improved, we have a lot semi-physical and could possibly be viable.” less contact. It’s about ball movement and passing. Looney, who lives in Severna Park, Md., had played la- You’re still going to get your stick check if you’re crosse through high school and into college before a cutting toward a goal trying to pass and score, but climbing fall resulted in a T12 incomplete spinal-cord in- we see a lot more movement up and down the jury. The game was ingrained in him down to his core. field now,” he says.

24 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 Wheelchair lacrosse is played on open fields or closed hockey rinks or “boxes.”

Something Different

While some players have found re- newed passion for their old sport in wheelchair lacrosse, it was precisely a per- sonal lack of experience with the sport that drew Baker and Galloway. Before his injury as a passenger in a car accident, Baker had played volley- ball, and soccer. He was a surfer, snowboarder and skateboarder. But la- crosse had never really crossed his mind. Before his 2012 motorbike injury, Galloway had Since his entry into wheelchair sports in 1991, played rugby, ice hockey and golf. Baker has skied, camped and played tennis, golf, “Sports was a big thing for me. I wanted to find sled hockey and basketball. something that would be physical, fast-paced. Bas- “I’ve participated in all these things, but as far as ketball wasn’t my thing, so I tried sled hockey, but it While checking and contact are part of team sports go for guys that are fairly athletic and was really difficult because I was still rehabbing my wheelchair lacrosse, functional, the options are pretty limited,” Baker says. shoulder,” Galloway says. finesse is the sport’s key aspect.

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 25 Coordinating the crosse stick with the sports wheelchair’s wheels may be the greatest challenge of wheelchair lacrosse.

Lacrosse crossed his radar through WHEELCHAIR LACROSSE his kids, whose youth sports program made mention of it. A bit of research The sport of wheelchair lacrosse is growing across the United States. Here led him to WLUSA, which connected are the 11 teams that make up the WLUSA and where they’re located. him to a clinic in Louisville, Ky. “I fell in love with the sport,” he says. • Buffalo Bandits (Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports) – Buffalo, N.Y. Galloway established his own team, the Indy Rip, in Indianapolis and • Rolling Mammoth (Colorado Wheelchair Lacrosse Foundation) – Denver has never stopped forging ahead in • Grand Rapids Lakers (Mary Free Bed Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports) – Grand Rapids, Mich. wheelchair lacrosse development. “Part of my love for wheelchair • Houston Apollos – Houston lacrosse is that I’m not playing an adaptive version of a game I used to • Indy Rip (Rehabilitation Hospital of ) – Indianapolis play. I don’t have anything to base • Maryland Thunder – Baltimore my performance off of, so it’s my sport,” Galloway says. “When I’m • Milwaukee Eagles ( Adaptive Sports Association) – Milwaukee playing lacrosse, it absolutely makes me forget about my injury, my daily • North Stars (Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute) – Minneapolis struggles, which over the years I’ve • New York Safeway – New York City gotten better with, but every day there’s struggles. This allows me to • Sportable Crush (Sportable) – Richmond, Va. push that away, be an athlete, play hard, play fast, have fun.” • San Diego Rolling Seals – San Diego Baker was quick to show appre- ciation for the volunteers, sponsors CONTACT: Wheelchair Lacrosse USA, wheelchairlacrosse.com, and helpers who keep players on the [email protected] field. Adrenaline, Nike Lacrosse, STX Lacrosse, StringKing, Permobil Seat-

26 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 Because I played tennis and had learned to push the chair with ‘‘ a racket in my hand, I knew I could push with a crosse in my hand. I knew it was team-oriented, semi-physical and could possibly be viable.’’ — Ryan Baker

Wheelchair lacrosse blends soccer, basketball and hockey into one sport. ing and Positioning, Melrose Kiwi Concept Chairs USA and easily cross over because they can already move a chair. They just Pearl have all been key in these early years. Per4Max is a new need to learn to catch and throw with the crosse. It’s a fun, adap- addition to the crew. tive sport you can play. It’s very competitive.” “Through this whole endeavor, we’ve learned there are tons of For information about getting started, teams, clinics and guys who have experience who never thought they’d be able to the Aug. 21–22 World Championships slated for San Diego, as play again, and now here they are, playing again,” Baker says. of press time, visit wheelchairlacrosse.com. “Don’t be afraid of the sport if you’ve never played,” Looney S’NS adds. “You can learn to play. Wheelchair basketball athletes can

