As adaptive athletics continues to gain global momentum, a determined group at Penn State is working tirelessly to ensure the university becomes a national leader in the movement—and they’re doing it with a “big picture” vision and the legacy of a once-thriving program guiding their way as a roadmap. 

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Penn State’s adaptive athletics program found itself at a crossroads. Once a national model under the direction of coach Teri Jordan, who led the program for over two decades and developed numerous Paralympians, the initiative was left virtually dormant after her 2019 retirement and the onset of COVID-19. 

But thanks to the efforts of passionate alumni, coaches, student-athletes and nonprofit supporters, that narrative is shifting dramatically.

One of those alumni is Chuck Sypula, who’s been a leader of adaptive athletics at Penn State, spanning over three decades. His connection began with Jordan in the late 1990s and only grew stronger when he created the program’s first endowment in 2008. That same year, he traveled to the Paralympic Games in Beijing, what he calls an eye-opening and larger-than-life experience.

“To watch these talented, determined, very deserving young athletes from all over the world compete in the Paralympics was just a really life changing experience for me. It’s pretty wonderful,” Sypula said. “I got to see these Paralympians perform in front of 60, 70,000 fans while in Beijing. It was just a remarkable experience. I was hooked at that point.”

Despite its earlier success, the program faced an uncertain future. With zero athletes enrolled and the department moved out of Penn State Athletics and into Student Affairs, it risked fading entirely. Sypula and fellow advocates knew something had to be done.

“A couple alumni associates of mine and I got involved and went to the university and convinced them that the program needed to be back under athletics,” Sypula said. “Pat Kraft made that decision at the time, to bring it back under athletics and that was a huge move, really strong decisions. Our goal, of course, is to not just develop a robust program, but a program that can be really competitive with some of the other colleges in the country, the Michigans, the Illinois, the Alabama, the Arizona who have strong programs for adaptive athletes.”

The result of that push was Rise Above: Friends of Adaptive Athletics, a nonprofit organization founded by Sypula that now works in tandem with Penn State to support and expand the program. The group has taken a comprehensive approach by recruiting athletes, developing scholarship opportunities, and securing funding. But their ambitions go far beyond simply fielding teams.

“We were, in effect, starting from scratch, and we wanted to do it right,” Sypula said. “It meant more than just having athletes to compete, of course. It means developing a student advisor, for example, scholarships for the kids that we were recruiting. There’s a wide gamut of responsibilities that we are undertaking. Our board is all volunteers, a good group of men and women who have a real passion for Penn State and a real passion for adaptive athletics, several of whom are former Paralympians. We were really starting from scratch, really starting not just a sport, but a program.”

Today, Penn State Adaptive Athletics includes sled hockey, wheelchair track and field, and soon, wheelchair basketball, which will be formally announced at the program’s second annual fundraising event this Saturday, July 26, at the Nittany Lion Inn. The evening will be a major celebration and fundraiser for the program, and a testament to just how far it has come.

The sold-out event will feature keynote speaker Guy Gadowsky, head coach of Penn State men’s ice hockey and a staunch supporter of adaptive sports. Gadowsky and his team annually fundraise for the sled hockey program, helping them build a broader foundation through exposure and financial support. 

Former Nittany Lion All-American and NFL player Mike Reid will also perform, ahead of a roundtable of legendary football alumni, including Chuck Burkhart, Lydell Mitchell and Steve Smear, to name a few. The Penn State football greats will reflect on their own time at Penn State under Joe Paterno’s “Grand Experiment.” It’s a nod to what Rise Above and Adaptive Athletics are now building: a new kind of experiment centered not only on sport, but character, academics and inclusion.

“There were no corners being cut on the academics, as many football programs back in that day used to do, much to the chagrin of Joe [Paterno] and his staff,” Sypula said. “Now, the grand experiment that we’re relating into … is this idea of developing an adaptive athletics program virtually from scratch. If there’s a common theme throughout all that, it’s the character of the athlete, and that is to say that it’s more than just sport. It’s academics, it’s their presence on campus, it’s the social aspects. It’s a character thing as much as it is an athletic thing.”

Also attending as the hosts of the event, will be Sue Paterno and Dana Harris, Franco Harris’ widow, both of whom have become key figures in the adaptive athletics community. For program director and head coach Brenna O’Connor, their support, and the visibility it brings to the table, is invaluable.

“Every program needs money. We want to continue to be able to offer scholarships to these student athletes. We have expenses, just like everybody else. So, the idea is to get more exposure,” O’Connor said, “A lot of people don’t know we exist, and this is like a big way to show them, ‘Hey, here we are, these are our needs…this is a culmination of this past year’s worth of work, especially through Rise Above. They did most of the leg work. I put my two cents in here but that’s not my background, I’m trying to direct and coach. They’re trying to take care of the money aspect for us, to help us raise funds. They are so passionate about adaptive athletics.”

