Steve grew up loving sports and excelled at many like soccer and basketball through high school and college. While at college, he was involved in a car accident that resulted in him being confined to a wheelchair. Steve’s love for sports grew in the form of mentoring and coaching and he has gone on to coach high school sports for over twenty years as well as being a teacher. The competitive athlete in him has also been hard at work. Steve tried several wheelchair sports and eventually found his calling in wheelchair curling. As a proud member of the US Wheelchair Curling Team, he competed in the 2018 Paralympics in South Korea and is vying for a spot on the team for the 2022 Paralympics to be held in China. Steve is also a motivational speaker where he shares his life story of overcoming challenges and reaching for his dreams. He still holds the basketball all-time leading record for his high school.

How and when did you decide to take on Wheelchair Curling?S: I was introduced to the sport in the summer of 2013. It was a chance meeting in Cape Cod, Massachusetts between myself and my future coach. He asked if I knew what curling was, I answered no. He explained that he trains with the US Paralympic Curling Team on the Cape and I looked like an athlete so he invited me to try the sport. I tried it two weeks later and immediately fell in love with it.

What challenges did you face after you met with an accident? How did you motivate yourself to face those challenges?S: At the age of 25, I went out one night with some friends, had a few drinks and tried to drive home. I woke up after a few days of coma and was immediately told that I had been in a bad automobile accident and I would never walk again. There were no answers for all the questions that were popping up in my head. Who was going to take care of me? Who would be there for the rest of my life? Who will help me get dressed in the morning and ready for the day? Am I going to be in a hospital for the rest of my life? I realized while I was lying in my hospital bed that I had a decision to make. Either I could lay there and feel sorry for myself or I could get motivated and get on with my life and have a successful future. I formulated a plan to get out of the hospital as soon as possible and to get back to my real world and get on with my life confined to a wheelchair. Once I made the decision to survive…I was all fired up and ready to go!

What is the key message of your motivational speeches?S: I speak with kids about the dangers of drinking and driving and making good decisions. I explain my life to them and how I was so successful before my accident. Then I explain the details of my accident and how much damage I did to my body and how I should’ve been killed that night. I want kids to realize that, with poor decision making, things will happen to them that will affect them for the rest of their lives. More importantly, with the correct decision making process that I can show them, they will be inspired to lead a successful life.
I also speak to people about overcoming adversity and how I did what I did with my life and overcame a tragic accident but turned it all around to educate people on making good decisions and ultimately for me, becoming a US Paralympian.

Who is your inspiration?S: I am my own inspiration. And I try to coach others in my life that I come into contact with that they don’t need to look any further than themselves for inspiration. We are all incredible people and overcome adversity and celebrate success on a daily basis. We are all our own heroes.

What are your other hobbies?S: Watching my two step sons play sports. Hanging out with my family and friends. Anything athletic!

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?S: Any foreign country. I enjoy traveling and seeing new places and meeting new people and submerging myself in their culture and trying to figure it all out.

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?S: Treat them normal. Hold them responsible for everything they would if their children were not disabled. The world is not accessible. Get used to it. Too many people treat people with a disability like they have a crutch. Yes…we may need some help with some certain things…but if you put a challenge in front of a person and hold them accountable at an early age, it will benefit them for their future life.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who want to pursue sports?S: Do it! Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s not possible. As long I have seen someone else do it I know it is possible…I’m in!

Any special message for our community?S: Live life to the fullest. We don’t know when our time on this planet will be up. Things happen every day. We don’t want to live with any regrets. Be a great person and surround yourself with other great people that are going to challenge you to be even better.