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 27 by Dave Royse

ogan Soleas was so close to another national COURTESY prep wheelchair basketball championship in L OF mid-March when everything came to a stop. GWENA Close in the sense that Soleas was literally almost there. He was driving with his family from Baltimore HERMAN to Wichita, Kansas, for the 2020 National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Toyota Junior Wheel- chair Basketball National Championships and was somewhere in southwest when he learned the event would be canceled because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic — just a day be- fore the event was to tip off. Soleas was close in another sense, too. His Prep Di- vision Bennett Blazers team from Baltimore hadn’t lost this year and was expecting to win the tourna- ment for a second straight season. They were the top seed in the Prep Division. “This would have been one of the best shots we had,” Soleas says. “We have good players, and we were all in a good mindset to go and win.” Blazers coach Gwena Herman agrees. It was a tough year to see a tournament canceled be- cause she, too, expected Soleas and his teammates would bring home hardware again. But they didn’t get to prove it to themselves or anyone else. “It would have been nice for the kids to go back- to-back,” says Herman, who along with her hus- Logan Soleas

28 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 ILLUSTRAYION BY KERRY RANDOLPH © GETTY IMAGES/ D1SK./ RADOSLAV ZILINSKY/ MBBIRDY/ SANCHESNET1

COVID-19 cut the wheelchair basketball season short and canceled other sports championships, but disappointed players and coaches think organizers did the right thing.

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 29 This would have been one of the best shots we had. ‘‘ We have good players, and we were all in a good mindset to go and win.’’ — Logan Soleas band, Gerry, founded the Bennett Blazers program Championships in Rockford, Ill., the NWBA’s 2020 at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. “They Toyota Women’s Wheelchair Basketball National were all really disappointed.” Championships in Phoenix and a host of other wheel- chair and adaptive sports events around the globe. Adult Tourneys Canceled While losing out on a good shot at a championship is obviously hard, it’s not any easier for teams that Besides wreaking havoc on professional sports, had longer odds of coming out on top, nor is it easier including the MLB, NBA, NHL and auto racing, when the players are adults. COVID-19 also canceled or postponed many events Chad Cohn, the coach of the University of Arizona in the wheelchair sports world. wheelchair rugby team and a 2012 Paralympic bronze That included postponing the 2020 Tokyo medalist, wasn’t necessarily expecting his team to re- Olympics and Paralympics and the 2020 Invictus peat as national champions this year at the USQRA Games in The Hague, , in May, which National Championships, acknowledging the team were all moved to 2021, and canceling the United wasn’t as strong as last year’s title-winning squad. States Quad Rugby Association (USQRA) National “But we’ve put in a lot of hard work,” he says. CHRISTOPHER DI VIRGILIO

Pasqual Torres, with ball, says he misses the camaraderie with other players on the University of Arizona’s wheelchair rugby team.

30 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 GARLIC BRENT OF COURTESY

Brent Garlic plans to continue training for the postponed Invictus Games.

