Monday, August 10
Podium Finishes:
Archery (2 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze)
Team USA took to the shooting line today in seven of eight medal matches, and claimed an incredible eight medals, including two Parapan American Games champion titles. The archers, untouchable all morning, also sealed four Paralympic quota slots for the U.S. MORE.
Cycling - Track (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)
U.S. cyclists came to the track ready to compete today, bringing home four out of six possible time trial medals. Joe Berenyi led the way, earning gold in the men’s 1-kilometer time trial, followed by teammate Justin Widhalm who won bronze. In the women’s 500-meter time trial, Jennifer Schuble and Allison Jones garnered silver and bronze, respectively. Berenyi, Widhalm and Jamie Whitmore set Parapan American records in their classes. More.
Swimming (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
Leslie Cichocki brought home a gold for Team USA, winning the women’s 100-meter backstroke S14. Taking home her third medal of the meet, Haley Bernanbaum fought off competitors to take a second place finish in the women’s 50 butterfly S5. Sophia Herzog was awarded her first individual medal of the games after finishing third in the women’s 50 freestyle S6 (39.71). Team USA’s three medals of the night bring the medal count to 13 after three days of competition.
Table Tennis (1 gold, 2 silvers, 2 bronze)
Tahl Leibovitz jumped to a quick two-set lead over Mexico’s Ariff Vazquez and then lost momentum, forced to battle point-for-point in the fifth set to defend his Parapan American men’s singles class 9 title. Sherri Umschied defeated Argentina’s Paola Raneili 3-0 to take bronze in the women’s singles class 6-7, while Pamela Fontaine tied for a bronze medal in the women’s singles class 1-3. Lim Ming Chui, secured silver in the men’s singles class 8, and newcomer Ari Arratia earned silver in the men’s singles class 6.
Track and Field (3 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze)
The rain may have caused some delays on the track today, but it didn’t hinder performances by members of Team USA who won 10 medals on the first day of competition. Three members of the men’s team earned gold: Daniel Romanchuk; 5000m T54; Regas Woods, long jump T42/44; and Michael Brannigan, 1500m T20. Ayden Jent won a silver in the men’s 100m T35 in his Parapan Ams debut. Hannah McFadden won silver in the women’s 800m T54. U.S. teammates Rachael Morrison and Cassie Mitchell combined for the one-two punch for a silver and bronze, respectively, in the women’s club throw 31/32/51 final. The three bronze medals came from the following Team USA athletes: Ahkeel Whitehead, men’s long jump T37; Rudy Garcia-Tolson, men’s long jump T42/44; and Cheri Madsen, women’s 800m T54. MORE.
Other Results:
Boccia
Austin Hanson, Marck Harrison, Matt Hiltner, Brigid Mason and Cornelius Oatis dropped matches in their respective class of preliminary round 2 play.
Goalball
The U.S. men lost 9-2 to defending world champions, Brazil. The previously undefeated women played their first full 24-minute game and lost, 3-1 to Brazil. Both teams play two more days of preliminary competition before semifinal games begin on Friday. MORE.
Powerlifting
Team USA had two powerlifters compete in the men’s up to 80kg class today. Ahmed Shafik had his best lift of the day on his second attempt, benching 181kg. His lift landed him in fourth place, just shy of the podium. U.S. teammate Jacob Stearns finished in sixth place after his best lift of 147kg on his first attempt. Jake Schrom, the last U.S. powerlifting athlete left to lift, will compete in the men’s up to 80kg class on Tuesday.
Sitting Volleyball
The U.S. women continued to dominate pool play, recording 29 aces en route to a 25-8, 25-5, 25-10 victory over Cuba. Team captain Heather Erickson led the offensive charge with a match-high 13 points via five kills on seven attacks, seven aces and a block. The women close out preliminary round play tomorrow with a match against Brazil at 7 p.m. EST. MORE.
On the men’s side, Team USA defeated Canada 25-21, 25-20, 25-18 to remain undefeated through three preliminary round matches. The U.S. Parapan Men’s Sitting Volleyball Team continue their path to a Rio 2016 Paralympic Games berth with the final preliminary match against Brazil on Wednesday at 7 p.m. EST.
Soccer 7-a-side
Team USA tied Venezuela, 1-1, in soccer 7-a-side action today. Down by one, U.S. player David Garza scored the tying goal with three minutes left in regulation time. The U.S. squad takes a break in the action on Tuesday but returns to first-round play on Wednesday, August 12, when it takes on Argentina.
Wheelchair Basketball
In women’s preliminary action, Team USA dominated Argentina, 91-14. Becca Murray and Abby Dunkin each scored 22 points apiece, while Desiree Miller netted 19. The team heads into tomorrow’s game against El Salvador with a record of 2-0.
It was a tight game from the start in the men’s Team USA vs. Brazil wheelchair basketball game. The two teams played each other fiercely, coming down to the wire, but the U.S. squad prevailed with the win, 54-50. Mike Paye was the leading scorer for the U.S. with 16 points; Steve Serio netted a total of 14. The U.S. team gets a break in the action on Tuesday and will return to quarterfinals action on Wednesday against an opponent still to be determined.
Wheelchair Rugby
The U.S. team came up with a huge margin of victory again tonight with a 54-11 win over Chile. After holding their opponent scoreless for the first period, the Americans dominated the floor on both ends throughout the game. Top scorers tonight for the U.S. were Clayton Brackett with 14 and Rob Deller with 11. This brings the U.S. record to 3-0 thus far at these Games. The Americans will face Colombia at 8 p.m. EST on Tuesday, August 11.
Wheelchair Tennis
In singles competition, Emmy Kaiser, Jon Rydberg and Kaitlyn Verfuerth advanced to Wednesday’s semifinal rounds, each recording a 2-0 victory against opponents from Colombia, Chile and Canada, respectively. Tomorrow’s semifinal matches begin at 10 a.m. EST, and Steve Baldwin and Jon Rydberg will be back on the court for a rescheduled doubles quarterfinal match against Cuba (delayed today due to rain).