For O’Connor and the Rise Above board, rebuilding began with a name—and that name was Max Malec. At the third annual Penn State Sled Hockey Classic in January, Malec became the first student-athlete to officially sign with the program since its 2023 reinstatement. That moment marked the launch of a new era.

“When you go to any event that has adaptive sports, the passion is amazing. Everybody’s into it, and they all support one another,” O’Connor said. “It’s like one big family, despite the different shirts that we’re wearing that say Penn State versus Michigan, that sort of thing. So I believe that it’s also growing with the exposure from the Olympic scene, the Paralympic scene. You see more commercials on TV from the Paralympics. 

“Our job to get the word out so that we can get that support that other groups have, and university wide too, not just the program within our university, but just the overall picture, the big picture that people are more aware and supportive of these athletes because, hey, they’re just as competitive as any able bodied person. I know what [Malec’s] goals are, and he works hard every time he comes in to do a workout. They’re just working hard, just like anybody else.”

Hailing from North Pocono High School in Lackawanna County, Malec, a first-year broadcast journalism student and adaptive athlete, was born with a rare condition called spina bifida, a congenital disorder where the spine and spinal cord don’t develop properly during pregnancy. The condition has impacted his mobility, however, that hasn’t stopped him from becoming the one of the new faces of Penn State adaptive athletics. 

At 11, Malec discovered sled hockey and quickly fell in love with the sport. Over the last two years, he trained and competed with the State College Coyotes, a local sled hockey program founded by DJ and Alexis Wilson in 2016, and a key partner in Penn State’s recruiting pipeline.

Now, Malec is more than just a face of the Coyotes and the Nittany Lions– he’s the foundation of something much bigger.

“I’ve been a Penn State fan my whole life. I’ve been bleeding blue and white since I was a baby,” Malec said. “So, once they started recruiting me, no other schools really recruited me, but I really didn’t care about that. Going here was a no brainer decision, and being able to play sled hockey for a team that I’m playing with people that I consider my brothers and sisters, it’s such a great locker room. And now to consider myself a Penn State student-athlete, just like the kids on the football team or the wrestling team or the hockey team. It’s incredible. 

“To be able to reach my goals and work extremely hard using these facilities, it’s such a blessing, and I’m so excited for these next four years.”

His signing was made even more special by the presence of Gadowsky and the entire Penn State men’s hockey team. That same energy carried into the Sled Hockey Classic, where the Penn State student section turned out in full force and over $18,000 was raised. For a still-rebuilding program, that kind of momentum is priceless.

“This program makes it, I don’t want to say easier, in a way, but it makes it more attainable to reach my goals. It kind of really puts it in perspective how attainable it could be,” Malec shared. “To be able to use these facilities that other former Olympic athletes have walked through and trained at is incredible, and I feel almost a responsibility to do right by that. And I think something that will help us in the future is having that, and obviously with Penn State as a brand that is going to go so far with building our program now, getting the university to fully go, like, gung ho and support our program, that’s something that we’re working on, but I definitely think it’s going to happen without a doubt. 

“It’s not going to be easy. Nothing easy in life or nothing good in life comes easy, but it’s going to be so worth it when we’re at the top of that mountain, competing with the world, and not only that, but to inspire other schools big and small.”

O’Connor — who started as a part-time coach following her time as a Penn State student-athelete to support another thrower, RJ Shirey — sees Malec’s role as more than athletic. For O’Connor, the Rise Above board and Penn State Athletics, he’s the cornerstone of a program looking to build lasting legacy.

“All the things that I’ve done leading up to this, all the coaching, all the teaching were stepping stones to this place, and I’ve coached a lot of great people. …I’m just blown away that I’m in a position to be able to grow a program and to work with athletes like Max, because he’s inspiring. RJ was inspiring, Esther Faith is inspiring because they could easily be like, ‘Woe is me. This is my lot in life. I have this disability,’ but they’re like, ‘No, I want to be an athlete. I want to do my sport just like anybody else,’ and I love that I get to work with them because I want to help them.

“…I will do everything in my power to give them the opportunity to train and to get to that next level so that they can look back and go ‘We Are…Penn State’ that they were able to have the opportunity here and beyond hopefully to represent Team USA in the Paralympic movement. So I’m just really humbled by this position, this opportunity. It blows my mind every day that I get to do this. And I always tell people I don’t feel like I’ve worked a day in my life. Everything I’ve ever done is stuff that I enjoy, and this is above and beyond anything that I thought I’d be doing.”

Since Malec committed, others have followed. Penn State announced its second signing, Jack Cunningham from Springfield, Pa., and more are on the way—from California, Colorado, Israel, and beyond. The goal is to build full sled hockey and wheelchair basketball teams, in addition to the individualized track and field events that already have roots at Penn State.

