Manticores & Maryland Minks win Southwest Qualifier
Ten teams converged on Phoenix, Arizona, Jan. 19-21, for the USABA Southwest National Goalball Qualifier hosted by Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center. The competition was divided into six men’s teams and four women’s teams taking to the court for the three-day event.
In the men’s division, the defending national champions Manticores went 3-1-1 in pool play but stepped it up in the medal round with a 10-8 victory over the Texas Rattlesnakes in the semifinal and an 8-2 win over the King Cobras in the gold medal contest. The Minks roster consisted of Zach Buhler, Ali Ghoushiasl, Jordan Main and Josh Welborn. Playing for the silver-medal-winning King Cobras were Junior Ah-Siu, Richard Ah-Siu, Jacob Kamaunu, Antonio Rozier and Daryl Walker.
Taking home the bronze medal in the men’s division were the Texas Rattlesnakes who defeated the ECA Reapers, 11-1, in the third-place match. Bronze-medal winners on the Texas Rattlesnakes team were Zach Arambula, Jim Debus, Will Lopez and Grej Pesjaka.
In the women’s competition, the Maryland Minks ran the table with an undefeated weekend punctuated by an 8-3 victory in the final. Team members were Tori Bounds, Bridget Cassidy, Rebecca Levasseur, and Breanna Pumphrey.
The women’s silver medal went to Pool Team 1 comprised of Hailey Andress, Mykol Clark and Makalia Lama. Capturing the bronze medal via a 10-5 victory over Pool Team 2 were the New York Disciples consisting of Meghan Fink, Mausam Mehta, Leah Smeltzer and Raven Velez.