 United States men's goalball team. Goalball World Championships, Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA (July 2006).
| |
| Sport | Goalball |
|---|---|
| League | IBSA |
| Division | Men |
| Region | IBSA America |
| Location | United States |
| Colours | Red, white, blue |
| Head coach | Keith Young (head coach) James Wallace (assistant coach) |
| Championships | Paralympic Games medals:
 : 1  : 0  : 1
|
| Parent group | United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) |
| Website | www |
United States men's national goalball team is the men's national team of the United States. Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment. The team takes part in international goalball competitions.
Paralympic Games
1976 Toronto
The 1976 Summer Paralympics were held in Toronto, Canada. The team was one of seven men's teams participating, and they finished seventh overall.
1980 Arnhem
At the 1980 Summer Paralympic Games in Arnhem, Netherlands, twelve teams took part. The team finished second, behind Germany.
1984 New York
New York hosted the 1984 Summer Paralympics where thirteen teams participated and the team finished first ahead of Egypt.
1988 Seoul
The team competed in the 1988 Summer Paralympics, from 15 to 24 October 1988, in Seoul, South Korea. There were fourteen men's and eight women's teams. This was the first time the term "Paralympic" came into official use.
The team came second, behind Yugoslavia.
1992 Barcelona
The team competed in the 1992 Summer Paralympics, from 3 to 14 September 1992, in the Pavelló de la Vall d'Hebron indoor stadium, Barcelona, Spain. There were twelve men's and eight women's teams.
The team finished fourth in the overall rankings.
1996 Atlanta
The team competed in the 1996 Summer Paralympics, from 16 to 25 August 1996, in the GSU Sports Arena building, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America. There were twelve men's and eight women's teams.
They finished eleventh, ahead of Czechoslovakia.
2000 Sydney
The team competed in the 2000 Summer Paralympics, from 18 to 29 October 2000, at an Olympic Park indoor hall, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. There were twelve men's and eight women's teams.
They finished eleventh, ahead of Great Britain.
2004 Athens
The team competed in 2004 Summer Paralympics, from 17 and 28 September 2004, in the Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena, Athens, Greece. There were twelve men's and eight women's teams.
The team came third, behind Sweden and Denmark.
2008 Beijing
The team competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics, from 6 to 17 September 2008, in the Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium 'bat wing' arena, Beijing, China. There were twelve men's and eight women's teams. Athletes were: Steve Denuyl, Chris Dodds, Tyler Merren, Donte Mickens, Edward Munro, Daryl Walker. Coaching staff: Thomas Parrigin, Michael Legé, John Potts.
The team placed fourth overall.
2016 Rio de Janeiro
The team competed in the 2016 Summer Paralympics, with competitionfrom Thursday 8 September to finals on Friday 16 September 2016, in the temporary Future Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There were ten men's and ten women's teams (a decrease of two men's teams from past years). Athletes were: Andy Jenks, Tyler Merren, Daryl Walker, John Kusku, Joseph Hamilton, and Matt Simpson, with coaches Michael Legé and Matthew Boyle.
The team placed second.