For now, Malec continues to train with focus and humility. He’s fueled by a deep sense of purpose and the understanding that he’s carrying a banner not only for Penn State, but for every aspiring adaptive athlete who dares to dream big.

“Having one goal is pretty audacious, and it’s a pretty daunting task. So to be able to get 1% better every day, doing the little things, training, eating right, getting enough sleep stretching, [O’Connor] hammers that home into my head,” Malec said. “But to be able to do those little things and kind of check those boxes off knowing that it’s building to what I ultimately want to do makes it all the more encouraging and makes it all the more driving and motivating to keep going. 

“And plus, like I don’t feel worthy of this opportunity that I have, but I’m going to take full advantage of it. I’m so humbled to be a Penn State student athlete and to do right by this program. I feel like I have a moral obligation to achieve those high standards, not only to please a university that I’ve loved ever since I was a little kid, but to build a program that I firmly believe in, that I can see reaching beyond the stars. There’s absolutely no ceiling and no floor for this program. I think the sky’s beyond the limit for this program, and it starts with my class, not just myself, because it’s so much more than self.”

With a growing strong support from the university, alumni and the surrounding community, and thanks to the tenacity of people like O’Connor, Malec and Sypula, the once-dormant program is now thriving again with one practice, one fundraiser and one determined athlete at a time.

“The more people become aware of it, the more people get to understand the character of the families and the kids and what it means to them, the more appealing it becomes. It really is a movement in this country, and it’s really picked up a tremendous amount of steam,” Sypula said. 

For more information on the program and to donate, visit gopsusports.com/adaptive-athletics.

Cumberland is partnering with Opendorse to enhance its efforts surrounding name, image and likeness (NIL), providing Phoenix student-athletes the tools and resources needed to build their personal brand and capitalize on new opportunities.

Opendorse is a leading NIL platform and marketplace in college athletics, helping student-athletes connect with brands, fans and donors to monetize their name, image and likeness. With this partnership, Cumberland student-athletes will gain access to a suite of tools through the Opendorse platform including education, compliance resources and marketing opportunities to support NIL growth.

Advertisement

Cumberland will sponsor 32 athletic programs during the 2025-26 academic year, featuring more than 800 student-athletes.

“I am very excited for our coaches and especially our student-athletes to partner with Opendorse,” said Ron Pavan, CU vice president for athletics. “The NIL company will help us attract and retain our high-quality student-athletes.”

Through Opendorse, Cumberland athletes will have individualized profiles that allow them to showcase their brand, connect with businesses and supporters, and pursue paid opportunities while maintaining compliance with NAIA and university policies. Additionally, the partnership brings Opendorse’s comprehensive NIL education modules to campus, ensuring student-athletes are informed and prepared to navigate the evolving NIL landscape.

“Cumberland University is showing how small schools can find success in NIL by building around their local community,” said Jake Daugherty, Opendors manager of collegiate partnerships. “This partnership will give student-athletes the tools to grow their personal brand and create real opportunities from it.”

Cumberland is the latest of more than 200 collegiate programs across all divisions to team up with Opendorse. The platform currently supports over 115,000 student-athletes nationwide.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –  The 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase, which will include teams from the U.S., Canada, Finland and Sweden, begins Sunday (July 27) and runs through August 2 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis.

The Showcase serves as an evaluation for athletes seeking to make their respective national teams for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship which will take place Dec. 26, 2025, through Jan. 5, 2026, in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

SHOWCASE FEATURES 11 GAMES
The World Junior Summer Showcase features 11 international games and tickets are available by clicking HERE. In addition, all games from the Showcase will stream live at USAHockeyTV.com.

“We’re excited to bring the World Junior Summer Showcase to Minnesota” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the U.S. National Junior Team and also assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “It provides us a great opportunity to evaluate our players, and is also a chance for fans to see so many of the future stars of the NHL.”

FABER, LaCOMBE TO SERVE AS ALUMNI AMBASSADORS
Brock Faber (Maple Grove, Minn./Minnesota Wild) and Jackson LaCombe (Eden Prairie, Minn./Anaheim Ducks) will be on the ice for select practices and also behind the bench for select games during the Showcase, serving as Alumni Ambassadors. Both Faber and LaCombe were part of the gold medal-winning 2021 U.S. National Junior Team in the IIHF World Junior Championship. LaCombe also helped Team USA win gold in the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship, only the second gold medal ever won by the U.S. in the event and first since 1933. Faber was part of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team and also played for Team USA in this past February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

“We’re excited to have Brock and Jackson be around our players and staff,” said Bob Motzko (Austin, Minn.), head coach of the 2026 U.S. National Junior Team and also the head men’s ice hockey coach at the University of Minnesota. “They know what it takes to win on the international stage and I know our group will enjoy engaging with both of them.”

