To be the best, you have to remain the best until the very last. For the Manticores (men) and Honeybees (women), Sunday’s semifinal and final games summed up the reason why they remained standing as United States Goalball Champions for 2023. Were each loaded with talent? Yes. Did they ever take the foot off the gas while driving for the goal that had beckoned them all season? Not in the least.
For the Manticores, hard throwing, team communication, and lockdown defense typified their play from way back in March until this weekend. Josh Wellborn, time and again, proved his worth as the indispensable scoring threat regardless of which position he was playing at any given moment. Zach Buhler showed his ParaOlympic prowess and Jordan Main let everyone know his name belonged in the conversation as one of the game’s best players. Together, they made the repeat run come to fruition.
For the Honeybees, dynamic play, defense, and depth set them up for winning their third championship in a row. And when either Denis or Czechowski weren’t sending yet another throw into the net, their three teammates were ready to provide artillery support.
And in the men’s B division, the Atlanta Wolves announced to the goalball world that, given time, they will contend with the longer standing formidables. They took down the Killer Cobras in their final match.
Then when it was all said and done, the postgame ceremonies portrayed once again the class and sportsmanship that keeps the goalball community tight-knit. Outstanding players, coaches, and volunteers, scorekeepers, and line judges were recognized for their efforts. After all, the work behind the scenes and off the court make the competition possible. I am sure that each individual player has his or her family, friends, and other support to thank for the opportunity to step into the spotlight especially this weekend. Now, we look forward to next year when the goalballs will bounce and roll once again; whistles will blow and fans will applaud at the club level all across the country. In the interim, we support the sport’s best of the best as they strive for excellence when qualifying for the ParaOlympic 2024 Paris Games.
For a full rundown of the scores of this past weekend which show the path each team took, visit http://www.goalballscoreboard.net.
Boldly Blind 