The following is the United States roster in the men's goalball tournament of the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
| No. | Player | Class | Date of birth (age) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andy Jenks | B3 | September 21, 1990 (aged 25) |
| 2 | Tyler Merren | B2 | May 29, 1984 (aged 32) |
| 3 | Daryl Walker | B2 | December 29, 1981 (aged 34) |
| 4 | John Kusku | B2 | August 6, 1984 (aged 32) |
| 5 | Joseph Hamilton | B1 | September 6, 1978 (aged 38) |
| 7 | Matt Simpson | B1 | March 30, 1990 (aged 26) |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Lithuania
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 22 | +13 | 12 | Quarter-finals |
| 2 |
 United States
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 18 | +3 | 6 | |
| 3 |
 Turkey
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 23 | −3 | 6 | |
| 4 |
 China
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 28 | −3 | 3 | |
| 5 |
 Finland
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 34 | −10 | 3 |
| 9 September 2016 09:00 |
United States
|
5–2 |
China
|
Future Arena, Rio de Janeiro Referees: Rudi Janssen (BEL), Raquel Aguado (ESP) |
|
Hamilton 3 Kusku 2 |
Report | Cai 2 | ||
| 10 September 2016 13:15 |
Lithuania
|
8–7 |
United States
|
Future Arena, Rio de Janeiro Referees: Raquel Aguado (ESP) Patricia Fras (SLO) |
|
Pavliukianec 6 Pazarauskas 2 |
Report |
Hamilton 5 Merren 2 |
||
| 11 September 2016 17:30 |
Finland
|
2–6 |
United States
|
Future Arena, Rio de Janeiro Referees: Dawna Christy (CAN), Yoshinori Nii (JPN) |
|
Mattila 1 Posio 1 |
Report |
Merren 4 Hamilton 1 Kusku 1 |
||
| 12 September 2016 19:30 |
United States
|
3–6 |
Turkey
|
Future Arena, Rio de Janeiro Referees: Raili Sipura (FIN), Daniel Voltan (BRA) |
|
Kusku 1 Merren 1 Jenks 1 |
Report |
Gündoğdu 4 Karakaya 2 |
||
- Quarter-finals
| 14 September 2016 12:00 |
United States
|
7–6 |
 Germany
|
Future Arena, Rio de Janeiro Referees: Daniel Voltan (BRA), Patricia Fras (SLO) |
|
Merren 3 Hamilton 3 Kusku 1 |
Report |
Steiger 3 Feistle 2 Horauf 1 |
||
- Semi-finals
| 15 September 2016 13:30 |
Brazil 
|
1–10 |
United States
|
Future Arena, Rio de Janeiro Referees: Bülent Kimyon (TUR), Raili Sipura (FIN) |
| Marques 1 | Report |
Merren 9 Hamilton 1 |
||
- Gold medal match
| 16 September 2016 20:00 |
United States
|
8–14 |
Lithuania
|
Future Arena, Rio de Janeiro Referees: Nejc Jakic (SLO), Daniel Voltan (BRA) |
|
Simpson 4 Hamilton 1 Jenks 1 Merren 1 Walker 1 |
Report |
Pavliukianec 8 Pazarauskas 6 |
||
2020 Tokyo
The team competed in the 2020 Summer Paralympics, with competition from Wednesday 25 August to finals on Friday 3 September 2021, in the Makuhari Messe arena, Chiba, Tokyo, Japan. Members were: Zach Buhler, John Kusku, Tyler Merren, Matt Simpson, Daryl Walker Calahan Young, with coaches Keith Young and James Wallace.
The following is the United States roster in the men's goalball tournament of the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
| No. | Player | Class | Date of birth (age) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daryl Walker | B2 | December 29, 1981 (aged 39) |
| 2 | Tyler Merren | B2 | May 29, 1984 (aged 37) |
| 4 | John Kusku | B2 | August 6, 1984 (aged 37) |
| 7 | Matt Simpson | B1 | March 30, 1990 (aged 31) |
| 5 | Zachary Buhler | B2 | January 5, 1997 (aged 24) |
| 6 | Calahan Young | B2 | February 23, 1995 (aged 26) |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Japan (H)
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 15 | +22 | 9 | Quarter-finals |
| 2 |
Brazil
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 17 | +18 | 9 | |
| 3 |
 United States
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 35 | −10 | 6 | |
| 4 |
 Lithuania
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 31 | −7 | 4 | |
| 5 |
 Algeria
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 43 | −23 | 1 |
- Round-robin
| 26 August 2021 13:15 |
United States
|
8–6 |
Brazil
|
Makuhari Messe, Tokyo Referees: Reza Dehghan (Iran), Robert Avery (Great Britain) |
|
Young 4 Merren 1 Simpson 1 Walker 1 Sousa 1 (o.g.) |
Report |
Moreno 3 Sousa 2 Marques 1 |
||
| 27 August 2021 13:15 |
Japan
|
11–1 |
United States
|
Makuhari Messe, Tokyo Referees: Reza Dehghan (Iran), Woradet Kultawongwattana (Thailand) |
|
Sano 6 Miyajiki 3 Kaneko 2 |
