The purpose of The Tournament is to support sport and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities. People with disabilities deserve the opportunity to participate in athletic and recreational activity, with all its health and emotional benefits.
Now, in its 39th year the Tournament, 21st Century Tolland Fund tournament, has sponsored programs and athletic events for athletes with disabilities, supporting 22,000 people in 22 programs statewide. Tournament proceeds have underwritten Ivan Lendl Adaptive Sports Camp, Miracle Field and Donny Marshall’s former UCONN teammate Steve Emt, member of U.S. Paralympics.
In 2013, Patrick Halgreen, who grew up in Tolland, CT, was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that left him in a coma for approximately one month. When he merged, doctors informed him that his left leg would need to be amputated above the knee. It was Patrick’s twin brother Sven, who pushed him toward alpine skiing, recognizing that his brother’s athlete drive was got going to go quietly.
In December 2016, Sven was killed in a motorcycle crash in New Zealand. Patrick continued to race, carrying his brother’s name and spirit with him onto every course.
This past winter at the Paralymics in Italy Patrick Halgren won Silver Medal in alpine skiing as member of the U.S. Paralympic Team. Patrick won the Silver for his brother.
Representing the United States at the Paralympic Winter Games, Halgren has become known among teammates and in the adaptive sports community as “Powerhouse Pat,” Patrick carries a spirit of relentless efforts and unconditional love for the mountains.
“I’m so lucky that I was born with struggle,” Halgren said. “You can’t have sunshine without the rain. You can’t have joy without the pain. It’s that beautiful duality of life.”
When not training on snow, he can often be found cycling up Pikes peak, roller blading, or rafting the Grand Canyon as part of his preparation for competition at the highest level of adaptive sport.
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Karen Cook is the Founder and Executive Director of Summit Adaptive Sports in Northwest Connecticut. She is recognized for her vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to creating life-changing outdoor recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Inspired by her son, who has autism, Karen understands firsthand the importance of finding meaningful opportunities for people of all abilities to experience the outdoors. What began as a mission to create those opportunities has grown into one of Connecticut’s premier adaptive sports organizations, providing year-round programs in snow sports, mountain biking, paddle sports, hiking and other outdoor adventures.
Karen is passionate about building not only exceptional programs, but also an extraordinary community. She believes Summit’s greatest strength lies in the dedication of its volunteers, the generosity of its donors, and the courage and determination of its athletes. Through strategic investments in industry-leading adaptive equipment and coach education, Summit has expanded its ability to serve individuals with a wide range of disabilities while empowering athletes to reach new levels of independence and achievement.
“Our sports programs are crafted to empower and inspire our adaptive athletes to fully engage and enjoy the great outdoors, regardless of their ability.” – Karen Cook
Karen is continually inspired by the smiles of accomplishment she sees every day and remains committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the confidence, connection, and joy that come from participating in outdoor recreation. Her work exemplifies the compassion, service, and leadership celebrated by the William “Bill” Schamback Award.
Emily Reid, a tenacious 13-year-old athlete with an indomitable spirit to succeed was born in China with an absence of her left forearm and hand and adopted into her family, her parents, Guy and Linda Reid, and siblings Sarah and Matthew.
At 2-years-old Emily showed aquatic skills and determination when she taught herself a dolphin kick in the family pool after watching the Olympic swimmers on TV. “As a competitor I focus on myself, focus on how I will swim. It’s not about the swimmer in the next lane. That’s all I can control,” said Emily.
