Taylor McCormick
Meet Taylor
Taylor loves sports, in particular, golf!
When Nolan and Sydney found out about their son Taylor’s limb difference, Sydney did extensive research on communities that could help educate them, provide support, and be a place of belonging. They found Angel City Sports.
The summer of 2023, they attended their first Angel City Sports Premiere Event at USC, the Angel City Games.
Nolan shares, “We signed up not knowing what to expect and were blown away by the Angel City Games. The greatest thing we watched was track and field. My wife, my mother, my nephew, Taylor, and I were blown away by the sheer talent of the athletes. Out of the blue, Taylor mentions, “they have nubbins just like me.” Nubbin is what we have taught Taylor to call his above elbow limb difference. When he said that out loud to all of us, I started to tear up a bit, because for the first time I felt him make a connection to his left arm which had not happened before.”
Following the Angel City Games, Taylor began attending the monthly Angel City Sports adaptive golf clinics at Westchester Golf Course. Them getting to know Coach David, Director of Golf for Angel City Sports and the other coaches and individuals who make the adaptive golf clinics possible only made their love for Angel City Sports grow more. When Taylor comes to golf, he’s excited, super focused on the putting green, and willing to try new things like hitting on the driving range. His skills continue to develop, and he impresses anyone who watches.
Their goal for Taylor is to not hold back. Taylor truly believes he can play any sport. He’s already excelling in golf and Sydney and Nolan can see Taylor participating in soccer, baseball, basketball, swimming, and track and field as he gets older. They are thrilled that Angel City Sports can play a part.
Joe Guintu
Meet Joe
Joe Guintu, a California native, was on vacation in Hawaii in 2007 enjoying a surfing lesson. By the end of the surfing lesson, something seemed off. As he got out of the water and headed toward the stairs, he was shocked to realize he couldn’t climb the stairs, let alone walk. What transpired over the next hours, days and weeks in the hospital and under the care of physicians, was paralysis from the waist down, identified as the rare Surfer’s Myelopathy. Little did he know, but a journey into adaptive sports was in his future.
Fast forward to 2015 and Joe had just moved back from Australia where he had started to become active in wheelchair sports, tennis and basketball. He was looking for programming in Southern California and his search just so happened to coincide with the inaugural Angel City Games. He was pumped!
“It was so amazing to be part of the start of the movement in Southern California and I felt the personal and community impact right from the start,” Joe shares.
“It’s so easy to take the easy way out and make (very legitimate) excuses to not be active, especially given the difficulty of access to equipment. Angel City Sports breaks down those barriers and makes the ease of access so much easier. It’s so important for those with disabilities to be active as there are so many positive health benefits and conversely, many negative impacts if inactive.”
For the inaugural Games, Joe stuck to wheelchair basketball, but also participated in the various support programming like the opening ceremonies kick off and awards presentation. It was great for him to be at an event where he says, “individuals with disabilities were the central focus and not the afterthought. I was starstruck interacting with and learning from Paralympians and am still so amazed how tightly knit and supportive this community is.”
Like all new experiences, Joe was nervous not knowing how formal or competitive the Angel City Games were going to be. “I’m really your “average Joe” (pun intended!) – your normal person who wants to be active but will probably not compete at the highest levels and wants to be engaged in the community. The welcoming environment from Founders, Clayton and Ezra to the volunteers was so heartwarming.”
After Joe’s first Games and each time he attended an event, thereafter, bringing family and friends, the energy and inspiration of the event and those attending always brought an unexpected joy and passion for life and each other.
“Each Games I’ve been to, there are moments, interactions, connections that are just magical. From hearing a newly injured person talk about how their life and career is over now that they are in a wheelchair and then being able to share my personal story and professional successes and seeing them light up. Or hearing about a parent and child who travelled for days to try a new sport, fell in love with the sport, and then was gifted equipment all within the same hour. These moments that Angel City Sports fosters are amazing and helped re-invigorate my life as an actor (from introductions within the ACS community), which I had stopped pursuing years ago. Being connected to the Angel City Sports community can bring new perspective,” Joe shares.
For Joe, Angel City Sports is more than sport. It’s a community for those with a physical disability, a community for caregivers (whether parents, partners, friends) to be together and share the common experiences and emotions of hardship to the jubilation and fun of newfound life, hope, and community.
Although Joe still gets bouts of taking the lazy road, having Angel City Sports in his life keeps him on track with his goals to stay active, continue to build a routine and regimen to live a healthy and holistic life, and continue to build the adaptive community. Joe is as involved as one can get. He is an adaptive participant/athlete and now a Board Member for Angel City Sports and we’re proud of his successes and grateful for his investment in the power of adaptive sports and the adaptive community.