And that’s the thing about tournaments — there’s al- erlifting and wheelchair rugby. Twenty nations were ways that long-shot chance that makes them so exciting. expected to have athletes compete, but the compe- “We were a dark horse. I was hoping we could pos- tition has been postponed until next year. However, sibly sneak into the top three,” Cohn says. “We have Garlic says that just gives him more time to train. three practices a week, basically six to eight hours “There’s always something you can work on,” he a week we’re putting in time on the court. And to says. “This is a good time to reset and really get back not have an opportunity to showcase that, my heart to your game plan.” breaks for my athletes because of the amount of And, he notes, nobody really gets an advantage work they put in.” from the unfortunate turn of events. Everybody has And players don’t just miss winning — they to figure out how to keep training during any time miss playing. away from structured events and more formal train- “We all want to go through the season. We all want ing sessions as long as the pandemic lasts. to finish,” says Pasqual Torres, one of Cohn’s play- “That’s just fine. If I have to be postponed, so do ers on the Arizona team. “With what just happened, they,” Garlic says of his opponents. there’s no finale, no end.” Many athletes on this forced break from their Torres says he’ll miss the camaraderie while the sports are already looking ahead to next year. That’s sport is on hiatus. the case for Soleas, who is already thinking about the “Our team’s pretty close. We all like each other,” he next level. says. “So, you’re also losing those connections.” “Right now, I just need to start focusing on varsity,” Soleas says. That’s the good part about having a younger team, Focus On Training says Herman. So, what can they do now? “My whole starting lineup will move up to varsity, “They say never let a crisis go to waste,” says retired so it’s not like their playing career is over,” she says. Army Spc. Brent Garlic. For the WASA Junior Bucks, who were the top seed He was part of the USA team that was headed to in the NWBA’s Junior Varsity Division after going un- the Netherlands to compete in the 2020 Invictus defeated and winning the Midwest Conference Games, an event for wounded, injured and ill service- Championship, it’s different, because some players’ members started by Harry, . time as juniors will be coming to an end. Garlic would have competed in wheelchair basket- And like Herman’s team, the Junior Bucks, from Mil- ball, handcycling, indoor rowing, swimming, pow- waukee, were also defending champions and were

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 31 COURTESY OF MELISSA OBERST

The WASA Junior Bucks from Milwaukee were the top seed in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association’s Junior Varsity Division.

pretty confident they had a great shot to go out as “The last thing I wanted to do was jeopardize any the best team — but didn’t get a chance to prove it. of my athletes,” Cohn says. Bucks coach Jordan Wilkens notes his team did get Still, the uncertainty of the situation does make to play all the other top teams at least once, so there’s it hard to know what’s next for his team. He says he less doubt in his mind about how good the team was. took about a week off to try to wrap his head around Still, Wilkens says, “It hit hard. We were doing really, the situation and to “just sit back and enjoy life” for a really well. They’re disappointed.” bit after a stressful few days. “But now, I’m moving forward,” Cohn says. “We don’t have a choice.” The Right Thing Cohn says he has to be ready for next year, to keep But Wilkens, and every other athlete and coach in- recruiting and to stay on his wheelchair athletes to terviewed for this story, agreed wholeheartedly with make sure they’re staying in shape until they can get decisions by various organizing bodies to cancel back on the court. events in light of the global pandemic. Garlic says that outlook — working to stay in shape “Our athletes’ health and safety have to always come and keeping an eye on what’s to come — will be crit- first, no matter how disappointing it was,” says Herman. ical for relieving the restlessness and boredom of Garlic notes that all large gatherings of athletes would life under quarantine, as well as staying prepared for be dangerous right now, but he says that could be espe- when competitions are allowed again. cially true at an international event, where some might Garlic, who lives near Atlanta, can still get out and be coming from particularly hard-hit areas. handcycle every morning, and he usually lift weights And for athletes trying to be their best, being either before or after. He also has a pushup challenge sidelined by actually being infected with the virus going with a friend. could present a far bigger problem than just hav- “I will not go to bed until I do my 500,” Garlic says. ing to rearrange a schedule because of gym closures And he’s in still in great shape. and stay-home orders. “If this [pandemic] was to stop today and Invictus “It’s a shame, but you’ve got to be smart,” Garlic were tomorrow, I’d be ready to go,” Garlic says. says. “It’s sad, but safety first.” For more information on sports event cancellations Cohn agreed. He canceled the University of Arizona’s and postponements, visit sportsnspokes.com. wheelchair rugby practices even before his team’s facili- S’NS ties in Tucson, Ariz., closed.

