By John Kriescher for VolleyballMag
On the eve of the 2024 Paralympic Video games in Paris, ICN (It’s Known as Regular) Athletics has awarded Berklee Andrews its first ICN Transcend Award, which can 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 beneath the elbow, face great obstacles to competing on the highest ranges. These obstacles embody social/societal perceptions, difficulties acquiring costly adaptive gear, and a lack of information relating to bodily coaching/methodology particular to adaptive populations.
The Paralympic Video games, after all, symbolize an unbelievable alternative for these athletes to compete on the biggest stage, beneath the brightest lights, towards probably the most proficient friends.
However not each gifted adaptive athlete has the chance to play on the Paralympic stage. A number of of probably 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 gained a gold medal on the World Seashore ParaVolley Regional Growth Occasion.
“My ardour for seaside volleyball was re-ignited,” she recalled.
A month later, she moved to Florida to attend Lake-Sumter State Faculty and play seaside volleyball. Learn extra about that right here, the place the 5-foot-5 Andrews and accomplice 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.”
Seashore paravolley is the three-person adaptive format of seaside volleyball that works inside 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 gained are important steps towards that objective.
Her subsequent objective is to play seaside volleyball at Stephen F. Austin, changing into the primary seaside volleyball student-athlete with a limb distinction to compete on the NCAA Division I stage.
“I’ve coached Olympic and Paralympic volleyball gold medalists, and Berklee has what it takes to compete at any stage,” stated Jon Aharoni, founding father of ICN. “Her efforts over the previous yr have really transcended seaside volleyball, and he or she is making it regular for adaptive athletes to succeed on any court docket, whether or not in faculty or the Paralympics. We’re so happy to reward her onerous work and put money into her future by means of the ICN Transcend Award.”
Andrews’ ICN Transcend Award features a grant to help 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 help,” Andrews stated. “Rising up enjoying 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 seaside volleyball
Seashore volleyball isn’t identified for having a robust illustration of people with disabilities, however ICN is working to vary that by means of partnerships with nationwide tournaments, golf equipment, and legendary athletes. Over the previous yr, 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 Seashore Volleyball Championship. There, they teamed up with native membership coaches to organize youth and junior gamers for his or her competitions within the 2024 USA Volleyball BeachFest Nationwide Qualifier.
ICN additionally held an adaptive seaside volleyball clinic to boost consciousness and introduce younger gamers to adaptive sports activities, and gamers related with Olympians Todd Rogers, Holly McPeak, Gayle Malone, Nicole Branagh, and Dain Blanton.
In July, due to Tom Galecke, Andrews and the ICN group competed in a number of divisions at Waupaca Boatride — the nation’s largest out of doors grass volleyball match with greater than 3,000 groups—in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In addition they joined Crew Pineapple Volleyball Membership, led by Lloyd Ball, to guide 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 US Marine Corps sitting volleyball group within the 2024 Division of Protection Warrior Video games, the place the group gained a silver medal, incomes their greatest end in 11 years. In addition they partnered with Challenged Athletes Basis to host an Adaptive Seashore Volleyball Clinic in San Diego, the place greater than 20 athletes from throughout the US and South America spent three days competing and honing their expertise.
“Waiting for 2025, we’re planning to accomplice with legendary athletes like Kerri Walsh Jennings and Randy Stoklos to raise adaptive seaside volleyball and produce extra consideration to our rising sport,” Aharoni stated. “We are able to’t do that alone, and we’re so grateful for our neighborhood companions who’re serving to to make seaside volleyball extra inclusive and domesticate the following era of extraordinary athletes.”
A present to ICN will allow adaptive athletes like Andrews to step onto any court docket and excel, whether or not competing in Division I seaside volleyball or chasing Paralympic—and even Olympic—desires. Assist will assist develop the game of seaside volleyball by funding coaching applications 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 happy with what I’ve completed thus far, I’m most excited for the alternatives that lie forward in seaside 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.”