Report | Walker 1 | ||
| 29 August 2021 17:30 |
Algeria
|
5–13 |
United States
|
Makuhari Messe, Tokyo Referees: Romualdas Vaitiekus (Lithuania), Warrick Jackes (Australia) |
|
Belhouchat 4 Larbi 1 |
Report |
Young 8 Simpson 3 Walker 2 |
||
| 30 August 2021 13:15 |
United States
|
3–13 |
Lithuania
|
Makuhari Messe, Tokyo Referees: Robert Avery (Great Britain), Bas Spaans (Netherlands) |
|
Simpson 2 Young 1 |
Report |
Montvydas 5 Zibolis 4 Pavliukianec 2 Pazarauskas 2 |
||
- Quarter-finals
| 31 August 2021 15:00 |
Ukraine 
|
4–5 |
United States
|
Makuhari Messe, Tokyo Referees: Warrick Jackes (Australia), Vaida Pokvytytė (LTU) |
|
Oliinyk 3 Zhyhalin 1 |
Report |
Young 4 Simpson 1 |
||
- Semi-finals
| 2 September 2021 13:15 |
China 
|
8–1 |
United States
|
Makuhari Messe, Tokyo Referees: Bas Spaans (Netherlands), Raquel Gomez Aguado (Spain) |
|
Yang Mingyuan 6 Hu Mingyao 2 |
Report | Young 1 | ||
World Championships
IBSA World Goalball Championships have been held every four years from 1978. The men's team has represented the USA for all these championships. Placing first or second in the tournament may earn a berth in the Paralympic Games goalball tournaments.
1978 Voecklamarkt
The team competed in the inaugural goalball world championships, in Vöcklamarkt, Austria. There were ten men's teams.
USA finished eighth ahead of the Republic of South Africa, and Great Britain.
1982 Indianapolis
The team competed in the 1982 World Championships, from Monday 28 June to 01 July 1982, at the Hinkle Fieldhouse, Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America. Organized by United States Association of Blind Athletes, there were twelve men's and six women's teams. Coached by Stephen Kearney, athletes included Bonner, Jackson, Morris, and Neppl.
The team finished first, ahead of Nederlands.
1986 Roermond
The 1986 IBSA World Goalball Championships were held in Roermond, the Netherlands. There were eighteen men's and ten women's teams.
The team finished fourth, behind Egypt, Israel, and Yugoslavia.
1990 Calgary
The team competed in the 1990 World Championships, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. There were twelve men's and seven women's teams.
The team finished fifth.
1994 Colorado Springs
The team competed in the 1994 World Championships, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States of America. There were thirteen men's and nine women's teams.
The team finished fifth.
1998 Madrid
The team competed in the 1998 World Championships, in Madrid, Spain. There were sixteen men's and eleven women's teams.
USA finished eighth overall.
2002 Rio de Janeiro
The team competed in the 2002 World Championships, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 30 August 2002 to 8 September 2002. There were fourteen men's and ten women's teams.
USA finished eleventh overall.
2006 Spartanburg
The team competed in the 2006 World Championships, in July 2006, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States of America. There were sixteen men's and thirteen women's teams.
The team finished third, behind Sweden and Lithuania.
2010 Sheffield
The team competed in the 2010 World Championships, from 20 to 25 June 2010, in Sheffield, England. There were sixteen men's and twelve women's teams.
USA was in Pool A, beating Canada 11:4, Algeria 4:2, Great Britain 10:2, Germany 5:1, and Belgium 4:1, but losing to China 5:7 and Iran 3:6.
2014 Espoo
The team competed in the 2014 World Championships from 30 June to 5 July 2014, in Espoo, Finland. There were fourteen men's and ten women's teams. Athletes: Joseph Hamilton (#5), Andrew Jenks (#1), John Kusku (#4), Tyler Merren (#2), Matthew Simpson (#7), and Daryl Walker (#3).
They placed third in Pool A, beating Turkey 5:4 in the quarter-finals, but losing to Finland 3:6 in the semi-finals, to play off the bronze medal with Lithuania, winning 4:2.
2018 Malmö
The team competed in the 2018 World Championships from 3 to 8 June 2018, at the Baltiska Hallen, Malmö, Sweden. There were sixteen men's and twelve women's teams. Athletes were Joe Hamilton, John Kusku, Grej Pesjaka, Daryl Walker, Josh Welborn and Calahan Young. Head coach was Matthew Boyle. Pesjaka, Welborn and Young were new to the team. Former national goalball high-performance director John Potts was appointed as team leader for both the men's and women's teams.
