PSU Ability athletics track program is represented in 2022-23 by RJ Shirey, a State College graduate and above-the-knee thrower sine coming to Penn State in 2018. Making senior nationals helps qualify our athletes for partial athletic scholarships. There are also opportunities for participants to go to other collegiate meets, Jr. Nationals meets and other Regional and National Paralympic events.
In the last 23 years here at Penn State, the Ability athlete program has focused on track and field, powerlifting, and swimming, but was once had a recreational program for Wheelchair basketball, cycling, and explored seated volleyball and sled hockey.
Track and field is now the main sport which is focused on with Shirey qualifying for Hartford Nationals in July of 2023.
Emily Frederick was the last Paralympic athlete to make the track and field team as a dwarf shot putter in 2016. Max Rohn also made the national Paralympic team in 2013 and was winner of the Invictus games in London in 2014 and 2016 in Orlando. Rohan Murphy made the National teams in powerlifting in 2006 and 2007. Kortney Clemons joined him in powerlifting in 2007 and then on track and field national sprint teams in 2009-2011. Jake Schrom began his powerlifting career here and made 2010 Worlds in Malaysia and went on after graduation to make teams in 2011-present. A special highlight was in 2007 Kortney Clemons, Maggie Redden and Rohan Murphy all three made the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. Sean Brame competed in swimming for four years.
Michelle Wheeler hopes to make the USA team in track and field this year for the Pan American in Lima, Peru. Leah Joslyn went to Regional and Jr. Nationals last year. We hope to continue to have the excellence of competition for our track and field athletes for this year as well as the many years with many other athletes in the past.
The Ability Track and Field team is made up of both student-athletes from Penn State, as well as adults in the area who are seeking the opportunity to compete. To be an athlete requires determination, dedication, and desire. The athletes train year round, and travel around the country to track meets, to compete in and qualify for championship meets such as Nationals, the Warrior Game, the World Wheelchair Games and the Paralympics. For more information about the team or for practice times contact Brenna O'Connor at bao10@psu.edu.
Important Notes and History for Penn State Ability Athletics:
The Christopher Reeve Foundation donated $5,000 to use toward the purchase of a van to transport our athletes and equipment around campus. The foundation also donated $5,000 towards starting a traveling wheelchair basketball team. In 2011, the Reeve Foundation helped Chris Swales with his bike ride across America thanks to a grant gift. Other donations include a $50,000 endowed scholarship for student athletes which was donated by Mimi and Mike McCloskey. Another endowed scholarship was established by Tony and Alberta Perrotta in 2007. We expect others to be adding to these endowed scholarships in the near future.
Former Ability Athletes Kortney Clemons and Maggie Redden both had lifetime bests at the 2007 Pan American trials. Kortney won the 100 meters in the National Championship but was chosen to represent the USA in powerlifting. Clemons was fourth in the World Championships for the long jump, seventh in the 200 meters, setting a new American record.
Maggie Redden got two silver medals in the 100 and 200 meters and 4th in the 400 meters in Rio.
Kortney Clemens made the World Track Team, held in New Zealand in 2011. Coach Jordan helped Maggie Redden qualify for the 2008 Paralympic games in Beijing, China. Additionally, Jeff Hantz, PSU alum and current attorney, competed in Athens, Greece in 2004 while Coach Jordan was the assistant coach of the US Team.
RJ Shirey has been the standard-bearer for the program since his freshman year (2019) and stayed active through the summer of 2023 when he graduated. Under former head coach Teri Jordan, Shirey won national championships in both the shot put an javelin.
RJ Shirey
-Lost his right leg in a hunting accident at age 15
-Won National Championships in 2019 under former head coach Teri Jordan
-Qualified for National Championships again (Hartford Nationals) in July of 2023
Kortney Clemons
-Hero and Iraq war veteran -2007 was one of two soldiers that represented veterans on President's Commision on Care for America's returning Wounded
-First soldier/person to drive Segway into Oval office Meet with Representative Dole and Secretary Donna Shalala to help improve benefits for veterans at White House this fall
-Featured as one of top seven persons in USA in 2007 on ABC
-Opened trading as honored guest on Wall street in June.
-Versus, CNN, BET TV, USA Today One of 10 athletes and only paralympic athlete chosen with other sports figures: Bo Knight, Jeff Gordon, Martina Navratilova, and Mariano Rivera
-Made Pan/Parapan American Games in Rio de Janerio, Brazil in summer of 2007 after lifting over 340 pounds to win national title for 165 pounders
-Won National track championships in 100 meters in Atlanta for both 2006 and 2007
-Represented USA in Paralympic World Cup May 7-13, 2007 at Manchester, England
-Finished 4th in the long jump, 7th in the 200m while setting the American record at the 2011 World Championships in New Zealand
Maggie Redden
-Two silver medals in Pan-American Games in 100 and 200 meter wheelchair racing competition
-She was also 4th in the 400 meters in August 2007
-She was an orphan adopted by a single mother. Maggie and Patricia Redden and Sister, Maria (also adopted and disabled), live in Jersey City, New Jersey. Maria -Plays wheelchair basketball.
-Miss New Jersey 2013 for Miss USA wheelchair
-Two semesters went on spring break to help with Orphanage in painting church in Mexico, her Senior and sophomore years
-Each year has been in involved in Thon and a morale leader
-Olympic Torch relay bearer for New York city in 2004
-Junior Pan American Games in 2005 4th in 800 meters
-Competed in Junior National Wheelchar Championships since she was 5 years old
-Certified scuba diver and ski instructor for disabled athletes
Max Rohn, Ed Bonfiglio and Curtis Markle all excelled in their individual sports, including track and field events and powerlifting. Max Rohn made the USA World team for shot put competing in France in July 2013 and in shot put and discus in London in the Invictus games in September 2014.