Casey Followay named All-American by the U.S. Paralympics

  • By Angela Workman
  • October 28, 2013
  • 450
                        
Summary: Casey Followay, 16 year old Wooster resident, was named an All-American in five categories by the U.S. Paralympics. Followay is currently ranked third in the nation for males in the 100 meter. Followay is a member of the Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio (ASPO) and has participated on the track team for Wooster High School. For 16 year old Casey Followay, life has been a series of challenges. Adversity began two weeks before birth, during a routine ultra sound, where fluid was discovered around his brain. His mother, Lisa Followay, was referred to a specialist following the appointment. Two weeks later, he was delivered with a diagnosis of spina bifida, which left him paralyzed. The challenge of managing the health condition was coupled with his father’s absence. Lisa Followay explained that his father faded from their lives shortly after learning of the spina bifida. For four years, it was just the two of them. Lisa Followay then met and married Casey’s adoptive father. The common thread in Casey’s life has been his mother’s dedication. Despite setbacks that began before he was even born, she was in his corner, fighting for him. “There are so many things that he’s overcome. I think it’s a story of hope,” Lisa Followay said. “You make the best of whatever situation you’re in.” Now, as a junior at Wooster High School, Casey is a participant in the Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio (ASPO), which was founded by his mother. The organization provides competitive and recreational adaptive sport opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities. It is safe to say Casey has come full circle from that moment the ultra sound technician discovered the symptom of spina bifida. On Oct. 3, he was honored as a Track and Field High School All-American by the U.S. Paralympics, which is a division of the United States Olympic Committee. The list was generated based on athletic performances in the 2013 season. The ranking is determined by the level and type of disability. Casey was ranked in the 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter, 800 meter and the 1,500 meter as a wheelchair racer. He explained that he’s currently third in the nation for males in the 100 meter. Casey is also a state champion for the 400 meter and 800 meter. The other ASPO members to make the national list include, Timothy Bailey of Galloway, A.J. Digby of Bowling Green, and Robert Burns of Swanton. “It’s kind of surprising because there are a lot of athletes I know that are at the top of their game. It’s cool to see me right next to them. It’s something I wouldn’t expect,” Casey said. “My vision is to compete for Team USA in Rio 2016. “I think with training and hard work and maturity, it’ll hopefully pay off.” The power of Casey’s story is not just that he’s been so successful, but that he’s paving the way for other athletes with physical disabilities. His journey into this world did begin with fear, uncertainty and limitations, but his 16 years have proven to be just the opposite. “He’s got a bright future ahead of him for sure,” Lisa Followay said.


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load