Parade of champions closes NubAbility camp in Du Quoin
Robinson, Ill. native Jennifer Bricker is an American acrobat and aerialist and the sister of gymnast Dominique Moceanu. Born without legs, she was placed for adoption by her parents. She was the first handicapped high school tumbling champion in the state of Illinois.
In 1998 Jen competed in the AAU Junior Olympics (power tumbling), placing fourth. The same year she received the U.S. Tumbling Association's Inspiration Award. Now living in Los Angeles she inspired the 72 athletes and their families at this weekend's NubAbility camp.
The camp, in its third year, was hosted by founder Sam Kuhnert and mother Jana Kuhnert, camp director.
Mike and Dixie Travelstead of Du Quoin housed several of the celebrity coaches at this weekend's camp. Dixie said one of her guests--without arms--came into kitchen with perfect makeup. "I have no idea how she got the top off the yogurt," she said.
It was a weekend that made you cry tears of joy.
In its third year, the camp for children missing limbs either congenitally or as the result of accident or amputation provides intense athletic training across more than 10 sports. This year, 36 limb-different coaches who have found success at the high school, collegiate and advanced levels of competition worked with the youth.
Younger campers who are starting out in their respective sports work with coaches on the basics, while older campers undergo a full conditioning regimen as they would at any other sports camp. Leveling the playing field for limb-different athletes is the end game for NubAbility.
"We want everyone- from these kids on the field or court to those in the stands- to know they can play with less and win," said NubAbility founder Sam Kuhnert, a pitcher for Morthland College's baseball team. "We don't want them to be afraid to push themselves or their parents to worry about them struggling."
The first all-sport summer camp took place in Greenville in 2012. Nineteen campers and nine coaches participated. Last year, the event moved to Du Quoin and more than doubled in size. This year's camp was the biggest yet, with campers from 24 states from California to New York.
Coaches for this year's camp include football coach and Maxwell Award winner Eddie Delaney; tumbling, dance and cheer coach and 2013 Miss Iowa Nicole Kelly; soccer coach and starting goalie of the 2014 U.S. Amputee World Cup team Eric Westover, and wrestling coach and former WWE superstar Zach Gowen, among others.