Over 50 Blind Athletes Compete in BSO-sponsored event

PHILADELPHIA, PA—Goalball athletes from southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, and New Jersey competed in the Blind Sports Organization’s Mid-Atlantic Goalball Tournament in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this weekend.  The seasonal tournament took place on Saturday, November 21 and featured a total of 8 teams, 5 men’s and 3 women’s, with 5 hailing from the greater Philadelphia area.  The home teams represented their organization proudly, with the Blind Sports Organization (BSO) women besting all else in their division, but it was New Jersey who triumphed for the men, finishing first by edging past New York.

              In the men’s class, New Jersey, led by an extraordinary performance by center Danny Gallant, notched a tournament-high 3 victories, as did New York, whose hard-throwing left-winger Lamar Brown provided most of the team’s offense.  Although they finished with an identical record of 3 wins, 0 losses, and a tie—the result of their only face-to-face match-up—New Jersey eked out a first place finish by point differential.  The BSO Venom were the strongest of the BSO contingent, posting an even record of 2 wins and 2 losses.  The BSO Wolfpack and Vultures each posted 1 win and 3 defeats.  BSO had multiple teams in the women’s division as well, BSO 1 and BSO 2, which finished 0-3-1 and 3-0-1, respectively.  BSO 2’s 3 wins were enough to win their division, beating out second-place New Jersey and their record of 2 wins and 2 losses.

              The tournament was hosted and sponsored by the Blind Sports Organization at the Overbrook School for the Blind.

               For a listing of upcoming Goalball and other adapted sports events, go to www.NYABA.net, www.BlindSports.org, and www.WheelchairSportsFederation.org.