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Goalball Athletes Compete in Inaugural John Bakos Memorial Tournament
// U.S. Association of Blind Athletes
// March 6, 2007
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Inaugural John Bakos Memorial Goalball Tournament (formerly known as the USABA Midwest Regional Goalball Tournament) brought 14 of the best men’s and women’s goalball teams from across the country together at Western Michigan University this past weekend.
In a rematch battle of defensive skills that went deep into sudden-death overtime, the Kalamazoo Chaos once again took top women’s team tournament honors over the Colorado Bandits by the score of 1-0. In another sudden-death overtime battle, the women from New Jersey edged-out their Florida rivals for third place honors by winning their match, 2-1.
The men’s competition was no less exciting as the home town favorite WMU Wrecking Crew topped the BSO Venom by the score of 11-5 to capture gold medal honors. The team from NE Florida defeated the GLASA (7-4) for the bronze medal.
The Midwest Regional Goalball Tournament was renamed this year to honor John Bakos, Western Michigan University Alumnus and former WMU Wrecking Crew coach who later coached the USA Men’s Goalball team to a bronze medal in the 2004 Paralympic Games. “It’s fitting that the First Annual John Bakos Memorial Goalball Tournament was solid, competitive goalball,” said Mark Lucas, USABA Executive Director. Bakos past away last year from cancer.
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