U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team inspires at Premier Sports Campus

The cheers from the Premier Sports Campus crowd came in waves.

At kickoff of the U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team’s friendly against Canada on July 21, you would have thought you were witnessing a Men’s National Team game. The two countries' flags were presented, and the squads dove headfirst into what turned out to be a fantastic game.

But there was so much more to what the crowd witnessed that night than a game.

To be eligible for the U.S. team, players must be ambulant, but have either had a stroke, have cerebral palsy, or have a traumatic or acquired brain injury. Watch the players overcome their own particular adversity, I found myself emotional.

The crowd was made up mostly of the families of Lakewood Ranch Chargers players. The Chargers accompanied the U.S. and Canadian players onto the field, and held the flags. It’s a neat way to get kids involved and engaged. The families I talked to were ecstatic to be there, not just for the soccer, but to gain perspective.

The Schwenk family, with mother Heather and her 9-year-old daughter Taylor, was no exception. Taylor was there in uniform, alongside her Chargers friend, 10-year-old Annalise Miller.

“We've watched the Paralympics on TV,” Heather Schwenk said. “I thought this might give (the Chargers) a better understanding of differences in people and how to persevere and do your best, no matter what the odds are.

"It's a teaching opportunity for the kids, not just about the sport, but about life."

Taylor Schwenk and Miller were excited to watch the players’ shielding ability, they said. One of the best at that particular skill, at least in that night’s game, was starting forward Seth Jahn.

Jahn, who lives in Lakeland, had suffered injuries fighting insurgents in Afghanistan in 2010. His family drove out for the game, and could be heard screaming his name from across the field. It’s the first time the Jahn family had seen him play in person in 10 years. It was a special moment for him and he also expressed gratitude for all the families in attendance who hoped to inspire their kids.

"That's probably one of our biggest motivations,” Jahn said. “It's what differentiates us from the rest of the U.S. Soccer senior teams. There's a lot of inspirational stories and a lot of things that can motivate. It's incredible to have the families, friends and fans come out and support us like this. We love it."

I didn’t know what to expect from the team, having never watched a Paralympic game before. The seven-aside nature of the game kept the action moving, and there was some darn good soccer played at Premier Sports Campus. Down 2-0 with under 10 minutes to go, the U.S. rallied, first with a goal from Andrew Bremer, then, after a blizzard of shots that all hit iron, with a goal from Nick Mayhugh that tied the score. The fans loved every second as the game finished in a 2-2 tie.

After the game, Jahn and his teammates stuck around, taking pictures with all the fans, both big and small, who wanted one. He signed an American flag for representatives of the Special Olympics. After each interaction, Jahn thanked the people just as much as they thanked him.

For me personally, the night was a reminder to be strong and carry on, even when things get tough. Of course, in my world, “tough” means a source backing out on an interview, or having to write a few extra stories in a month. For Jahn and so many others, “tough” is much more severe. I can only hope that the Chargers and other young people in attendance benefitted from the same lessons I did.