Rep. Fishbein Recognizes Gaylord’s Adaptive Athlete of the Year, Runs Annual Race
Before the sky opened up and added yet another wet obstacle to the annual Gaylord Gauntlet, State Representative Craig Fishbein presented an official state citation to this year’s featured adaptive athlete, Natalie Matarazzo. Following the brief ceremony recognizing her dedication and strength from the Wallingford Legislative Delegation, Matarazzo, who was injured in an automobile crash, asked Rep. Fishbein for a few tips only minutes prior to the start. Both athletes were preparing to face mud, fire and wild, pouring rain on the Gauntlet course. The course, according to the website is, “a blend of wooden trail and open field running with 24 natural and manmade obstacles.”
What is the Gaylord Gauntlet
Held entirely on the Gaylord Hospital campus which features 400 acres of land in a rural Wallingford setting. It is a blend of wooded trail and open field running with natural and man-made obstacles. Mud will be used sparingly, but upper body strength will be featured in some obstacles including a rock wall climb and vine swings.
Gaylord Sports Association
Gaylord Sports Association provides adaptive sports for individuals with physical and visual disabilities, including wounded veterans. The Sports Association offers 15 different sports and is Connecticut’s largest adaptive sports program. Participants enjoy activities that are provided to them at low or no cost, such as golf, snow skiing, adaptive cycling, archery, water skiing, and adaptive rock climbing, or team sports such as wheelchair rugby, tennis, and sled hockey.