Breaking Down Barriers in Athletics at Adaptive Sports Northwest — KATU

PORTLAND, Ore. — Sports are all about defying odds, whether that's defeating an opponent or beating a record. However, for the athletes at Adaptive Sports Northwest (ASNW), breaking down barriers is a daily routine.

ASNW is a nonprofit that provides adaptive sport opportunities at all levels, from recreational to competitive. With the help of a grant from Sport Oregon's 'SHE FLIES' initiative, ANSW is able to hold monthly practices just for female para-athletes. These monthly practice sessions are part of ASNW's 'She's On the Move' program. So far, ASNW offers practice sessions for adaptive basketball and goalball, with a similar initiative in other sports to come.

ASNW Executive Director, Jen Armbruster, says 'She's On the Move' opens new possibilities for female para-athletes. "What's really nice about this initiative is that we can have that younger generation as well, looking up and finding that community," she said. "And for older women as well, for them to be able to say 'hey, I can be an athlete, I can go recreate and go wherever I want to go,' whether that's playing division three ball, going to college with wheelchair basketball or goalball. . . or just finding that community with the group of women."

Armbruster is a para-athlete herself, she knows how playing sports can benefit a person on and off the court. "Sports, for me, has just been such a huge thing in my life, whether that's been time management, getting through school, making sure my grades are good enough, and then, just having those goals and working toward them."

After losing her vision at 14 years old, Armbruster was introduced to goalball. She made the U.S. Paralympic team at just 17, then went on to compete in the games seven times and win four medals - one gold, one silver, two bronze.

Now, she helps others accomplish their goals and experience the joy of playing.

This means everything to athletes like Evita Rush. "I never got the chance to play as a younger kid. It was introduced to me at 15," she explained. "I never got to play on team sports at my school or anything like that."

Rush is a player on ASNW's adult wheelchair basketball team, the 'Portland Wheelblazers.' After nearly a decade at ASNW, she's a familiar face on and off the court. On top of playing for the Wheelblazers, she volunteers at many of ASNW's events.

Events like those hosted through 'She's On the Move' give para-athletes like Rush the space to excel in the sport they love, while building community.

For Armbruster, it's a pleasure "to see the smiles on the court [and] to see the comradery amongst both young and old," but what she finds most rewarding is "just watching folks get to enjoy what they love to do."

Rush says the space for female para-athletes is powerful. "It breaks down barriers," she said. "It's huge, and it's very helpful."

Evita Rush (red shirt) in action. Courtesy of JD Duran//ASNW

KATU and the Women's Foundation of Oregon are proud to support SHE FLIES by sharing the stories of influential girls and women in sports throughout 2024.

The Women's Foundation of Oregon is harnessing the power of teamwork to champion girls in sports. We're a group of people who work together to support and promote gender justice. We believe in being free and fair, working as a team, finding happiness, growing, being honest, showing bravery, and making things right.