For the full Showcase schedule, click HERE.

NOTES: Tickets for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship are on sale now and can be purchased by click HERE. The event will be staged at the Xcel Energy Center, home of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, and 3M Arena at Mariucci, home of the University of Minnesota men’s ice hockey team … The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship will mark the 50th anniversary of the tournament … Team USA has won the last two gold medals in the World Juniors and has medaled in eight of the last 10 tournaments … A total of nine players from the gold medal-winning 2025 U.S. National Junior Team have an opportunity to return in 2026, including defenseman Logan Hensler (Woodbury, Minn./University of Wisconsin), Cole Hutson (North Barrington, Ill./Boston University) and Adam Kleber (Chaska, Minn./University of Minnesota Duluth), along with forwards Trevor Connelly (Tustin, Calif./Providence College), Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass./Boston University), James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y./Boston College), Max Plante (Hermantown, Minn./University of Minnesota Duluth), Teddy Stiga (Sudbury, Mass./Boston College) and Brodie Ziemer (Hutchinson, Minn./University of Minnesota) … The 43 players invited by USA Hockey to the World Junior Summer Showcase include nine first-round NHL draft picks, 13 second-round choices and five third-round picks. All but three players have been drafted.

A Boston College junior has run marathons all around the world and in taking on that challenge, he’s also out to set a new world record.

In less than two years, 20-year-old James Redding has run all but one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.

“It’s been something that has been such an eye-opener for me,” said Redding.

Before he began running around the globe, Redding got his start in high school, running around Brighton alongside his mom.

“Me and my mom are so close. We both pushed each other to get better. I pushed her to get out there out of her comfort zone and she held me accountable to keep running when I didn’t want to.”

Despite his love for running, hockey was Redding’s first love. It’s a passion he now shares with skaters of all ages as a coach at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton.

“That mix between doing something super fast and super fun was something that was such a draw to me,” said Redding. “I’m not a person that likes sitting still.”

“We call him Coach Whiteboard because he wants to coach every aspect of the game,” said Matt Cappucci, assistant hockey director at Warrior Ice Arena. “He’s trying to help kids at every aspect.”

Turned to running to get in shape for hockey

But in high school, Redding felt his weight was holding him back from getting more playing time on his varsity hockey team at Brookline.

“It came down to ‘I’m too big, I can’t move my body in the way that I want to move my body,’ so I’ve gotta make a change somehow,” said Redding.

His solution? Running. He started with 5Ks alongside his mom. Then they graduated to 10Ks and soon after, a half marathon.

“Went to her at the finish line, we hadn’t even recovered or showered yet, I said, ‘Mom, we gotta do a marathon.’  And she was like, ‘Absolutely not,'” said Redding.

He convinced his mom to run Boston when he was still too young. Now a rising junior at BC, he would follow in her footsteps down Boylston Street in 2024. It was his first major marathon.

“Turning that corner onto Boylston, the crowds were unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, ever,” said Redding.

Aiming to run 6th marathon this fall

What’s next? That’s when Redding set a goal of completing the six Abbot World Marathon Majors by the time he graduated college. Six months after Boston, he ran Chicago. Then weeks later, New York, with the help of his bosses at New Balance getting him in. This year, he traveled to Tokyo, earning a bib through a lotto. New Balance then booked him a spot in London.

That leaves only Berlin, which Redding is now preparing to run in September. Crossing that finish line would make him the youngest male runner ever to earn all six of Abbott’s stars.

“It was a mix of the hookup, the blessing and a little bit of luck was needed, a lot of bit of luck,” said Redding.

Surreal but not a surprise to those who’ve seen Redding grow from the rink to the road.

“It’s a tremendous honor and I think I’m not shocked by it at all.  And if you ask me if he’s going to do other stuff like that, I would probably say the same thing. He’s always ‘What’s next, what’s next, what’s next.’ Incredible.”

Perhaps the most interesting piece of information to come up surrounding the BC Men’s Hockey program these past couple of weeks doesn’t have to do with players or recruitment at all. Headlines suggest that such developments will be essential for the NCAA sports landscape as a whole for the foreseeable future.

To put it plainly, schools that opted into a new revenue-sharing agreement will be able to pay college athletes $20.5 million in aggregate dollars among all NCAA-sanctioned programs. While schools such as BC have opted into the agreement for this upcoming academic year, rivals such as Boston University have not. So, how these developments will affect college hockey in the upcoming years remains to be seen.

In the past, Comm. Ave rivals BC and BU have ridden the wave of elite recruiting strictly through positive word of mouth, top-notch coaching/development, and program success. However, with athletes now being able to receive financial compensation, all that goes out the window.