Hoops and Pucks

Sarah Lewis,18, from South Bend, Indiana, loves shooting hoops and blocking pucks. Sarah was born with Myelomeningocele Spina Bifida L3-4 and Hydrocephalus. Sarah also has anxiety and ADD. Sarah is a wheelchair user. Six years ago, when Sarah was just 12 years old created her Sled Hockey Team River Sled Rovers and three years ago joined her wheelchair basketball team River City Rollers. Sarah decided to create the sled hockey team River City Rovers after watching her older brother and his high school team play hockey. Sarah was very inspired! After that Sarah told her dad "Let's create a Sled hockey team! ", they did just that! Her dad is the head coach and Sarah is the goalie for the team. Every other week, one day of that week, The River Sled Rovers get 1 hour ice time. They immediately get their gear on, get on in their sleds and start practicing. First they warm up with 2 laps, come in to listen to the coaches comments then continue to do different drills and play small scrimmage games for practice. The assistant coaches warm Sarah up by shooting pucks at the goal as she tries to block them. Sarah says "It's all about a matter of focus, fast reflexes and eye contact. For able body players they stand, no Sled. For those with disabilities, Its modified in the sense that the players use a Sled and they have two hockey sticks that on the upper end have two metal "picks" that you jab into the ice and push backwards to go forward. You use one to turn while having one hand on the ice and propel with your stick, using your hand and turn. The Sled is close to the ground, the players can't T-bone the other players. The Rovers haven't won any games, but improve every time they play. Three years ago, Sarah joined the basketball team River City Rollers in Indiana. Sarah's specialty on the team is her speed and shooting baskets. They use manual wheelchairs. Some players use their own manual wheelchair and some players use chairs that are specifically used for basketball. For practice, the River City Rollers meet up every Wednesday night of each week from 7:00pm-8:45pm. During practice, the players wheel up and down the court in their wheelchairs and try to defend 1 player and try to not let the player close enough to score a basket. When playing wheelchair basketball, the rule is two pushes and then either dribble, pass or shoot the ball. So far their team has 1 win and 1 loss. When Sarah is not shooting hoops or blocking pucks, she is concentrating on her college courses for Pre Veterinary Medicine at Indiana University South Bend. She is a Freshman. Sarah also likes to sing in her college choir and helping those with disabilities through Facebook groups that she admins in like Rolling With Spina Bifida. Sarah's advice to those who have Spina Bifida is to embrace the positive. Life is full of ups and downs like a roller coaster. Don't let the downs keep you down, get back up even when it's hard to do so. Sarah wants parents to know that Children are a miracle. They deserve to be able to do everything and it is in your power to let the child do so. Please love and cherish your children, some people lose their children early or aren't even able to conceive.

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