Cris Lira
Meet Cristian
Cristian Lira began his journey with Angel City Sports at the 2021 Angel City Games just two months after amputation and recovering from a hit-and-run car accident that occurred in 2020. His prosthetist at the time, John Narmontas, handed him a Games flyer and told him “Just go!” John’s encouragement provided Cristian with the motivation to attend.
On the last day of the Games, Cristian walked onto the LA High School field and was greeted by Camille Mahlknecht and the Frech Family with a smile and a hug. Soon after, Cristian jumped in to play sitting volleyball with Gold Medalist, Annie Flood. He also learned how to throw a javelin with Justin Phongsavanh!
“I was once a new athlete unaware of the adaptive sports world, and after almost two years with Angel City Sports as an athlete, volunteer, intern and now working full-time, I feel our community is a safe space for everyone including those with an acquired or congenital disability who wish to find their sport. I am grateful for our community of athletes, volunteers, families, and friends and I am reminded how beautifully strong it is during every event and clinic. Seeing a person make their very first basketball shot from a sport chair or put on a pair of blind soccer goggles and kick the soccer ball is an incredible feeling every time. ACS has given me and thousands of others the confidence and community to excel as an athlete and leader with the overall goal of uplifting those with disabilities.”
Simultaneously Cristian co-founded a support group for Spanish-speaking amputees which he has been working with for the last two years, he started modeling and acting, and is currently training in sports like amputee soccer and javelin.
Mackenzie Soldan
Meet Mackenzie
Mackenzie was the Marketing Manager at Angel City Sports the last 3 years and is a two-time Paralympian, wheelchair tennis in London (2012) and wheelchair basketball in Rio (2016). In addition, she also won two medals at the 2011 Parapan American Games in wheelchair tennis. To say she is talented on and off the court is an understatement.
When asked about the power of adaptive sports, Mackenzie shares, “Sports are important because they don’t just take place on a court, field, or track; they have an impact on every aspect of life, especially for someone with a disability. They serve as a social outlet where people do not scrutinize you and ask, “What happened?” before even asking your name. Sports provide a safe space to learn from each other, fostering confidence, discipline, and teamwork. They’re a tool to build physical strength to be able to achieve daily activities more easily in a very inaccessible world. Sports can act as a catalyst for education and job opportunities, opening the world for people with disabilities.
Mackenzie was able to see her first Angel City Games in 2021 and was astounded at the number of people in the community who had never seen or experienced sport that was accessible to them. “It’s amazing to witness people’s first moments realizing that they can play and compete.”
One of the moments I loved was getting to introduce wheelchair basketball to a little girl who was trying it out for the first time. Her mom had come with her, and they had never seen adaptive sports before. It reminded me of how I started at age 7, and how my parents would bring me out to play. I feel honored to be able to be part of that journey for others now.
I'm all in for making adaptive sports accessible to everyone, and that's why ACS means the world to me. It's my chance to be part of something that's truly made a positive impact in my life. Opening doors for people with disabilities to have sports opportunities – that's what truly matters.
Amaryah Lee
Meet Amaryah
Amaryah is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor and former athlete. For a time after her TBI, she didn’t consider herself an athlete, but today, thanks to Angel City Sports, she shares, “I can say that I am a current athlete again.”
Amaryah heard about Angel City Sports (ACS) in May 2023 through her Stroke/TBI support group, Rehab Without Walls. Prior to this support group Zoom meeting, she felt hopeless and depressed. When she heard about ACS, she felt that something was telling her to, "see what this is all about. It was like I was destined to be a part of this organization. I'm thankful because I really needed encouragement and positivity at this specific time in my life. I also needed activity. I was staying in my apartment with no desire to leave, which was not serving my emotional and physical health. ACS has been a very positive and uplifting experience that I am very grateful for.”
Amaryah continues "I think sports are important for those with a disability, not only for the serotonin and dopamine boosts that improve mental and emotional health and reduce anxiety and depression, but for those that were athletes, before becoming disabled, sports bring positive emotions, better mental health outcomes, and improved confidence. Angel City Sports ensures that sports are not eliminated from our lives just because of our disabilities. Angel City Sports gives us back this piece of our lives. It is very encouraging to still be able to participate in sports; and, as I learned later, even compete. What elevates this organization even more is to be amongst so many others, just like me. Those I can relate to and vice versa. It's also a great opportunity to learn and be amongst others that bring their specific ability to the sport and observe how they master their sport. ACS has helped make life worth living for me.”