They placed third in Pool B, and fifth in final standings.
2022 Matosinhos
The team competed in the 2022 World Championships from 7 to 16 December 2022, at the Centro de Desportos e Congressos de Matosinhos, Portugal. There were sixteen men's and sixteen women's teams. They placed fifth in Pool D, and ninth in final standings.
IBSA World Games
2003 Quebec City
The team competed in the 2003 IBSA World Games from Friday 1 to Sunday 10 August 2011, in Quebec City, Canada. Ten teams competed.
USA came second to Spain who took the gold medal.
2011 Antalya
The team competed in the 2011 IBSA World Games from 1 to 10 April 2011, in Antalya, Turkey, organised by the Turkish Blind Sports Federation. There were fifteen men's and fourteen women's teams. They placed second in Group B, and were seventh in the final standings.
Regional championships
The team competes in the IBSA America goalball region. The winner of the championships usually qualifies for a berth at the World Championships or the Paralympic Games.
2005 São Paulo
The team competed at the 2005 IBSA Goalball Americas Regional Championships which were part of the Fourth IBSA Pan-American Games, the competition being from Monday 5 September 2005 to Friday 9 September 2005, in São Paulo, Brazil. There were five men's teams: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and USA.
The team finished second to Canada.
2011 Guadalajara
The team competed at the 2011 Parapan American Games from 13 to 19 November 2011, at the San Rafael Gymnasium in Guadalajara, Mexico. There were six men's teams: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, Mexico, USA. Athletes were Joseph Hamilton, Andrew Jenks, John Kusku, Tyler Merren, Donte Mickens, and Daryl Walker.
The team finished second to Brazil.
2013 Colorado Springs
The team competed at the 2013 Parapan American Games (which also hosted the 2013 IBSA World Youth Championships) from 11 to 14 July 2013, at Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. There were six men's teams: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Puerto Rico, USA, Venezuela. Athletes included Joe Hamilton (Sacramento, CA), Andy Jenks (Wilmington, DE), John Kusku (Warren, MI), Donté Mickens (Delray Beach, FL), Matt Simpson (Colorado Springs, CO), and Daryl Walker (Jacksonville, FL).
USA beat Brazil for the gold medal.
2015 Toronto
The team competed at the 2015 Parapan American Games from 8 August 2015 to 15 August 2015, at the Mississauga Sports Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. There were six men's teams: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Puerto Rico, USA, Venezuela. Athletes were Joseph Hamilton, Andrew Jenks, John Kusku, Donté Mickens, Matt Simpson, and Daryl Walker.
USA finished with the silver medal, beaten by Brazil.
2017 São Paulo
The team competed at the 2017 IBSA Goalball Americas Championships from Wednesday 29 November 2017 to Sunday 3 December 2017, at São Paulo, Brazil. There were eight men's teams: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, USA, and Venezuela (Costa Rica were disqualified for not having the minimum number of athletes to start a game).
USA finished with the silver medal, beaten by Brazil.
2019 Lima
The team competed at the 2019 Parapan American Games from 23 August 2019 to 1 September 2019, at the Miguel Grau Coliseum, Lima, Peru. This championships was a qualifier for the 2020 Paralympic Games. There were eight men's teams: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, USA, Venezuela.
USA finished with the silver medal, beaten by Brazil.
2022 São Paulo
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the IBSA America championship moved from 6 to 13 November 2021, to 18 to 22 February 2022. The event is being held at the Centro de Treinamento Paralímpico (Paralympic Training Center) in São Paulo. This championships is a qualifier for the 2022 World Championships.
There are thirteen men's teams: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, USA, Venezuela.
The team is Zach Buhler (Huntington, IN), Christian King (Virginia Beach, VA), Tyler Merren (Coral Springs, FL), Daryl Walker (Jacksonville, FL), Sean Walker (Winchester, VA), Calahan Young (Pittsburgh, PA), and Keith Young (head coach), James Wallace (assistant coach), and Adam McDowell (trainer).