In October 2021, Emily joined HSC’s swim team where her coach, Joan Karpuk, recognized her strength and potential. Upon Coach Joan’s recommendation, Emily joined Cheshire YMCA/Sea Dogs in September 2022 training with their able-bodied team. Emily diligently trains and competes with both the HSC Waves and Sea Dogs swim teams, played middle school basketball while maintaining outstanding academic grades earning her Distinguished Honors and acceptance into the NJHS. But swimming and basketball are not Emily’s only skill sets–she also plays a mean cello. At the 2023 Move United Junior Nationals, Emily set 7 Move United Junior National Records and won 7 Gold Medals in the U14 Age Group. Emily received the Amazing Grace Award at the 2023 US Paralympic Swimming National Championships where she qualified for 2 B-Division finals. Emily qualified for the 2024 CT State SCY Championships and has her eyes and heart set on the Paralympics one day. Emily qualified for the 2024 CT State SCY Championships and has her eyes and heart set on one meet like no other—the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles. At the Move United Nationals in July in Alabama Emily won 6 gold, 1 silver and set 6 new national junior swim records for her class and age group. Emily now has 13 total national records.
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16 year old Delmace Mayo has a spinal cord injury, but he has never let this slow him down.
Born in Haiti and abandoned by his birth family before he was a year old, he spent several years living at a home for disabled youth – and that’s where he met his adoptive mother, Cathy Mayo. He was 3½ when the 2010 earthquake occurred. It severely damaged the building where he lived – but it also paved the way for him to come to the US sooner than expected. Since arriving in the US, Delmace has had one speed – FAST! In the Intermediate Division of the WCMX World championships Delmace placed 1st in 2017, 2018 & 2019, and in the Virtual Worlds in 2020. Delmace's main sport is track. He is currently the 100 meters and 200 meters National record holder in the U17 division for US para sports, and the U14 National discus record holder. Delmace was recently named 2022 Boston Public Schools Male Track Athlete of the Year -- and was just named Sports &N Spokes magazine Junior Athlete of the Year at this summer's Junior Nationals.
Not bad for a teenager who started life surviving a spiral cord injury and an earthquake.
The 21st Century Tolland Fund supports Steve Emt, United States Paralympian, who competed in the 2022 Paralympics just last month in Beijing. Steve will be joining us at this year’s Tournament and will be running the Tribal youth basketball clinic for us. From a small town in Connecticut to West Point, UCONN Basketball, a devastating automobile accident, and now a 2-time U.S. Paralympian... Steve has been through more than most people. But Steve isn't like most people. He's overcome all the adversities that he's been faced with to become a successful educator, empowering people of all ages all around the world to become the hero of their own life.
We’re so grateful Steve is part of our team and help other young athletes to get on a roll.
Ann Thompson’s dream was to be an Olympic skier. But while training on the ice-capped mountains of Austria in August 1985 for the 1988 Winter Olympics, she lost her balance, somersaulted and landed on her back. A spinal cord injury left her paralyzed from the middle of her chest down. Despite her paralysis, she dreamed of returning to that mountain. Ann would never walk again.
Her parents coaxed her into joining the Cruisers, a competitive wheelchair sports team of 5- to 18-year-olds. Ann never looked back… Ann won Silver Medals for 1999 USA National Wheelchair Basketball Team in Mexico City, Mexico and Silver Media for USA Gold Cup Basketball Team in Sydney, Australia. Ann was a member of four U.S. Paralympic Teams (3 in track) 1988- Seoul South Korea; 1992- Barcelona, Spain 1996 - Atlanta, Ga and 1 for basket ballat 2000- Sydney, Australia where she won 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze.
Today, Ann coaches kids to reach their own mountain tops as Program and assistant coach at the Hospital for Special Care and assistant director and coach at Ivan Lendl adaptive sports camp.
21st Century Tolland Fund are building Kevin's Kourts, wheelchair inclusive basketball courts. By the end of 2023, Kevin's Kourts are in West Hartford, South Windsor, Hartford, Waterbury, Channel 3 Kids Camp, and East Lyme, CT.
Kevin’s Kourt has 10 brightly colored stations with different angled backboards and different level rims developed by Bankshot™, a pioneer in the inclusive basketball play structures.
The first Kevin’s Kourt was built in 2016 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford. The ceremony featured a special ceremonial “Net” raising. Teaming up with NCAA Champion Coach Kevin Ollie in the “Net” ceremony were Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin and members of Ryan Martin Foundation & Hospital for Special Care Junior Wheelchair Basketball program and Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford.
