U.S. Wheelchair Basketball Team wins Gold Medal in Australia
8 players, 4 coaches from Courage Center Rolling Timberwolves team
A wheelchair basketball team representing the United States is home after winning a Gold Medal at the inaugural Australian Paralympic Youth Games in Melbourne, Australia. The wheelchair basketball team included eight athletes and four coaches, past and present, who compete on Courage Center’s Rolling Timberwolves. The Paralympic competition took place October 5-11 at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre and included teams from throughout Australia plus international teams of athletes age 20 years or younger.
The U.S. team was undefeated, going 7-0 in competition against five Australian teams. In the final game, Team U.S.A. was behind by two points at halftime, but pulled ahead by 6 points at the end of the 3rd quarter, keeping the pressure on to defeat Western Australia’s Westies 68-53.
Derrick Bisnett of Bismarck, N.D., led the team with 118 points, with Minneapolis’ Ben Kenyon scoring 64. Head Coach Mike Bauler was recognized as “Head Supervisor” of the tournament.
The U.S. roster includes:
(* Courage Center representative)
Athletes
Greg Anger, 20, Milwaukee, Wis., Missouri Tigers
*Robert Doyle, 16, Eden Prairie, Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Ben Kenyon, 18, Minnetonka, Minn., Wisconsin-Whitewater (Courage Center alum)
Dylan Fischbach, 14, Nebraska Red Dawgs, South Dakota
*Joe Dixon, 16, Lakeville, Minn., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
Jon Ruiz, 15, Chicago, Ill., Windy City Warriors
*Mark Braun, 15, Mounds View, Minn., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Rose Hollermann, 13, Elysian, Minn., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Derrick Bisnett, 16, Bismarck, N.D., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Robbie Wilhelm, 18, St. Paul, Minn., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Connor Downes, 18, Rosemount, Minn., Missouri Tigers (Courage Center alum)
Sam Blakley, 16, Utah, Utah Wheelin’ Jazz
Staff
*Mike Bauler, Head coach, New Hope, Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
Trent Thenhaus, assistant coach, Chicago, Ill., Windy City Warriors
*Brendan Downes, assistant coach, Rosemount, Minn., Arizona Wildcats
*Jeff Downes, team manager, Dallas, Texas, Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Tim Kenyon, assistant team manager, Minnetonka, Minn., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
More Info: www.wsv.org.au/events/australian-paralympic-youth-games.html
Woman with Down Syndrome to swim Boston Harbor
Competitive Swimmer Karen Gaffney to Complete 8-Mile Swim Next Week; Media Invited to ‘Ride Along’
WHO: Karen Gaffney, an accomplished swimmer/athlete and the first person with Down syndrome to complete a relay swim across the English Channel, completed a 9-mile swim across Lake Tahoe, and multiple competitions across San Francisco Bay.
WHAT: In a unique and never-been-done-before fashion, Ms. Gaffney will challenge herself to an 8-mile swim across Boston Harbor to raise awareness of Down syndrome and undoubtedly prove that the genetic diagnosis does not equate to a lack of abilities — rather — a show of amazing ability. Gaffney will follow the route of the ‘Boston Light Swim,’ a local tradition in the region since 1907. In addition, she will be an honored guest at the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC) Buddy Walk and Family Picnic being held the Sunday following her swim.
WHERE: Boats chartered for the media will launch at 8:30 a.m. from the Boston Harbor Yacht Club (1805 Columbia Road, South Boston) towards Little Brewster Island where Gaffney will start her swim. Boats will follow Gaffney throughout her swim past George’s Island and Rainsford Island, under the Long Island Bridge, around Thompson’s Island and completing at the L Street Bathhouse (Curley Community Center; M Street entrance, 1663 Columbia Road) in South Boston approximately 4-5 hours after start. Those interested in cheering on the swimmer can gather on the beach of the L Street Bathhouse around 1:30 p.m.
WHEN: Thursday, October 8, 2009; Boats must depart on time (due to tide/currents) and seating must be immediately reserved. Gaffney will also participate in the 13th Annual MDSC Buddy Walk on Sunday, October 11.
WHY: Gaffney is undertaking this effort to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month (October) — so decreed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick last year — and to prove that those with Down syndrome can accomplish their dreams. Now 31 years of age, Gaffney has successfully mastered a string of ‘firsts,’ completing 16 swims across San Francisco Bay – including the popular “Escape from Alcatraz” relay triathlon. In September 2007, she successfully navigated a nine-mile swim across Lake Tahoe and became the focus of a DVD documentary, Crossing Tahoe: A Swimmer’s Dream. Gaffney opted to swim Boston this year to also raise funds for the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and its support programs leveraged by thousands of families across the Commonwealth.
**To support Team Gaffney, visit http://mdsc.kintera.org/gaffney.
Source: Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress
National poll finds the New York Yankees to be America’s Team
When asked to name the Major League Baseball team they consider to be “America’s Team,” the Yankees were named by 41.6% of respondents with an opinion, in a national poll conducted by the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute. This was followed by the Red Sox at 16.3% and the Braves at 6.9%. A total of twenty-five teams were named.
Which MLB team do you consider to be “America’s Team”? Sept. 2009
Yankees 41.6%
Red Sox 16.3
Braves 6.9
Cubs 7.3
Phillies 4.2
Cardinals 5.0
Mets 2.5
Tigers 2.5
Other teams named with less frequency included: White Sox, Blue Jays, Oakland As, Orioles, Tampa Bay, Dodgers, Rangers, Brewers, Reds, Giants, Pirates, Indians, Twins and Angels.
Source: Sacred Heart University
12 local athletes and coaches chosen for U.S. Wheelchair Basketball Team
naugural Australian Paralympic Youth Games set for Oct. 5-11
The United States has been invited to participate in the inaugural Australian Paralympic Youth Games in Melbourne, Australia, in October. The wheelchair basketball team includes nine athletes and three coaches from Courage Center in Golden Valley, Minn. The competition takes place October 5-11 at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre. The Paralympic event includes teams from throughout Australia plus international teams of athletes age 20 years or younger as of December 31, 2009.
The U.S. roster includes:
(* Courage Center representative)
Athletes
Greg Anger, 20, Milwaukee, Wis., Missouri Tigers
*Robert Doyle, 16, Eden Prairie, Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Ben Kenyon, 18, Minnetonka, Minn., Wisconsin-Whitewater (Courage Center alum)
Dylan Fischbach, 14, Nebraska Red Dawgs, South Dakota
*Joe Dixon, 16, Lakeville, Minn., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
Jon Ruiz, 15, Chicago, Ill., Windy City Warriors
*Mark Braun, 15, Mounds View, Minn., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Rose Hollermann, 13, Elysian, Minn., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Derrick Bisnett, 16, Bismarck, N.D., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Robbie Wilhelm, 18, St. Paul, Minn., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Connor Downes, 18, Rosemount, Minn., Missouri Tigers (Courage Center alum)
Sam Blakley, 16, Utah, Utah Wheelin’ Jazz
Staff
*Mike Bauler, Head coach, New Hope, Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
Trent Thenhaus, assistant coach, Chicago, Ill., Windy City Warriors
*Brendan Downes, assistant coach, Rosemount, Minn., Arizona Wildcats
*Jeff Downes, team manager, Dallas, Texas, Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Tim Kenyon, assistant team manager, Minnetonka, Minn., Courage Center
Junior Rolling Timberwolves
More Info:
www.wsv.org.au/events/australian-paralympic-youth-games.html