Dec 16, 2011

Georgia Firebolts and VIP Sports Claim 2011 USABA National High School Goalball Championship Titles

- James Crozier, Tournament Director

Twenty-Four teams from all corners of the United States recently converged at the campus of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (St. Augustine, FL), to compete for 2011 USABA  National High School Goalball Championship titles.   The tournament proved to be action-packed, with an entire tournament roster filled with  high-level, highly competitive teams.  With many close games and games going into overtime during quarter-final, semi-final, and final tournament rounds, the competition was exciting for the fans, and the athletes involved had experiences they will never forget.

On the girl's side, the defending 2010 national champion Georgia Firebolts proved to be the class of the field, cruising through the entire tournament to reclaim the national championship crown for a second consecutive year.  Led by girls’ tournament MVP, Amanda Dennis, the Georgia Firebolts frustrated teams with their outstanding defense, allowing only 3 goals during the entire tournament.   

On the boy’s side, the path to the gold medal was a much closer affair.  With close games during quarter-final and semi-final rounds, the gold medal game between VIP Sports and Pennsylvania would not be decided during regulation play, but, instead had to go to sudden-death overtime.  On the second throw of the overtime period, VIP Sports right-winger, and boys’ side tournament MVP, Dustin Vargo, put a shot in the left corner of the goal to score the game winner and capture the gold medal and 2011 National Championship.

In addition to gold, silver, and bronze medals being awarded, first and second place teams also received trophies.  In addition to medal awards, the tournament also named an All-Tournament Team, Tournament MVPs, and team sportsmanship awards.  Below are the tournament results:

Results:

Boys:
1st Place –VIP Sports
2nd Place – Pennsylvania Wolfpack
3rd Place - Arizona

Girls:
1st Place – Georgia Firebolts
2nd Place – Utah Rage
3rd Place – California (Junior Blind)

All-Tournament Team:

Boys:
Dustin Vargo – MVP (VIP)
Callahan Young (VIP)
Preston Radke (Pennsylvania)
Nathan Purcell (Washington)
Jahron  Black (Pennsylvania)
Jernigan Nezisosie (Arizona)

Girls:     
Amanda Dennis – MVP (Georgia) 
Marybai Huking (Utah)   
Kassandra Hernandez (Georgia)  
Paula Ward (Utah)   
Kayla Collins (Florida)   
Alexia Streudle (California)

Sportsmanship Award:

Boys:
Washington

Girls:     
South Carolina