Author: Athletes with Disabilities Network-Northeast

With the help of the Philadelhia Phillies staff member John Brase and an invite from Tommy Greene.  Disabled police officer Michael Braxton was thought he was going to speak on Fox 29 News about Athletes with disAbiliies Network Northeast and its programs.  While he did an amazing job talkin about our programs he was surprise by Tommy Greene with an invite to the Philadelphia Phillies Fantasy Camp and participate in the player experience.

What does this mean???  It means Mike is going to Tampa this January for a week. What does he get to do? Phillies Legends are on hand to coach you, get to know you and share their stories of the “glory days” with you. Best of all, you get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to test your skills when you compete against the Legends at Spectrum Field, the Phillies Spring Training ballpark.

We will post photos of Mike’s experience and Brandon will be there for part of the week as well.   Go Phillies and thank you so much for making Mikes day!!

 

 

November 29^th– Green Valley Tennis Club instructor Anthony Pozzi, former Philadelphia Flyers Player Kimmo Timonen, ADNNEC staff ,and Director Karen Wiedner Camden County Disabilities Programs had their first Tennis clinic hosted by Green Valley Tennis Club.   It was a great experience with some cognitive and physically disabled participants showing their athletic potential on the court.

The Next Event will be on January 23rd from 5-6pm.  Please contact Karen Weidner Director of Program Camden County [email protected]

What have our local area athletes been up to?

1. Jack and Katelin Cunningham
2. Kelly Casey-Worrell
3. Logan Sites
4. Coach Megan Blunk
5. Runner Brian Reynolds
6. Board Member Kelly Worrell
7. Chase Merriweather

Jack and Katelin Cunningham

Jack and Katelin are the brother and sister duo that do every sport under the sun.  this season they both competed at triathlon championship in Ohio and jack at endeavor games. Jack was first in his class and 5/6 total pc. 3rd male, and USA tri-champs, Katelin’s time was 45:39, and Jack 54:48.

At Junior Nationals Jack competed in 20 events. He finished with 19 gold medals, 1 silver and 5 national records along with many personal records.  He started his week with a surprise triathlon right before traveling to Junior Nationals. Katelin also ran in the Philadelphia Women’s Triathlon and they both excel in sports at there respective schools.  Keep up the good work Cunninghams!!

 

Coach Megan Blunk

This past year was a great year for Megan Blunk, a Gold Medalist on the US Women’s 2016 Paralympic Team.  Megan had a part in the Nike commercial that aired this fall but, most recently she was in Challenged Athletes Foundation video with Kobe Bryant celebrating CAF’s 25th anniversary.  Megan made the move this year and is settled in California. She is now playing wheelchair basketball for the Wolf Pack Wheelchair Basketball team with fellow SportsAbility Coach Anthony Pone who also moved to play for the Wolf Pack.

 

 

Brian Reynolds

Brian Reynolds a bilateral below knee amputee was projected to be the first ever double below knee amputee to run the Chicago Marathon under 3 hours.  Brian was off and running at the pace he trained so hard to meet but, at mile 22 he fell and sustained a concussion.  He finished the race still running a great time and is now working towards his next races and marathon.  Please watch the great video made by Bank of America, featuring Brian, called Crushing Limits.

 

 

 

Kelly Casey-Worrell- Please meet our new board member and Para-triathlete Kelly.  She is a rising star as a new para and has been steadily improvin and taking names.  Kelly will be a very active member and you will see a lot more of her at events and in the news.  Please see the article written about her below and her race results.

June 24, 2018- Paratriathlon National Championship- Pleasant Prairie, WI-                             750m- swim- 20:55 T1:1:37  20k bike-41:12   T2:1:02  5k run-28:15= Total time- 1:32:59

WestChester SuperSprint TRiathlon with Team CAF in RYE, NY                                          Regional Championship-Silver Medal

October 14^th, 2018 -ITU Paratriathlon World Cup Sarasota Bradenton-                                Silver Medal– pts4 sports class

LBI Triathlon 9/16/18                                                                                                                       3rd in age group (able bodied) 1:14

Cherry Hill Sun Cherry Hill paratriathlete makes her presence known at nationals             Team USA Article  U.S. Athletes Earn Three Golds at Sarasota-Bradenton ITU Paratriathlon World Cup

 

 

Chase Merriweather-This is another one of our young athletes who is always on the go.  Chase has traveled all over the US and to the Youth Nike Ambassador Program.  This summer he competed at the Tri-State Games and lives by his families motto the non-profit the family started.  ” Chase UR Dream”.

2018 Tri-State Games
60m-14:70 – 1st place
100m-25:36 – 1st place
200m-55:68 – 1st place

2018 Junior Nationals
60m – 14:37 – 1st place
100m – 24:62 – 1st place
200m – 48.61 – 1st place