After learning about ACS, she began perusing the calendar of events on the website and found clinics that matched her interests. She selected adaptive golf and air rifle and made the trek from Orange County to the respective LA clinic destinations. She was super excited and curious as her last golfing experience was miniature golfing at Mulligan's and this was before the car accident that changed her life. After adaptive golf, she learned about the Angel City Games, which was a transformation experience.
"The entire Angel City Sports Games weekend, 4 days of sport, was a true highlight for me. I only planned to visit for maybe 2 days, for the activities and sports that I planned to participate in, but I was compelled to return for the entire event. I learned about a couple of sports that I was unaware of like fencing. The event was very educational as well as encouraging. It just felt so good to be around kind people, celebrating our ability to do any sport."
Amaryah use to be a swimming instructor and found her way to the swim clinic at the Angel CIty Games. She had not swum in a while and due to difficulties with her memory, it was a challenge to remember how to breathe and swim like she used to. Her instructor could see what her challenges were and helped her modify three things in her attempts to re-learn and he had her swimming just like she remembered.
“I was so elated to be able to swim, like I used to, again. I have swum all my life. Swimming has been a significant part of my life as well. It is part of my identity and it is one of my favorite things. ACS has encouraged and uplifted me by giving swimming back to me. It is only because of ACS that I haven't lost my favorite exercising activity/sport. The coaches, volunteers, and workers were all absolutely exceptional as well. When asked what Angel City Sports means to her, she says, “It means a place where I can connect with others with disabilities. It means a place where I can learn to play and compete in sports. It means an organization that is holistically kind, uplifting and a place that I want to be. ACS makes me want to be included and stay involved. ACS means being set free from depression and hopelessness. It means, a reason to live. It means, the opportunity and privilege to be amongst kind and genuine people that care; give of themselves; reciprocate love; recognize sincerity and kindred hearts and minds. Learning and mastering sports is the cherry on the top. As you can tell, Angel City Sports means a lot to me.”
Jason Johnson
Meet Jason
Jason is a life-long athlete and champion of physical activity. In April of 2019, on a snowboarding trip to Mammoth, CA, he had a terrible snowboarding accident that changed his life. Breaking 21 ribs and his L1 vertebrae, he spent 3 months in the hospital unable to move his arms and legs, and 8 months doing water therapy to build back strength and movement. Since his accident, Jason has limited mobility and uses a wheelchair. He has stayed committed to physical activity, early on, doing 5ks and 10ks in his everyday chair. During the pandemic, a friend and Angel City adaptive athlete, Rob Balucas, introduced him to Angel City Sports and our equipment loaner program so he could get a racing handcycle to compete. Before you knew it, he did the Pasadena Tri, was introduced to rowing, and kept surfing. Tennis, pickleball, and giving back, by starting a learn to swim kids program, have all been added to his impressive resume.
Jason’s sport experiences and adventures center around community and connection. Something he feels is vital for individuals with a life-changing disability, like a spinal cord injury. “There is depression and hopelessness as you process and work to recover. But having the opportunities to get out there and participate in adaptive sports and be a part of a group of peers are hugely important to one’s physical and mental health.”
Thank you, Jason for living by example, helping others, and showing us the power of sport. Join first responders like Jason at Courage Weekend, October 14-15 to celebrate adaptive athletes that make up this incredible veteran and first responder community.
TeeJay
Meet TeeJay
TeeJay is an Angel City Sports athlete of 9 years and first heard about Angel City Sports (ACS) from the Angel City Games in 2015. He acquired his disability in 2003, but realized years later that he hadn’t yet taken active control of his health.
Through Angel City Sports he saw the array of sports he could try and then see what
piqued his interest. Since then, TeeJay has been a supporter and active
participant in the clinics and annual Games.
“Sports is a great way to connect with others, push yourself, and take
control of your health. Anything can be hard to tackle individually when you
have a disability, but you learn you can tackle them with a community and while
just playing sport.”
“I get to meet good people within the community that I get to call my friends.
And it’s an added bonus to see the younger generations grow and find their
place in our world!”
When you ask TeeJay what ACS means to him, he says “self-growth.” And if you
have meet TeeJay, you know and see that he loves trying new things, he always
wants to be better, and he is so supportive of his fellow ACS athletes,
encouraging them to do the same and he’ll be right beside you.
And proof of TeeJay’s commitment to trying new things and growing is in one of his
2024 goals.
“Starting this year, I plan on doing a race every month from January to April.”
“In doing these races, I will be re-gaining control of my health and body while
trying to encourage others to join me. ACS and the Pasadena Tri Teams have
played a part by supporting my entry in the Pasadena Triathlon in March.”