32 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020

People

A Return Home language, the food and the way peo- play,” Wei says. “Then one day, a kid By Bill Huber / photos by Niki Clark ple were doing things. I felt like I was a passed me the ball. I shot the ball from stranger in another country, and I was. I my wheelchair and made the basket. alat Wei’s return to South Sudan did not know how to read or speak the From there, the kid who passed me the Mwas about wheelchair basketball language to make friends, so it was very ball asked me a very important ques- — and so much more. hard for me.” tion that would change my life forever.

I couldn’t believe what ‘‘ I saw. I saw athletes in wheelchairs that were shooting a basketball and moving so fast with the ball, maneuvering their chairs in incredible ways. On that day, a new sport was born for me. After 10 years of playing soccer with my hands in the refugee camp where I grew up in Ethiopia, I finally had found my true athletic calling. — Malat Wei ’’ After leaving Africa when he was 12 years old, Malat Wei, right, returned in 2018 to teach wheelchair basketball in his homeland of South Sudan.

When he was 3, Wei was diagnosed with BASKETBALL MAKES A DIFFERENCE The kid asked me, ‘Have you ever seen polio and lost the use of his legs. With Sudan Basketball changed his life — and ul- wheelchair basketball?’” mired in a civil war, the family relocated to a timately led to him change the lives of Wei had not. So, he called some of his refugee camp in Ethiopia. When he was 12, others as the coach for South Sudan’s church friends who had computers. they moved to Houston. The transition was fledgling wheelchair basketball team. On YouTube, he watched videos of incredibly difficult for a kid in a wheelchair It’s in Houston where he first learned wheelchair basketball. who didn’t speak English and wasn’t familiar to play. “I couldn’t believe what I saw,” Wei says. with American customs. “Basketball was introduced to me by “I saw athletes in wheelchairs that were “I was culture-shocked,” says the now- the neighborhood kids who used to shooting a basketball and moving so fast 25-year-old Wei. “Everything was very go to the park every day after school. I with the ball, maneuvering their chairs in different from where I came from: the used to go to the park to go watch them incredible ways. On that day, a new sport

3434 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 was born for me. After 10 years of play- Malat Wei, 25, developed ing soccer with my hands in the refugee polio and has been in a wheelchair since age 3. camp where I grew up in Ethiopia, I finally had found my true athletic calling.” It was a calling that would take him spired, Wei connected with around the world — he played at the Markt. In 2018, for the first University of Arizona, then profession- time since he was a young boy, ally in France for three years — and, fi- Wei returned to his homeland. nally, back home. It was “very emotional,” Wei “Wheelchair basketball gave me the says, to be the first member of his same confidence and feeling of belonging the National family to go back to South Sudan. More that I had in Dimma refugee camp in Ethio- Wheelchair Bas- meaningful was giving disabled athletes pia,” Wei says. “When I got the opportunity ketball Association and previously served in his homeland a chance to experience to play professionally, I knew I had to take as head coach of the Afghanistan men’s the life-changing joy of competition. this sport back to South Sudan.” national wheelchair basketball team, “The players in South Sudan have leads the International Committee of the disabilities from a variety of different DREAM BECOMES REALITY Red Cross’ Sport and Inclusion causes,” Wei says. “Many have conflict- That dream came true in 2018. Program. In 2017, Markt went to Juba, related injuries, like amputated legs Jess Markt, who played and coached in South Sudan, to run a basketball camp. In- from gunshot wounds, but many also

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 35 Jess Markt, gray shirt, and Malat Wei helped teach people how to play wheelchair basketball in South Sudan.

