"A great opportunity:" Wounded veterans play lacrosse on Milwaukee Golden Eagles team
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Quite the sight at the Old Gym at Marquette University on Monday night, February 9th. Golden Eagles Lacrosse Coach Joe Amplo and his players were teaching the sport to a new wheelchair team -- the Milwaukee Golden Eagles.
"The one thing I don't have to coach is their effort -- that's for certain," Amplo said.
Four high schoolers from Brookfield Academy and New Berlin Eisenhower were also on hand. They are raising money to help the Milwaukee team, which features paralyzed American veterans.
"These veterans are looking for a chance to participate in these sports -- to give them another chance," Brookfield Academy student Jonathan Lee said.
"Paralyzed veterans specifically often find themselves as recluses from society, so as a team, they can come together in a sport and just enjoy themselves," Brookfield Academy student Miya Deoniparthe said.
"Something happened to their life that is a life-altering event, they've had a spinal injury, they were wounded in war. Next thing they know, they have a huge barrier they have to go through and they struggle -- and adaptive sports, things like this, wheelchair lacrosse gives them the avenue to actually push through that," Dr. Ken Lee with the VA Hospital said.
James Veltri caught what can only be considered a tough break. He was forced to leave the military after developing Type 1 diabetes and shortly thereafter, Veltri was shot while trying to break up a fight. He is now a paralyzed American veteran.
"When I was able-bodied, I played football and soccer and stuff like that. I played numerous sports, but I've never even played lacrosse before I was in a wheelchair," Veltri said.
The Marquette Golden Eagles are one of the nation's up and coming lacrosse teams, but put those players in a wheelchair and it's a different story.
The Milwaukee Golden Eagles feature veterans and non-veterans, paralyzed and able-bodied players. They are the sixth team in the United States planning to play in tournaments across the country this year. This was their first real practice, so a learning curve is inevitable. MU is providing financial assistance, along with some invaluable sports assistance.
"I told our team today, and we're in the middle of our season -- I said 'this is the most important hour-and-a-half you'll spend all week.' It really is, and what a great opportunity for our students to interact with these folks," Amplo said.
The goal for those who have played lacrosse and even those who haven't is interaction on a night like this, and that goal is reached.
"They get probably the most valuable life lesson of all -- to be grateful for everything that they have," Amplo said.
"We're hoping to take over the world," Veltri said.
There are a lot of costs involved -- from traveling to tournaments to just getting the adaptive chairs to Marquette for practices.