Dianna Nicolai

Below is one of my articles published by Womeninc Magazine.

         Rachel Hardy

 Taking a Shot and Leaving Her Mark

 By Dianna Nicolai (published in Womeninc Magazine January 2010)

Rachel Hardy does not let being in a wheelchair slow her down one bit. This vivacious teenager drives a hand-controlled car, babysits for a young boy who is also in a wheelchair, and is training to win her second shot put state championship.

Rachel lives in Orchard, Iowa with her parents, Leslie and Sara, and 15-year-old brother, Danny, and is a senior at Osage Community High School. Her condition was caused by an injury sustained at age two when she was accidentally hit in the head with a golf club.

The most difficult challenge Rachel faced growing up, and still faces today, is the struggle of trying to use a walker instead of the wheelchair. Although she can walk with a walker, it is difficult and tiring, so she uses the wheelchair most of the time. A physical therapist continues to work with her, exercising her legs. She also lifts weights to gain strength in her arms.

 Rachel is a positive person and gives the credit for her attitude to her parents. “I am proud of them for making me so independent and strong,” she says. “Everyone has been so great. The kids at school and the teachers have always made me feel accepted.”

One of the tougher challenges for Rachel has been participating in physical education (PE) class. “When I was young and couldn’t do some things, like play kick ball, it would upset me,” she says. “But the PE teacher was good, and he would make up different rules so I could play, like I could hit the ball with a bat and run with my wheelchair. Sometimes I made up my own rules so I could play a game with the rest of the kids.”

 In May of 2009, Rachel earned the title of 2009 Wheelchair Track Shot Put State Champion at a track meet in Des Moines. The first time Rachel became involved with Shot Put was in the fall of 2008, at the beginning of her junior year and she liked it so much she signed up again this year. Her exercise routine includes wheeling laps around the track to build up her cardiopulmonary strength, weight lifting to build upper body and arm strength and practicing with shot put. Normally, those doing shot put use their whole body behind the throw of the ball, so doing it from a wheelchair is a much greater challenge.

Rachel explains, “The shot put is a weighted ball I hold by my chin and throw. My greatest distance at the state championship was nine and one-half feet. There were two boys in wheelchairs competing, but I was the only girl. I’m hoping this year to have some competition. My dad and his friend, Steve Follmuth, are building a stand to raise me higher up so I can get more distance from my throws. It’s acceptable to use the stand during competitions.”

“I really enjoyed trying a sport and being able to show other people in wheelchairs they could do it, too, but I couldn’t have done it without all the good people at my school, the coaches, my friends and family.”

“This has been great for her,” adds Rachel’s mother, Sara. “It has made her more outgoing.”

  Lon Lawler, Rachel’s physical education instructor, says, “I guess it all started with PE class. We have a strength training class students can take, so I put together a plan for Rachel and she did really well with it. One of Rachel's strengths is her social skills. She is very outgoing and personable. Track was a challenge she was excited about. Rachel's positive attitude and enthusiasm makes her a role model in our school.”

Rachel’s “throwing coach”, Larry Grein, adds, “Rachel was enthusiastic when I approached her about the idea of participating in track. We ran a limited schedule last year because of her taking drivers education and the logistics of travel arrangements, but we did think it was important she perform at conference and district meets. We stuck in a few other meets so we could get in a routine and know what to expect. Rachel went to an athletic camp this summer and encouraged other wheelchair athletes to participate in track this next year. Rachel and I are looking forward to this season and the competition.”

Rachel spent part of her 2009 summer participating in a wheelchair camp at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. She says, “It was my first time at wheelchair camp. I was so nervous going, but Mom and Dad said, ‘It’s all right; you might like it and meet new people.’ I did a lot of different things -- tennis, volleyball, basketball, rock climbing.”

The camp challenged Rachel physically while boosting her confidence. “I did rock climbing two times and the second time I got up half way. It was fun. In track, I learned a lot for shot put. I know I’ll do better this year. I’ve learned my parents are always right. I did meet new people; made new friends and I loved the camp! And, I definitely am going again next year.”

Ashley Alonzo, a teacher’s assistant who helps Rachel with her studies, says, “When I think about Rachel, I think about her great attitude. She always has a smile on her face and is willing to go above and beyond for the people she cares about. Throughout her experiences with the wheelchair shot put, she kept things in perspective. I can remember how excited she was when she realized she was going to state and then when she became a state champion, she could hardly contain herself. She never boasted or bragged about her achievement, she only smiled and said ‘Thank you’ when people would comment on her success.

“Being a state champ was about more than gold medals for Rachel,” Ashley continues, “It was a well-needed self-esteem boost. Rachel had been looking for a way to leave her mark on Osage High School and now her picture and plaque will remain in the trophy case for all to see. We are incredibly proud of Rachel.”

Rachel is deeply committed to helping others as well. She babysits twice a week for nine-year-old Ryan, who is also in a wheelchair. “I want to be able to help him learn to be more independent, so he can do more things on his own,” she explains.

After graduation, Rachel plans to attend La James College of Cosmetology in Mason City, Iowa with her best friend, Rachel Kennedy and they dream of opening a salon together one day. To avoid confusion, Rachel Hardy is known as “Wheels” and Rachel Kennedy as “Rach.” Rach graduated from high school last year, but is waiting for Wheels to graduate before starting her training. She says, “That way I can be there with her to help if she needs it.”

Sometimes Rachel meets mobility challenges when on field trips and in sports, but she does not let that stop her. The La James School has some stairs, but Rachel is confident she will figure out a way to get to her classes.

Self-assurance and Rachel’s upbeat, positive personality are the obvious results of being accepted and encouraged by her peers, teachers and family to pursue her dreams. She says, “My parents are happy for me to be going out on my own, but like all parents, they are nervous about it. I am who I am today because of them and all the others I grew up around who have been so nice and helpful.”

Rachel’s advice to others who are in wheelchairs is, “Be more independent and follow your dreams. Even though you have a disability, you can do the same things as everyone else.”

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More coming soon!