have had conditions like polio that to the basketball court and I see them left them disabled from a very play, I can see on their faces how excited young age. There are a few of they are about this game.” these players who have been It’s a joy that’s badly needed. South playing wheelchair basket- Sudan became an independent nation ball for many years but in July 2011. Fighting continued through most only started playing most of the country’s brief history, but in the past three years. a unity government was formed in Feb- Those who have been ruary. Wei is optimistic about his home- playing for a longer land’s future. time never had proper “For me to come back home and teach coaching until more re- them the game that changed my life in cently, so the game is America shows that someone like me still in its very begin- who grew up in the refugee camp did ning stages of develop- not forget where he came from. It shows ment in South Sudan.” them that someone cares about them,” Wei returned last De- Wei says. “The reason why I want to re- cember to coach a group turn to South Sudan and start a business of women, many of whom there is because South Sudan is a young had never played the game. He nation that is growing very fast and has was supposed to go back to South a lot of economic potential. I want to be Sudan in May to coach the men’s a part of the growth of my home country team in advance of a June tournament and hopefully have a positive influence Jess Markt, left, and Malat Wei, right, arrive in Congo, but the novel coronavirus on its society.” in South Sudan to teach wheelchair pandemic put that on hold. S’NS basketball in Africa in 2018. “Wheelchair basketball can mean a lot to all the athletes with disabilities in South Sudan,” he says. “When they come

3636 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 SportsSports Associations Associations

AMPUTEE SPORTS International Wheelchair Aviators World T.E.A.M. Sports Disabled Sports USA 82 Corral Drive 4250 Veterans Memorial Highway, National Wheelchair 451 Hungerford Drive, Ste. 100 Keller, TX 76244 Ste. 420E Softball Association Rockville, MD 20850 (817) 229-4634 Holbrook, NY 11741 13414 Paul Street (301) 217-0960 / 217-0968 (fax) [email protected] (855) 987-8326 / 288-3377 (fax) Omaha, NE 68154 disabledsportsusa.org wheelchairaviators.org worldteamsports.org (402) 305-5020 QUAD SPORTS [email protected] ARCHERY wheelchairsoftball.org Disabled Archery, USA Universal Wheelchair Bay Area Outreach & Recreation c/o Coach Glen Harris Football Association Program (BORP) TABLE TENNIS P.O. Box 698 U.C. Raymond Walters College 3075 Adeline St., Ste. 155 American Wheelchair Langley, WA 98260 Disability Services Office Berkeley, CA 94703 Table Tennis Association* (360) 321-5979 9555 Plainfield Road (510) 849-4663 / 849-4616 (fax) 23 Parker Street [email protected] Cincinnati, OH 45236-1096 [email protected] Port Chester, NY 10573 disabledsportsusa.org/archery (513) 792-8625 borp.org (914) 937-3932 [email protected] United States Quad Rugby [email protected] BASKETBALL GOLF Association Wheelchair Basketball Canada 4000 Ridgeway Drive TRACK & FIELD 6 Antares Drive, Phase 1, Unit 8 U.S. Golf Association Homewood, AL 35209 Adaptive Track & Field USA Ottawa, Ontario K2E 8A9 1631 Mesa Avenue (205) 999-3092 (WTFUSA)* Canada Colorado Springs, CO 80906 usqra.org c/o Adaptive Sports USA (613) 260-1296 (719) 471-4810, ext.15 PO Box 621023 [email protected] usga.org RACQUET SPORTS Littleton, CO 80162 wheelchairbasketball.ca National Amputee Golf Association International Tennis Federation (720) 412-7979 International Wheelchair 11 Walnut Hill Road (Wheelchair Tennis Department) [email protected] Basketball Federation Amherst, NH 03031 Bank Lane, Roehampton adaptivesportsusa.org (800) 633-6242 SW15 5XZ, England 5 Route Suisse WATER SPORTS/RECREATION 1295 Mies [email protected] (011) 0044-(0)208-878-6464 Switzerland nagagolf.org 0044-(0)208-392-4744 (fax) American Canoe Association [email protected] 7432 Alban Station Boulevard., +41-22-545-00-00 HOCKEY iwbf.org itftennis.com Ste. B-232 U.S. Sled Hockey Association Springfield, VA 22150 National Wheelchair United States Tennis Association 710 N. Lake Shore Drive, 3rd Floor 70 W. Red Oak Lane (703) 451-0141 / 451-2245 (fax) Basketball Association* Chicago, IL 60611 americancanoe.org 1130 Elkton Drive, Ste. C White Plains, NY 10604 (312) 908-4292 / 908-1051 (fax) (914) 696-7000 / 696-7029 (fax) Handicapped Scuba Association Colorado Springs, CO 80907 [email protected] (719) 266-4082 usta.com 1104 El Prado usahockey.com/sledhockey San Clemente, CA 92672 nwba.org RECREATION HORSEBACK RIDING (949) 498-4540 / 498-6128 (fax) BILLIARDS Turning POINT (Paraplegics [email protected] North American Riding for the On Independent Nature Trips) hsascuba.com National Wheelchair Handicapped Association Poolplayers Association 403 Pacific Avenue U.S. Wheelchair Swimming, Inc. P.O. Box 33150 Terrell, TX 75160 9757 Mount Lompoc Court Denver, CO 80233 c/o Adaptive Sports USA Las Vegas, NV 89178 (972) 524-4231 PO Box 621023 (800) 369-RIDE / (303) 252-4610 (fax) [email protected] [email protected] pathintl.org Littleton, CO 80162 turningpointnation.org (720) 412-7979 BOWLING LACROSSE SHOOTING [email protected] American Wheelchair adaptivesportsusa.org Wheelchair Lacrosse USA National Wheelchair Bowling Association 4245 West Overlook Drive Water Skiers With c/o Gary Ryan, AWBA Secretary Shooting Federation* San Diego, CA 92108 102 Park Avenue Disabilities Association 16006 Congo Lane (619) 807-9327 1251 Holy Cow Road Houston, TX 77040 Rockledge, PA 19046 wheelchairlacrosse.com (215) 379-2359 / 663-0102 (fax) Polk City, FL 33868 (713) 444-7588 (800) 533-2972 / (863) 324-4341 [email protected] MULTISPORT NRA Disabled Shooting Services 325-8259 (fax) awba.org Casa Colina Adaptive Sports 11250 Waples Mill Road usawaterski.org & Outdoor Adventures Fairfax, VA 22030 FENCING 255 East Bonita Avenue (703) 267-1495 / 267-3941 (fax) WEIGHTLIFTING U.S. Fencing Association Pomona, CA 91769 SKIING United States Wheelchair 1 Olympic Plaza (909) 596-7733 / 593-0153 (fax) Weightlifting Federation* Colorado Springs, CO 80909 casacolina.org Disabled Sports USA c/o Adaptive Sports USA (719) 866 - 4511 451 Hungerford Drive, Ste. 100 Disabled Sports USA PO Box 621023 usfencing.org Rockville, MD 20850 Littleton, CO 80162 451 Hungerford Drive, Ste. 100 (301) 217-0960 FLYING Rockville, MD 20850 (720) 412-7979 Ski for Light, Inc. [email protected] Freedom’s Wings International (301) 217-0960 disabledsportsusa.org 1455 West Lake Street adaptivesportsusa.org 324 Charles Street, Apt. 25 Minneapolis, MN 55408 Coopersburg, PA 18036 Adaptive Sports USA (612) 827-3232 * National Governing Body (NGB) of (800) 382-1197 PO Box 621023 [email protected] Adaptive Sports USA freedomswings.org Littleton, CO 80162 sfl.org (720) 412-7979 [email protected] S’NS adaptivesportsusa.org

