As I near 5000 I know some people get more eyes on what I post, so it does me great honor to make a post about a friend of wrestling and mine in Jason Vick.

Vick was a teammate of mine at UCO on the wrestling squad and was a major reason our light weights were often pushed to great success come nationals.

Vick was an All Stater in Oklahoma out of Star Spencer high school. Who then signed on to wrestle at Central Oklahoma and helped the team to a National Championship.

Tragically Vick was shot in a car jacking and paralyzed...however he has since turned his paralysis into motivation and last year in his 2nd appearance at the Endeavor Games he took home 2 golds (1 in lifting, 1 in tennis) and 1 silver (in tennis).

This is a short interview conducted by the Edmond Sun, I am still up in the air, but I may try to go down and root him on for at least 1day.

This is an image of Vick on this link:
http://www.edmondsun.com/homepage/images_sizedimage_152231333/xl

Enduring spirit

EDMOND SUN TIMES— Editor’s Note: The Endeavor Games begin Thursday night at the University of Central Oklahoma. Several Edmond athletes will compete. Today is the first in a series highlighting those athletes.

Jason Vick, 23
- T1 through T4 spinal cord injury
- UCO senior from Spencer
- Major: occupational therapy and psychology

Q: This is your third year at the Endeavor Games. What do the games mean to you?
A: I like the Endeavor Games for many reasons. For me it is more a social event. I like seeing people who are new to the sport. I’ve made a lot of friends there. Also, they are right down the street from me.
Q: You compete in tennis at the Endeavor Games. What makes tennis an attractive discipline for you?
A: It is the only sport I used to practice when I was able-bodied that I can still do. I had to give up wrestling and mixed martial arts. Tennis keeps me in shape.
Q: What are your athletic ambitions?
A: I play tennis to mainly stay in shape. But I would like to see where I can go with it.
Q: When was your back injured and how?
A: I got shot in a car robbery in Oklahoma City in April 2004. The bullet entered my back and bounced off the right shoulder blade into the spine.
Q: What keeps you motivated?
A: Perception! I see how some people are in wheelchairs and I don’t want to be like that. Giving up is not an option. I got through rehab in three weeks because people showed me that it could be done. I learned quickly and would not stop practicing until I had learned to do something. I want to encourage others like that. When it comes to tennis, the possibility of winning motivates me.
Q: What would you say to encourage our readers?
A: Don’t give up. It could always be worse.
— MAIKE SABOLICH

To know more:

For a complete schedule of events log on to http://www.ucok.edu/wellnesscenter/ds_home

Archery — Allows athletes with physical disabilities to showcase their shooting precision and accuracy either standing or in
wheelchairs.

Wheelchair basketball — Is for any athlete who utilizes an approved manual wheelchair.

Boccia — Has long been a popular sport with athletes with cerebral palsy, testing an athlete’s level of muscle control, concentration and accuracy. Athletes throw, kick or use an assistive device to propel leather balls toward a white target ball.

Powerlifting — There are 10 different weight classes and each athlete lifts three times. The heaviest lift is used for final placing in the
competition.

Shooting — Divided into rifle and pistol events, air and .22 caliber, shooting is open to male and female athletes in three classifications.

Wheelchair softball — Is for any athlete who utilizes an approved manual wheelchair.

Swimming — The only sport that combines the conditions of limb loss, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and other disabilities across classes. Athletes compete in freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke.

Table tennis — Team and individual competition for male and female athletes in three disability classifications.

Tennis — Is for athletes in approved manual wheelchairs and also standing athletes.

Track & field — Events include track, throwing, jumping, pentathlon and the marathon in five disability classifications.
— DOUG WEEKS


Last edited by Aaron Sweazy; 06/05/07 05:30 PM.

Yours in wrestling,

The Swayz
swayz.wrestling@gmail.com recruiting help, promoting the sport& more!