Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 2016)
From Marine to murderball CLACKAMAS STUDENT COMPETES IN FULL-CONTACT WHEELCHAIR SPORT BY TRAVIS DAVID V WHITTAKER Clackamas student Tim, Vixay is h ig h ly competitive in a game he likes to play, known as murderball, It is sim ilar to rugby; however, every player is in a wheelchair. Vixay started playing in 2008 after he had com pleted rehabilitation for a neck and spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed. The injury occurred when he dove into a wave while he was in the Marines. The Print talked w ith V ixay to learn m ore about him and gain an understanding of the game. ’ TCP: W hat interested you in joining the Marines? TV: At the time, it was 2006 and a lot The Clackam as Print: W hat are your plans while here at Clackam as? T im V ix a y : I finished my transfer of my friends were enlisting. I actually went to PCC for a diesel tèçh program, but after a year of that I couldn’t letzthe opportunity by to serve for my country. degree back in 2008...and am now back here at CCC for a certificate in m ulti- media journalism. TCP: How is murderball played? T V : It’ s a game that was designed photo contributed by Tim Vixay back in 1977 for people with upper-body im pairm ents. It’ s played four on four while on a basketball court. The ball is similar to a volleyball. At each baseline there are two cones that are set eight meters apart, and you have to carry the ball between the two cônes. Meanwhile; the defense is trying to ram you, swat thé ball out of your hands and knock you out of your chair. I t ’ s, the o nly tru e, fu ll-c o n ta c f wheelchair sport around. TCP: How did you hear about it? TV: 2008 was a Paralympicyear. When I got Hurt, I heard about it while in rehab and doing my initial therapy. As soon as I saw it being played, I was hooked and went .to the next practice that the team had, and it’ s been in the rearview ever since. Kinda been my life. TCP: Does school or work interfere w ith how m uch you like to play? TV: It does. Now that I’m going back to school full time, since I wânt to get it done in a year, I’ve had to kind o f cut back on my training hours and out-of-practice conditioning sessions we have. TCP: How do you get in shape? Does eating right contribute to this? T V : I th in k eating right is just Tim Vixay rides in a wheelchair during a game of murderball. continuous. If you take two months off and eat whatever you want, people with paralysis take a lot longer to shed that weight because we aren’t using as much of our bodies. So I try to eat right throughout the entireyear. W hen it’ s tim e to buckle down on training, you really focus more on what you are eating and making sure you are getting the right carbs and fuel. You are also upping your activity hours as far as w eights, and being in the rugby chair more with different speed and agility drills and endurance. TCP: Do you play any other wheelchair sports? T V : W hen I go participate at the National Veteran Wheelchair Games every summer, there are different events there. I’ll compete in track, swimming, nine- ball and table tennis. As far as a strict, competitivé elite level, iVs mostly just rugby. TCP: In an article I read about you by thè Paralyzed Veterans o f Am erica, it mentioned that you want to help break m any Stereotypes. W hat stereotypes are you referring to? TV: One o f the big misconceptions, with people in wheelchairs and high -level injuries, like m yself, is à lot of people feel like we just sit at home and don’t really do anything. We just kind of watch the sim go up and down. Through sports and the Oscar Mike Foundation, we’re able get out there in the community to show people that, hey, jjist because we .are in a wheelchair it doesn’t mean we can’t surf, skydive and go hiking at the national parks. T C P : H o w m an y m ed als have you earned while playing murderball? TV: The last time f counted, I had gotten up to 22 golds, and maybe up to 26 golds now. I’ve gotten countless “ Best in Class” awards at various tournaments as well. I ’ve' been in the top 16 teams for eight years now. I will be trying out for the national team in January. This interview has been edited for clarity and space. Clackamas Print NOVEMBER 23,2016 thedackamasprîntcoün I