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 37 RECREATION FOR THE WHEELCHAIR SPORTS ENTHUSIAST On The Sidelines

EVENTS The 40th NVWG were set for July 3–8 in No Calendar Portland, Ore., and the VA says plans are in place to bring the Games back to the city he novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pan- in the future. Tdemic that began in March has had an PVA National President David Zurfluh is- unprecedented effect on sports events and sued a video statement the same day and activities throughout the world. says while he’s sad Because of the countless alterations and about the decision, cancellations of numerous events, SPORTS “it was made out of ’N SPOKES has decided to not include a cal- great caution for endar of events in this month’s issue. the health, safety Visit sportsnspokes.com/calendar for and well-being a regularly updated list of events that of our veterans, have been postponed or called off be- their families and cause of the pandemic. all involved.” We hope to have the calendar back in A resident of the the magazine for the July issue. Tacoma, Wash., area, Zurfluh added that he was disappointed to not have the Games in NVWG Canceled his part of the country. “I’m very saddened about the Portland he National Veterans Wheelchair Games being canceled because my prox- TGames (NWVG) are the latest major imity of being 124 miles from Portland,” he sports event to be affected by the novel says. “I was really looking forward to show- coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. casing the great Northwest, but that will The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), have to wait. What’s important now is that which cosponsors the NVWG with Paralyzed we come together during this time of cri- Veterans of America (PVA), announced April sis for the COVID-19, we unite, we get to- 1 that the Games have been canceled be- gether, virtually, and that we find the re- cause of concerns surrounding COVID-19. serve to get through this.”

