SPORTS 'N SPOKES

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The Magic of Memories

Although it almost didn't happen, this annual junior competition turned into a successful venture and showed off some of the nation's best young talent.

After 25 years of the National Junior Disability Championships (NJDC), the twenty-sixth annual event almost didn't take place. No city had stepped forward to host the event. However, Disabled Athlete Sports Association (DASA, St. Peters, Mo.) founder and executive director Kelly Behlmann rallied her troops to host the Wheelchair Sports, USA (WSUSA) event, July 25-August 1.

It was the magic of 25 years of memories that pulled NJDC 2009 out of the hat. This theme began at opening ceremonies and continued throughout the week.

At opening ceremonies, the parade of 198 top junior athletes crossed the St. Charles West High School track. WSUSA Junior Committee Chair Arleen Sand presented Andy Chasanoff with a Magic of Memories award. Sand noted that Chasanoff was instrumental in significant junior growth since 1982.

"He was one of the founding members of the Junior Committee, which envisioned and developed the rules and age divisions for the first Junior National Championships that started in 1984," said Sand.

Opening ceremonies keynote speaker Cameron Clapp of Team Hanger, Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics, gave words of encouragement.

"It's not about the disability; it's about coming out here and trying your very hardest," Clapp said.

To kick off the games, Paralympians Steven Cash, Sue Beth Scott, Jessica Galli, and Carrie Morgan announced, "Let the Games begin!"

The Competition

Immediately following opening ceremonies, the games began with the 5,000-meter race. Josh Swoverland was the top finisher, followed by Kaleb Kallappa and Trey Roy. On the women's side, Chelsea McClammer was first, Susannah Scaroni was second, and Jill Moore placed third.

Swimming took place at the St. Peters Rec Plex. While the water was cold, the athletes were hot, regularly breaking personal bests. Top performers included Michelle Kazuba, Abraham Hausman-Weiss, Moore, Rachel Nepper, Abigail Branson, Joe Underwood, Colbie Bratlie, Hannah McFadden, Caleb Schmidt, Ben Kenyon, Kallappa, Kellyn Engstrom, and Alyssa Gialamas.

On Monday afternoon, 38 athletes headed to the St. Charles West High School track for pentathlon. The top scorer was Kenyon (3,953 points), followed by Zach Abbott (3,457). Rachel Voss had 3,494, and Katelyn Schewanick topped out at 3,001.

Swimming events concluded Tuesday morning, and members of the local news media were present.

"I think it is great to be interviewed," said Ryan Minks of Magnolia Unlimited Sports in Mississippi. "It's fun every time."

Ryan's interview was featured on Show Me St. Louis, which runs on KSDK NewsChannel 5, St. Louis's NBC affiliate.

In his interview, Ryan shared his excitement for swimming. He and several athletes smashed personal records. Minks credited the high level of competition as motivation for everyone to swim their best.

The archery competition was almost as wet as the action in the pool. On Tuesday afternoon the archers completed one round, but events were postponed due to sporadic lightning and rain. They finished up on Friday afternoon. Some of the top athletes were (novice cadet-compound): Tyler Sprynczynatyk (699), Andrew Honerkamp (561), and Nate Murray (491); (cadet): Casey Followay (631-compound), Emmanuel Cespedes (528-recurve), and Miguel Jimenez (503-recurve); (junior division-compound): Lindsey Good (585), Rose Hollermann (590), and Sean Burns (545); (intermediate division): John LeRoy (535-compound) and Jim Cuevas (439-recurve).

Because of archery's weather delays and the event's large number of participants, the competition—with 55 athletes—went until midnight. Top finishers were Hollermann, McFadden, Colleen Rock, Kenyon, and new NJDC athlete Alexander Xue.

Wednesday's field events began an hour late as NJDC set-up crews worked to make adjustments after the over­night rain. Even with the delayed start, athletes cranked through the day's events, setting many personal bests. Of the 143 contestants, some of the standouts were Austin Pruitt, Justin Ferra, Joshua Melendez, Dion Carr, Kenyon, Heather Haynie, Kenjy Asin, Jeff Garten, Hollermann, Laura Davey, Josh Welborn, and Austan Pierce.

"It was amazing to be just three meters over my qualifying record," said DASA's George Anglin.

Anglin had just returned from representing Team USA in the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Games (IWAS) in Switzerland. He credited his dramatic improvement in javelin to his experience interacting with teams from other countries.

"Being able to go to different places and learn new ways to compete really helped me," Anglin said.

He hopes his attendance at NJDC and other local competitions will help him achieve his goal to make the IWAS team again next year.


Read more about the competition as well as the Saturday awards banquet. Josh Swoverland (shown on our home page) was one of those honored, taking the Sports 'N Spokes Junior Athlete of the Year Award.

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