USA Goalball Men’s and Women’s National Teams Announced for 2025 IBSA Goalball Americas Championships

Colorado Springs, CO – July 15, 2025

The U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) proudly announces the rosters for the USA Goalball Men’s and Women’s National Teams competing at the 2025 IBSA Goalball Americas Championships, taking place July 26–August 5 in São Paulo, Brazil.

This elite regional tournament serves as the qualifier for the 2026 IBSA Goalball World Championships, bringing together the top goalball teams from across the Americas vying for spots on the world stage.

USA Goalball Men’s National Team
The men’s roster features team captain Calahan Young, PLY (Irwin, Pennsylvania); Tre’ Shaun Faison, PLY (Orange Park, Florida); Christian King, PLY (Chesterfield, VA); Jordan Main (Austin, Texas); Zion Walker, PLY (Winchester, VA); and Josh Welborn (Birmingham, AL). The head coach is Keith Young, the assistant coach is Michael Dennis, PLY.

USA Goalball Women’s National Team
The women’s roster features team captain Lisa Czechowski, PLY (Boonton, New Jersey); Mindy Cook, PLY (Columbus, Ohio); Lisa Czechowski, PLY (Boonton, New Jersey); Veronica Hyatt (Tampa, Florida); Ali Lawson (Jasper, Georgia); Eliana Mason, PLY (Beaverton, Oregon); Asya Miller, PLY (Portland, Oregon). The head coach is Nicole Kirk, assistant coach John Potts and USA Goalball Women’s Development Coordinator Karen Zabel, PLY.

These athletes bring a blend of Paralympic experience and emerging talent; all focused on representing Team USA with excellence and determination. The tournament will be held at the Brazilian Paralympic Training Center, the region’s premier venue for adaptive sports competition.

USABA CEO Molly Quinn shared her thoughts on the announcement:

“We are incredibly proud of the athletes selected to represent the United States at the 2025 IBSA Goalball Americas Championships. This tournament is a critical step towards the 2026 World Goalball Championships and a testament to the strength, resilience, and competitive spirit of our national teams. We’re excited to watch them compete and look forward to seeing their continued individual growth.”

Follow usaba.org and @USABA on social media for complete tournament coverage, athlete stories, and behind-the-scenes moments as Team USA aims for gold in São Paulo.

About the United States Association of Blind Athletes

The mission of USABA is to empower Americans who are blind or visually impaired to experience life-changing opportunities in sports, recreation, and physical activities, thereby educating and inspiring the nation. A member organization of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and US Soccer, USABA is certified by the USOPC as the national governing body for the Paralympic team sports of goalball and blind soccer. Since its founding in 1976, USABA has reached more than 100,000 individuals through its multi-sport programming. The organization has emerged as more than just a world-class trainer of blind athletes; it has become a champion of the abilities of Americans who are legally blind. As USABA celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, the organization continues to build on its legacy of expanding sports opportunities for athletes who are blind or visually impaired.

For more information about USABA and its initiatives, visit www.usaba.org.

For media inquiries, contact Kelly Fox at 203-506-2448 or kelly@kfoxcreative.com

About USA Goalball

Goalball is the most widely played team sport for individuals with vision impairment or blindness in the United States, with thousands of participants in schools for the blind and adaptive sports organizations. Unique in its design, goalball has no Olympic counterpart yet and is played in 112 countries worldwide. Since 1976, U.S. Goalball Teams have earned 12 Paralympic Games medals (Women: 7 medals, Men: 5 medals) and 11 World Championship medals (Women: 8, Men: 3).

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