Rose City Thorns and Omega Claim National Titles at 2026 USABA Goalball Nationals

The United States Association of Blind Athletes crowned new national champions last weekend at the 2026 USABA Goalball National Championships, with the Rose City Thorns taking gold in the women’s division and Omega finishing on top of the men’s bracket.

Women’s Division

The Rose City Thorns closed out the tournament as national champions, powered by a roster of Eliana Mason-Young, PLY, Reese Branch, Tayler Moses, and Jen Armbruster. Throughout the weekend, the Thorns leaned on court awareness, powerful throws, and a relentless defensive front to hold off a deep women’s field. Paralympian Eliana Mason-Young also took home the Sharon Gunderman Women’s MVP Award.

Eliana Mason, Taylor Moses, Jen Ambruster and Reese Branch Post for a photo in their white with blue numbers Rose City Thorns Jerseys after winning the Women’s 2026 Goalball National Title

Code Blue took silver with Nicki Larson, Miriam Larson, Demetria Ober, Adiana Brennan, Veronica Hyatt, and Lilly James.

The New Jersey Honeybees earned bronze, with Paralympians Lisa Czechowski and Mindy Cook leading the charge alongside teammates Jasmine Orcel, Amanda Keene, and Jenna Tiberi, in the bronze medal match against the Atlanta Blazers.

Women’s Division Podium

Men’s Division

Omega captured the men’s national title with John Kusku, PLY, Tre’Shaun Faison, PLY, Hassam Itani, and Adonis Watt facing off against the Atlanta Force, who were led by Paralympians Matt Simpson and Calahan Young alongside Christopher Morgan, Brandon Soncoeur, and Norberto Vega. The closely matched game ended with Omega on top as Kusku, Faison, and Itani impressively defended their goal while executing powerful throws that found their way to the back of the Force’s net.

John Kusku, Tre’Shaun Faison, Hassam Itani, Adonis Watt pose in the middle of Christian King and Zion Walker who helped them earn their Gold Medal. Athletes are wearing neon green Jerseys

The DC Stars rounded out the podium in third, fielding Zion Walker, Christian King, Nicholas Silver, Kurt Sloop, Alonzo Zubillaga, and Jeremy Capati, topping the Texas Rattlesnakes in the bronze medal match.

Men’s Division Podium

Individual Awards

Thomas Rice, Eliana Mason-Young and Calahan Young pose with their individual awards

Tom Parrigin Men’s MVP Award: Calahan Young, Atlanta Force

Young was named the tournament’s most valuable player in the men’s division, anchoring the Atlanta Force through the tournament.

Sharon Gunderman Women’s MVP Award: Eliana Mason-Young, Rose City Thorns

Mason-Young added individual honors to her team’s national title, recognized as the most valuable player in the women’s division.

Cody Carmicle Spirit of the Game Award: Thomas Rice

The Spirit of the Game Award goes to the person whose presence makes the sport better for everyone in the gym, and this year it went to Thomas Rice.

Rice has spent years building goalball in his local community, the kind of work that rarely shows up in a box score. Recruiting new athletes, running practices, finding gym space, and giving first-time players a place to learn the sport are what keep the national pipeline full, and Rice has done that work consistently.

He has also expanded the sport’s reach well beyond the sidelines through Goalball Central, streaming tournaments so families, coaches, and fans who cannot travel can still follow the action. For a sport that has historically been difficult to watch unless you were in the building, that broadcast work has changed how the goalball community experiences competition. Athletes get film to study. Newcomers get a way in. Programs across the country get to see what the highest level of play actually looks like.

The award is named for National Team Athlete Cody Carmicle, and Rice’s contribution reflects exactly what it was created to honor: a commitment to the game that shows up long after the final whistle.

About USABA

For 50 years, the United States Association of Blind Athletes has empowered Americans who are blind and low vision to experience life-changing opportunities in sports, recreation, and physical activity, educating and inspiring the nation along the way. Founded in 1976, USABA breaks down barriers and challenges perceptions of disability through sport, offering pathways from grassroots participation to international competition, including the Paralympic Games. USABA is certified as the National Governing Body for both Goalball and Blind Soccer. As part of its 50th anniversary, USABA continues to lead the adaptive sports movement on the Road to LA28. Learn more at usaba.org.

Media Contact: Kelly Fox 

kfox@usaba.org

203-506-2448

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