About Jennifer

 

  

     Jennifer was born on September 4, 1974 In St. Petersburg, Florida, and soon after was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. This condition has left her without the use of her legs, limited use of her arms, and difficultly speaking.

       However, she has never let her disability get in her way of whatever she wanted to do. She graduated from Pinellas Park High School in 1995. She then continued her education and graduated from St. Petersburg College with an Associates degree in 1999. Ultimately she hopes to get a degree in Sports Psychology or Therapeutic Recreation to develop a year round sports program for the physically disabled.

       She first became interested in wheelchair sports through the Bay Area Youth Wheelchair Athletic Association (BAYWAA) where she participated in their monthly Super Sports Saturday. She enjoyed the feel of competitive sports and attending local and state competition. She first focused on track and field events including wheelchair races, slalom, high toss, and soft discus. She also was a member of the St. Pete Chargers Power Soccer Team. She competed regularly against a team in Tampa. During this time, she learned to love the feeling of competition of excitement before and during a competition, as well as the sense of accomplishment as her medals and trophies increased.

            In 1994, Jennifer decided to focus her attention and capabilities on a sport requiring a great deal of physical as well as mental skill called Boccia. Boccia is an Italian ball game similar to lawn bowling, which involves trying to throw your ball closer to the target ball than your opponent.

            In June, 1997, Jennifer won her first national title at the National Sports Festival for the Disabled. Jennifer placed first in individual competition as well as team competition. In 1998, Jennifer was chosen to represent the United States at the World Boccia Championships in Rhode Island, New York.

            Over the years Jennifer has represented the United States Boccia Team in several international competitions including the 2000 Paralympics Games in Sydney, Australia, Portugal and New Zealand. The USA Boccia Team did not qualify to go to the 2004 Paralympics Games in Athens, Greece. Only the top 12 teams in the world to qualify to go to Paralympics’ Games. During this time, Jennifer took a year of from competing, so she would not get burned out.

    In January of 2005, Jennifer received a call from a friend saying that Power Soccer had made a huge come back. She was asked to go checkout a team named “Tampa Thunder.” Within weeks, Jennifer became a member of the “Tampa Thunder Power Soccer Team.” While playing for the team, Jennifer found out that Power Soccer had not only become a huge sport across the USA but it was also a huge hit around the world as well. Jennifer also continued to play Boccia. She competed at the National Championships in Michigan. Jennifer also represented the USA in the America’s Boccia Cup held in Mar Del Plata, Argentina. The team came in 4th place at this competition.

     When Jennifer was still in Argentina, She and other teammates started talking about getting together more often to practice and compete together as a team in the USA. In February 2006, Jennifer represented the USA at the 2006 world Boccia Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The team did not do very well as they would have like to. In August, Jennifer attended the National Boccia Competition in Chicago, Illinois. Jennifer won the gold in the individual competition as well as the team Competition. In December, Jennifer was selected to represent the USA at the 2007 Boccia World Cup in Canada in May. The team has a chance to improve their world rankings. In order to go to the Paralympics, the team has to win the gold medal in Canada. Unfortunately, the team did not make the top 12 in order to qualify to go to China.

            Jennifer and the USA Boccia Team  have now set their sites on attending the 2012 Paralympics in London, England. In July of 2008, Jennifer attended the 2008 National Boccia Championship, hosted by BlazeSports of America in Warm Springs, Georgia. Jennifer won the 2008 National title  in January 2009, Jennifer made the 2009 USA Boccia Team that will be representing the United States in Montreal, Canada for the 2009 America’s Boccia Cup in October.. This is the team’s first step to bring up their ranking to qualify for the 2012 Paralympics. The team will be getting together to practice at the National Boccia Championship being held sometime in July.  

            In October 2009, Jennifer went to Montreal, Canada to compete in the America’s Boccia Cup. Jennifer made the semi-finals for individual play, however Team USA was unable to pull off a win. Due to the outcome of the recent trip, Jennifer and other athletes have agreed to overhaul their training schedule in order to be selected for the World Boccia Championships in Lisbon, Portugal in May 2010. Jennifer will find out in a few weeks, if she has been selected to represent the USA in Portugal. Jennifer continues to practice as if she is on the 2010 team. his is the team’s first step to bring up their ranking to qualify for the 2012 Paralympics.

The team will be getting together to practice at the National Boccia Championship being held in July. Jennifer made it to the semi finals individually. The team did not do as well as they would have liked, Jennifer was chosen to be on the 2010 Boccia Team going to the World Boccia Championships in Lisbon, Portugal in May. Team USA did not do as well as they would have liked. But individual improvement was made 2010.

In July 2010 in Chicago, Jennifer attended the National Boccia Championships. Jennifer took third place for individual play. As Captain of the all “girls” team, Jennifer led the team to first place defeating all three all boys teams!  The 2011 World Boccia Cup will be held in Ireland. Jennifer is a member of the USA National Team. Jennifer was selected as the  the 2011 USA World Cup Boccia Team going to Ireland in August.

     As Jennifer says, she wants to serve as a role model so other disabled people can take three things away from meeting her. “1. No matter if you win or loose, if you try your best, you will always be a winner; 2, If you follow my lead, you will walk (or ride) away with the skills you need to succeed in life: 3, If you believe in yourself, you can do anything you want in life as long as you put your mind and heart into it.”

 

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