New York City is scheduled to host the 2021 National Veterans Wheelchair Games, which will run from Aug. 8–13, 2021.

© GETTY IMAGES/ DAVID GN PHOTOGRAPHY

3838 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | May 2020 The 2021 NVWG are to take which left us no other choice place in New York City, running than to reschedule the Invic- from Aug. 8–13, 2021. tus Games to the year 2021,” For more information, visit says Mart de Kruif, chairman of wheelchairgames.org. the Invictus Games The Hague 2020, in the press release. “By Invictus Games Postponed doing this, we also bring clarity to those vulnerable competitors ith the novel coronavi- and their loved ones, a clarity Wrus (COVID-19) pandemic which is so desperately needed spreading across the world, this in their journey to recovery.” month’s Invictus Games in The For more information, visit Hague, Netherlands, have been invictusgamesfoundation.org. postponed until next year. The Board of the Invictus Games The Hague 2020, along BASKETBALL with the Invictus Games Foun- Hall Of Fame Inductees dation, decided in mid-March to postpone the Games and is in- t may have been a small, Itwo-member class that was inducted into the National Wheelchair Basketball Associ- ation (NWBA) Hall of Fame this year, but there was nothing little about their New National Wheelchair Basketball vestigating options to resched- impact on the game. Association Hall of Fame member Jeff Glasbrenner, right, blocks a ule them, possibly in May or Jeff “Glas” Glasbrenner pass during the 2004 Paralympics June 2021. and Bill Greene were wel- in Athens, Greece. Twenty nations, including the comed into the hall in United States, were expected to mid-March during the 2020 take part in the May 9–16 event, NWBA Toyota Wheelchair Bas- FRANK J. POLICH which is for wounded, injured or ketball National Champion- Greene has been a trailblazer ill servicemen and servicewomen ships in Wichita, Kansas. for many years in the NWBA. He and was started by Harry, Duke of Glasbrenner’s 63 points in the has had a positive impact on many Sussex, in 2014. 2004 National Wheelchair Bas- youth with disabilities in the Wash- According to a press release, the ketball Championship game is re- ington, D.C., area and beyond

NW B decision was taken in consultation membered as one of the great- since the early 1970s. A .O R with the participating nations’ est single-game performances in Willing to do whatever G teams and in close coordination NWBA history. the sport or his ath- with local and national authori- Glasbrenner also won a na- letes needed from him, ties to limit the impact of the pan- tional wheelchair basketball Greene has been an demic on all parties involved in championship at the University athlete, coach, mentor, the delivery of, and particularly of Wisconsin-Whitewater and conference representa- participation in, the Games. four Division I national champi- tive and organizer. “The coronavirus and its effects onships. During his time on the Greene has provided Bill Greene are part of a global pandemic which U.S. national wheelchair bas- countless athletes with disabilities will influence every public event in ketball team, he won two world an opportunity to compete and the foreseeable future. Therefore, championship gold medals develop. He instilled many quali- we find ourselves in a clear situation (1998 and 2002). ties into those athletes, including

