The Lima 2019 Parapan American Games Daily Recap 8-26-19

LIMA — There were lots to see today in the world of Parapan sport, so let’s get started:

Call it a symmetry of score for the Men and Women Team USA Goalball Teams in their matches vs. Venezuela and Mexico on Monday morning. The final score for both games was United States 12, the opposition 2. 

First in women’s, Amanda Dennis scored four times (10:14, 5:35, 3:03, 0:32). To defeat rival Mexico. Said Dennis post-match,

“There’s some things that we all can work on, generally, I felt I was throwing okay. Some games take you into a different feeling, and we haven’t played Mexico in a little while so it’s getting used to the way they play and the way that we need to throw on their defense.”

For Team USA Men’s goalball, after dropping the first point, the United States blazed back as the mercy rule had to be put into effect in the first half. They dropped Venezuela 12-2. Said captain John Kusku after the match about his team’s ability to rebound,

“Definitely [not getting the first shot in is] something that we need to work on. It’s been our kryptonite for about ten years now. So, if nothing, we are used to coming back after that first goal.”  

Tomorrow, the United States Women play Brazil at 12:30 and then play Peru in the late match at 6:30 PM.

Here’s a riddle – What do Freddie Mercury and Team USA Para Cycling Track star Samantha Bosco have in common? They both struck gold while riding their bicycles (okay, it’s a stretch). Bosco won a gold medal in the velodrome, winning the Women’s 500m Time Trial C1-5 Finals with a time of 39.601 seconds. Bosco, a former rower turned cyclist, was ecstatic giving hugs to any AND all reporters, joking around with them and saying, 

“I cannot describe my feelings right now.” continuing, “This could be the best day of my life..…don’t tell my husband.  Well… top three.” 

She then added, “I am super amazed because the 500m wasn’t even my event. My event is the 3000m, I am super stoked that I have a teammate who gets to join me on the podium. Also, I am so grateful that I got to cross 40 seconds for the first time EVER.”

The teammate that she referred to in her quote was Clara Brown who placed third and picked up the bronze coming in at 40.043 seconds.

In Para Athletics, Team USA Long Jump-ed to the top of the charts with their hit, “Gold and Silver Medals” by Para Athletes Claudius Fawehinmi and Tanner Wright. The two placed #1 and #2 respectively in the Men’s Long Jump T47 Final.

Wright measured 6.45 meters while his teammate Fawehinmi landed his jump at 7.03 meters.

USA Wheelchair Table Tennis has punched its way into the gold medal match vs. Brazil! The duo of  Ian Seidenfeld and Makkar Marco defeated Chile two games to nothing to stamp their ticket to the finals.

In Para Shooting, the United States’ own Kevin Ngyuen obtained gold in the Mixed’s 50m Rifle Prone SH1 with Robert Beach taking home a bronze. But they weren’t done quite yet, as the U.S. took home another bronze medal by way of Michael Tagliapietra in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol SH1 competition.

Team USA’s neighbor to the North Canada got spiked by both the Men and the Women United States teams today. Both United States squads won in straight sets 3-0. Don’t let the score in the Men’s fool you, it was a very close match with the games being scored at 25-22, 25-20, 27-22. 

The Women’s match was a little more separated in scores with the games scoring at: 25-14, 25-17, and 25-12, Monique Burkland led all scorers with 13 points on the day for the women, and for the men, J Dee Marinko had 9 points. 

In Wheelchair Rugby, the Columbians needed some coffee as they fell asleep vs. Team USA. The Americans dominated once again winning 50-24. Raymond Hennagir III led all scorers on both teams with 12 tries on the day. 

The Team USA Women’s Basketball team was on fire and burnt the nets with their lopsided 100-16 victory over Peru. Rosie Hollerman led all scores with 27 points adding 7 assists. 

Meanwhile, the Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team also were dishing it out, but instead to Brazil, although it was not as one-sided as their previous matches.  The United States won 87-47. Trevon Jenifer had 18 points, 2 assists and 6 rebounded for the red, white and blue. 

Wheelchair Tennis saw Team USA’s Casey Ratzlaff defeated Chile’s Alexander A.Catalado 2-0 in a quarterfinal match up. Tomorrow Ratzlaff and his partner Christopher Herman battle the Peruvian team of Jesus J. Mayhua and Ysabelino Apaza at 12:30 pm.

Finally, in swimming’s Women’s 400m Freestyle S11 Final The United States found a silver medal winner in Laurrie Hermes, finishing at 5:52.62. 

Medal Standing after Monday August 26, 2019:

1. Brazil (121)
2. United States (80)
3. Mexico (72)
4. Argentina (51)
5. Columbia (41)

Today’s Photo of the day

This concludes today’s daily recap, see you tomorrow!

 For more photos please check out 

photos@wheelchairsportsfederation.org

Correction: An earlier version of this article captioned Tanner Wright in a photo.  The correct athlete is Trenton Merrill.