GLASA Athletes Recognized for Athletic Achievements

Despite being born with spina bifida, Melanie Watson and James Fuller still have a strong passion for athletics.

From a young age, sports have played a dominant role in both of their lives. In 2003, when she was just 8 years old, Watson competed in her first 5-kilometer race, the “Sprint for Spina Bifida.”

Later that year, she joined the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA) and competed in track and field and wheelchair basketball. Since joining GLASA, she has competed in the National Junior Disability Championship in both sports.  Watson’s future goal is to qualify for the Paralympics and compete in track and archery.

Fuller’s athletic career began when he was just 6 years old when he started to play T-ball. Since then he has gone on to excel in baseball, golf, and wheelchair basketball. Like Watson, Fuller is also a member of the GLASA wheelchair basketball team.

Fuller was also a two-sport athlete at Niles North High School where he played four years of golf and was the No. 1 pitcher on the baseball team. This past season, he posted a record of 4-5 with a 3.06 ERA and 35 strikeouts.

For more information on Watson, Fuller and GLASA, view the following links.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJiak2KW8g8

http://www.csnchicago.com/sportsnetChicago/search/v/57021224/james-fuller-overcomes-the-odds-on-the-diamond.htm?q=James+fuller