May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 39 On The Sidelines

independence, confidence, cour- formed from a disability sports fa- by health care workers, as well as age, accountability, discipline, sac- cility into a health care center dur- volunteers with health or social rifice and sportsmanship. ing the COVID-19 outbreak. care backgrounds. For more information, visit Over the course of three weeks, Situated next to the famed Stoke nwba.org. parts of the facility were repur- Mandeville Hospital, the stadium de- posed as a care center for vulnera- veloped out of the Stoke Mandeville ble adults, and it now holds up to Games in 1948, which was the pre- PARALYMPICS 240 beds for COVID-19 patients. decessor of the Paralympic Games. Birthplace Of The Games Located about an hour from The facility opened in 1969 as Helping With COVID-19 London, the converted center is an international center of sport for looking after patients who no lon- men, women and children with dis- he 2020 Summer Paralympics ger require acute care but are still abilities. It was redeveloped in 2003 Tin Tokyo may be postponed, not prepared to go home and are to become a state-of-the-art sports but the birthplace of the Games unable to remain at home be- complex, hosting camps, training — Great Britain — is staying busy cause they have little support. academies, conferences and more. helping with the novel coronavi- The move helps free up spaces For more information, visit rus (COVID-19) pandemic. at hospitals and also provides fo- stokemandevillestadium.co.uk. Stoke Mandeville Stadium in cused care for some of the most Great Britain has been trans- vulnerable patients. It’s staffed S’NS

Back PAYMENT MUST ACCOMPANY BACK ISSUES ORDER Issues Total quantity ordered X $5 each = $______* Shipping (foreign orders only) = $______MARCH 2019 VOLUME 45 #2. Crashing Into New Diggs (Quad rugby new home in Rockford, Ill.); Summer Outdoor Adventures (Sailng, kayaking or mountain biking); A New Total amount enclosed = $______Starting Lineup (National Wheelchair Basketball Association championship); Conference Call * Foreign orders, please add $6 for shipping. (Apaptive Sports USA 2018 National Conference talk wheelchair sports). Name ______JULY 2019 VOLUME 45 #4. Swing Into Summer (Wheelchair Softball World Series); Broadening Horizons (Junior Adaptive Sports Camp); Location, Location, Location (selecting host Address ______cities for the NVWG); Catching Up With The Juniors (S’NS Junior Athlete of the year history). ____ SEPTEMBER 2019 VOLUME 45 #5. Live In Louisville (39th NVWG); Teen Trailblazer ______(S’NS Junior Athlete of the Year Joanna Nieh); Starting In San Diego (San Diego State University City ______State______Zip ______Adapted Athletics program); Advancing Human Ability (Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago). ____ NOVEMBER 2019 VOLUME 45 #6. Pulling Himself Up (winner of the S’NS Country ______Wheels UP! Photo Contest); Making Its Paralympic Debut (para badminton’s first time at the Paralympics); Hit The Ice (preview of the 10th annual USA Hockey Sled Classic); Winter Outdoor Adventures (adaptive Nordic and cross-country skiing programs). Account Number ____ JANUARY 2020 VOLUME 46 #1. Get Into The Zen (holistic and alternative _ _ _ therapies for wheelchair athletes); Power Faceoff (power hockey for electric wheelchair users); Developing Players and Coaches (joining forces to promote adaptive wheelchair sports); Expiration Date Authorized Signature ______Paralympic Comparison (comparison of 1964 and 2020 Paralympics). ____ MARCH 2020 VOLUME 46 #2. Ending Abuse In Adaptive Sports (understanding Month Year Telephone Number ______the signs and changing response); Headed To The Hague (athlete preview for the 2020 Invictus Games in the Netherlands); Wheeling To Wichita (2020 National Wheelchair Basketball Association All Foreign Orders: Payments must be in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank or championships); Moving Pieces (rule and schedule changes for the USQRA National Championships). international money order. Delivery time 2–4 weeks.

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May 2020 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 41 Tollsyn Nealy, 11, watches the 2020 National Wheelchair Basketball Association Toyota Adult Wheelchair Basketball National Championships, held March 12–14 in Wichita, Kansas. The Final Frame Indianapolis resident has osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, and has had over 300 broken bones and over 30 surgeries. But that never slows him down from playing and loving the game of basketball. Photo by Christopher Di Virgilio.

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