Listening to a blindsport like goalball or beep baseball over the USABA’s Youtube play-by-play is one thing. It’s great and you get the color commentary with all the analysis. But there’s nothing like being on the sidelines with a pile of players, fellow fans, onlooking line judges, and keyed-in coaches!
Going in to this tournament, you knew the stakes would be high since the Manticores led by hard-throwing Josh Wellborn, Jordan Main, and paraOlympian Zach Buhler would be on their game. The NJ Honeybees have been dominating every tournament they’ve played in 2023…and for good reason, both Amanda Denis and Lisa Czechowski, paraOlympians, play for them. Of course, nipping at the Honeybees’ heals would be the Atlanta Blazers who features some top players of their own. For the men, the team from New York is looking to build an Empire of their own while The Atlanta Force and the Texas Rattlesnakes wanted their place in the sun.
Right out of the gate, the Manticores put the hammer down mercying the BSO Philly Jawns 11-1. Young guns from the DC Stars lit up the scoreboard by more than doubling up against the well-experienced Western Michigan Growlers 15-7.
Though one of the competitors commented to me after round one that several of the top notable players are not in attendance this year, many of them are and their performances are turning a lot of heads!
You can check out the results of the day at http://www.goalballscoreboard.net.
Turning heads and gaining notoriety is a great goal for goalballers and, for that matter, competitors in all blindsports. As I mentioned on a previous post, it’s time that our athletes become more than just occasionally mentioned in the small, intimate niche of avid fans. There’s no better time than now for the greater blindness community and beyond to take note of the talent our athletes show in and out of competition. You don’t have to play goalball yourself to be a fan just like you don’t have to play NBA or college basketball to follow your favorite team.
Furthermore, we in our own right can take inspiration from goalballers like Tyler Merren whose passion is getting more of us in the blindness community physically active, working out, and fit through His business and app. Others like Eliana Mason, who has been featured on this and other blogs, and past goalball great, Jen Armbruster, are also working hard in their own communities to share their influence and encouragement in bettering the livelihood of people through physical fitness and mental wellness.
It is a privilege to enjoy the sport of goalball and draw inspiration from these athletes as we all, blind or sighted, boldly navigate life’s contours.
For more information and to hear interviews of several of America’s top goalball players, listen frequently to The Eyes Free Sports Podcast, where Greg Lindberg covers all angles and aspects of blindsports.
Boldly Blind 