Castle Point VA Bowlers Win 5th Annual United Spinal Tournament
For the second year in a row, a team of bowlers with disabilities from the Castle Point VA went home victorious at this year’s 5th Annual United Spinal Association Bowling Tournament. The Castle Point team dominated the event, winning first place and taking home the lion’s share of awards at the presentation ceremony. Over 50 individuals with disabilities from New York, Pennsylvania, and Maine competed in the tournament, which was hosted at Chacko’s Bowling Lanes in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
“This is a great opportunity to get together and have fun while still being able to show our competitive side,” said Castle Point’s Steve Pilla, who took 3rd place in the Quad Open division while also winning the Most Inspirational Award. “It was great just to be here and bowl with my friends. I didn’t expect to come away with any awards, let alone two! I can’t wait for next year’s tournament so that we can defend our title.”
Wheelchair bowling, like traditional bowling, can be played competitively or recreationally. The sport has several adaptive devices that allow persons with various levels of disability to participate. A “snap handle ball” is designed for individuals with limited hand control. A spring-loaded handle is installed in the ball which retracts when the ball is released. Another adaptive feature is the “bowling stick,” which is similar to a shuffleboard stick. A volunteer places the ball on the floor near the foul line and the bowler then uses the stick to propel the ball down the lane. For bowlers with severe disabilities that prevent them from holding and propelling a ball, a ramp-like device is used. After positioning the ramp, the bowler, or their assistant, places the ball at the top of the ramp and the bowler pushes it. The ramp is a very efficient device and often enables individuals to score 200 points or better.
“Bowling tournaments and other adaptive sporting events brings a sense of competition to our members that they thought they wouldn’t experience again after suffering a spinal cord injury or disease,” said Patrick Donaghey, program manager of Sports and Recreation at United Spinal Association. “I love to be a part of these tournaments and watch the guys from the different VAs come together and have fun playing a game that lots of people can enjoy.”
The tournament had six divisions: ramp, handle ball, push stick, manual quadriplegic, manual novice, and manual open. Paul O’Hora, inventor of the push stick, won first place in that division.
“Throughout the year, United Spinal sponsors several bowling programs for its members,” stated Albert Guarneri, United Spinal recreation aide. “This tournament allows these individuals to test their skills against their peers and also enjoy an atmosphere where there is a strong sense of camaraderie.”
The tournament was open to all members of United Spinal and there were approximately 35 bowlers with disabilities competing in Wilkes-Barre, with other groups competing at satellite locations in Castle Point; Philadelphia; Lebanon, Pennsylvania; Buffalo, New York; and Togus, Maine. These groups faxed in their scores to the tournament site.
Castle Point Hosts Air Rifle Championship for Veterans With Spinal Injuries
Donald Young (U.S. Marine Corps, 1960-64; Army National Guard, 1984–94) wheeled himself behind his air rifle, taking aim at targets across the room. Young, who has competed in the Paralympics Slalom Course in Minnesota, represented the Bronx VA. He said his shooting was a bit off this year but that there was more than high scores to this championship.
“It’s good to see the fellows out here. No matter what condition we’re in, we still love to get together,” said Young about this year’s Air Rifle Championship. “I did my worst this year, I only scored 68 out of 100, but the camaraderie is the best part of this competition. I practice two to three times a year. I always try to take it easy and live life to the fullest because when you are sitting down it can be hard to get up.”
The United Spinal Association-NRA Air Rifle Championship, sponsored by United Spinal, the National Rifle Association (NRA), and the Castle Point VA Therapeutic Recreation Department, took place at the Castle Point VA Medical Center on Friday, March 25, 2005. The annual Air Rifle Championship is for veterans with spinal cord injury or dysfunction. Many local veterans competed, including marksmen from Pennsylvania and the Bronx, New York.
“The whole object is to get them to shoot,” explained Dave Baskin, director of disabled shooting for the NRA. “When the guys shoot, it builds their confidence.”
The veterans who attended the championship have different levels of disabilities. Some have the full use of their upper bodies while others have limited use of their arms. That is why air rifle officials restructured the event’s categories several years ago to include para-freehand, para-support stand, quad support stand and quad assist
“Sponsorship from United Spinal and the NRA hosting clinics has a positive effect on our members mentally and on their shooting scores, and some members are eager to take it to the next level,” said Patrick Donaghey, program manager of Sports and Recreation for United Spinal Association.
“This championship serves as a stepping stone toward Nationals,” said Donaghey. “The NRA Beaming tour takes place throughout the U.S., and individual tourneys gather points that form a yearly ranking. The top three competitors receive medals in hopes of reaching Nationals and ultimately, the Paralympics disabled shooting, the utmost goal.”
An awards ceremony to honor the top competitors concluded the tournament. The Association and the NRA regularly hold air rifle clinics at VA hospitals in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The year-long Marksmanship League, developed from these clinics, allows veterans to compete against each other from various hospitals.
Over the last several years, more and more individuals have been participating in air rifle competitions and clinics. Adaptive equipment such as hair-triggers and “sip and puff” devices allow persons with very limited mobility to compete or simply shoot air rifles for leisure.
New England Bruins Win 4th Annual United Spinal Sled Hockey Tournament
The 4th Annual United Spinal Sled Hockey Tournament hosted two other premier East Coast sled hockey teams from New England and Pennsylvania at the Ice Hutch Rink in Mt. Vernon, New York, in late March. The tournament was a two-tier round-robin played on the United Spinal Rangers’ home ice. The New England Bruins went home with first place honors and the championship win at the end of the weekend. A 90-minute introductory sled hockey clinic was held on Saturday for school-aged children through adults with mobility disabilities.
“We will come back next year more prepared and hopefully take the title from the New England Bruins,” said Jose Mendez, United Spinal Rangers sled hockey competitor. “These tournaments are always fun and inspirational.”
The United Spinal Rangers sled hockey program is the most competitive in New York, boasting two starters from the 1998 USA National Team that competed in Nagano, Japan, during the 1998 Paralympics, as well as having members from other USA National teams. New recruits have also shown great promise and added depth to the team. The Rangers are a community-based team hosting several instructional clinics throughout the year at various locations in the New York metropolitan area. Several dozen people with disabilities, including children, have been exposed to the sport through the cooperative efforts of the New York Rangers, United Spinal Association, and several New York ice rinks.
Sled hockey is a sport that allows individuals with physical disabilities to enjoy an adaptive version of traditional ice hockey, with similar concepts and rules. In sled hockey, the main difference is that instead of standing up to skate, competitors sit on their skates using an adaptive device known as a sled, which is affixed with two skate blades and a runner in the front to form a tripod. Also, competitors use two shortened hockey sticks with a pick (similar to the end of a figure skate) on one end, which enables them to propel themselves across the ice, similar to cross country skiing. Checking and high-speed slap shots are common features of the sport.
Jennifer M. Rodriguez is an assistant public affairs officer at United Spinal.
