By John Kriescher for VolleyballMag
On the eve of the 2024 Paralympic Video games in Paris, ICN (It’s Referred to as Regular) Athletics has awarded Berklee Andrews its first ICN Transcend Award, which shall be given yearly to an adaptive athlete who embodies excellence in volleyball and transcends sport.
Adaptive athletes and people with bodily impairments like Andrews, who was born lacking her left arm under the elbow, face large limitations to competing on the highest ranges. These obstacles embrace social/societal perceptions, difficulties acquiring costly adaptive gear, and a lack of expertise relating to bodily coaching/methodology particular to adaptive populations.
The Paralympic Video games, after all, signify an unbelievable alternative for these athletes to compete on the most important stage, beneath the brightest lights, in opposition to essentially the most gifted friends.
However not each gifted adaptive athlete has the chance to play on the Paralympic stage. A number of of essentially the most athletic sports activities are usually not included within the Video games. Andrews, for one, is an unbelievable instance of such an athlete breaking the mildew in a sport that doesn’t but have Paralympic standing.
Andrews, 20, performed 4 years of highschool volleyball — and basketball and softball — earlier than attending Texas Tech. After a semester, she realized how a lot she missed volleyball.
In December 2022 Andrews received a gold medal on the World Seaside ParaVolley Regional Growth Occasion.
“My ardour for seashore volleyball was re-ignited,” she recalled.
A month later, she moved to Florida to attend Lake-Sumter State School and play seashore volleyball. Learn extra about that right here, the place the 5-foot-5 Andrews and companion Alanis Figueroa Rivera had been named 2023 second-team All-Individuals.
Since studying to throw a ball as a toddler, Andrews has embraced the challenges of being an athlete with a limb distinction.
“Being born with one arm has allowed me to study one thing from each barrier to search out methods to make myself higher,” Andrews stated. “It has fueled my willpower to excel in sports activities, however extra importantly, it has helped me make clear making life lovely.”
Seaside paravolley is the three-person adaptive format of seashore volleyball that works throughout the Paralympic classification system. World ParaVolley, the worldwide group affiliated with the Worldwide Paralympic Committee, goals to submit the game for potential inclusion within the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Video games, and competitions just like the one Andrews received are crucial steps towards that objective.
Her subsequent objective is to play seashore volleyball at Stephen F. Austin, changing into the primary seashore volleyball student-athlete with a limb distinction to compete on the NCAA Division I degree.
“I’ve coached Olympic and Paralympic volleyball gold medalists, and Berklee has what it takes to compete at any degree,” stated Jon Aharoni, founding father of ICN. “Her efforts over the previous 12 months have really transcended seashore volleyball, and she or he is making it regular for adaptive athletes to succeed on any courtroom, whether or not in faculty or the Paralympics. We’re so happy to reward her onerous work and spend money on her future via the ICN Transcend Award.”
Andrews’ ICN Transcend Award features a grant to assist bills for coaching, competitions, and adaptive gear. Because of a partnership with Slunks, the award additionally features a gear bundle to outfit Andrews in her quest for excellence.
“I’m deeply honored to be a part of ICN and I’m so grateful for this assist,” Andrews stated. “Rising up taking part in sports activities with a incapacity has been a privilege, and ICN is making it regular for athletes like me to compete on the highest ranges.”
Normalizing adaptive seashore volleyball
Seaside volleyball isn’t identified for having a robust illustration of people with disabilities, however ICN is working to alter that via partnerships with nationwide tournaments, golf equipment, and legendary athletes. Over the previous 12 months, Andrews joined ICN to compete alongside adaptive athletes and elevate adaptive sports activities at different main volleyball competitions.
Because of a partnership between ICN and USA Volleyball Gulf Coast Area, led by Commissioner Philip Bryant, the adaptive athletes traveled to Gulf Shores, Alabama, this previous Could for an occasion coinciding the adjoining NCAA Seaside Volleyball Championship. There, they teamed up with native membership coaches to arrange youth and junior gamers for his or her competitions within the 2024 USA Volleyball BeachFest Nationwide Qualifier.
ICN additionally held an adaptive seashore volleyball clinic to boost consciousness and introduce younger gamers to adaptive sports activities, and gamers linked with Olympians Todd Rogers, Holly McPeak, Gayle Malone, Nicole Branagh, and Dain Blanton.
In July, because of Tom Galecke, Andrews and the ICN group competed in a number of divisions at Waupaca Boatride — the nation’s largest outside grass volleyball event with greater than 3,000 groups—in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In addition they joined Workforce Pineapple Volleyball Membership, led by Lloyd Ball, to steer a youth clinic.
Moreover, Aharoni and ICN co-founder Dave Newkirk, a three-time Paralympian, have continued to boost consciousness of adaptive athletics and assist develop athletes and veterans with disabilities. Over the summer time, they coached the USA Marine Corps sitting volleyball group within the 2024 Division of Protection Warrior Video games, the place the group received a silver medal, incomes their greatest end in 11 years. In addition they partnered with Challenged Athletes Basis to host an Adaptive Seaside Volleyball Clinic in San Diego, the place greater than 20 athletes from throughout the USA and South America spent three days competing and honing their abilities.
“Waiting for 2025, we’re planning to companion with legendary athletes like Kerri Walsh Jennings and Randy Stoklos to raise adaptive seashore volleyball and convey extra consideration to our rising sport,” Aharoni stated. “We will’t do that alone, and we’re so grateful for our group companions who’re serving to to make seashore volleyball extra inclusive and domesticate the subsequent technology of extraordinary athletes.”
A present to ICN will allow adaptive athletes like Andrews to step onto any courtroom and excel, whether or not competing in Division I seashore volleyball or chasing Paralympic—and even Olympic—goals. Help will assist develop the game of seashore volleyball by funding coaching packages and clinics, specialised gear for athletes, and competitors bills.
Backed by ICN, Andrews is waiting for a way forward for limitless alternatives.
“Whereas I’m pleased with what I’ve completed to this point, I’m most excited for the alternatives that lie forward in seashore volleyball,” she stated. “Alongside ICN, I really feel empowered to assist elevate adaptive athletics to new heights and assist athletes like me consider of their potential.”
