Introduction

Sports have been a passion of mine for about 16 years. I have been involved with several sports in varying degrees.  I swam for a couple swim clubs in middle school back in 2001-2005, I swam for the St. Joseph's High School swim team all four years of high school (05-09), I was a manager for the St. Joseph's High School football my junior and senior year (07-09), and I currently am a manager for the IU South Bend women's basketball team (14-present). I also am an avid handcyclist.  In 2011 and 2013 I did a 25 mile handcycle ride in the Bike Michiana For Hospice event and in 2015 and 2016 I did a half marathon in the Sunburst on my handcycle. I am also a member of the River City Sled Rovers sled hockey team and the River City Rollers wheelchair basketball team.  Although I have participated in many different kinds of sports, traditional and adaptive, I will be focusing on my adaptive sports experiences (sled hockey, wheelchair basketball, and handcycling) in this blog in hopes that I can inspire other people with disabilities to go outside of their comfort zones and become stronger do things they never thought were possible.

Throughout my adaptive sports career I have learned many valuable life lessons.  By doing sled hockey, I have learned the importance of practicing and not giving up just because something is difficult.  By doing wheelchair basketball, I have learned the importance of teamwork and comradery.  By handcycling I have learned the importance of preparation.  In my next post I will be writing about my sled hockey experience.

Have a great day and make it a great tomorrow!

Optimus Provost