INDIANAPOLIS — Two years ago, doctors warned he might never play sports again.
This year, he began training for the 2007 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, and came in fourth in the wheelchair division with a time of 59 minutes 6 seconds, a personal best.
Josh Swoverland, a freshman at Avon High School, stood out among his competition in the 13.1-mile race, earning the Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Celebrating Life Award for the challenges he faced and overcame.
Each year, three race participants earn the award for beating the odds and overcoming life’s challenges.
Swoverland, 15, was born with a narrow spinal cord and scolliosis, meaning he can’t walk. That did little to hold him back as he went on to participate in racing, basketball, swimming, and water-skiing.
Two years ago, his prognosis became even worse when he underwent extensive back surgery in the spring of 2005.
Mark Seitz, who works with Swoverland’s father Mark Swoverland at Eli Lilly, nominated Josh for the award. The Carmel resident ran in this year’s race. In his nomination form, he remembered Swoverland’s prognosis two years ago.
“Doctors warned that Josh would never be able to compete again in the sporting events that he loved so much ... no basketball, no wheelchair racing,” Seitz said.
After months at home, unable to use his wheelchair or attend school, Swoverland began to regain his strength. His mother, Judie, quit her job to be by his side, and by March 2006 he was shooting hoops with younger brother Nathan, 12, in his driveway. He rejoined his wheelchair basketball team, the Fort Wayne Flyers, starting as a freshman.
Each winner of the Celebrating Life award gets the opportunity to donate $5,000 to a charity. Swoverland chose an organization that has supported his athletic efforts, Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Sports Program.
Grandparents Ron and Joy Ebard stood at the finish line waiting for Swoverland. Ron Ebard said his grandson exhibits phenomenal basketball talent, and thinks he will one day earn a basketball scholarship.
“A lot of kids in his situation would crawl up on the couch and play video games all day,” he said while watching his grandson down water and eat a cookie to recuperate from the race.
This wasn’t Swoverland’s first 500 mini-marathon. He competed at 10 years old in 2001 as one of the race’s youngest competitors finishing in 1:17. At 11 years old, he came in at 1:15, and at 12, he finished in 1:06.
He said the race taxes his back and shoulders the most. After finishing this year, he said he was exhausted and planned to sleep the rest of the afternoon, but Judie Swoverland said her son recovered quickly and was shooting baskets in the driveway the next afternoon.
The race exhausted him mentally as well. Unlike previous races, Swoverland said he didn’t have fellow wheelchair racers by his side, and he came in well before the first runner crossed the line at 1:04. He said that made the race more difficult.
“There’s nobody to push you to go faster,” he said.
He joined the AHS track team this year, something he said might have helped him cut his time. He competes alongside his able-bodied classmates, but not against them. He races in the 800, 1600, and 3200-meter events, striving to beat his own best times.
After he finished, Swoverland and his family waited for the man who nominated him to finish his race. Seitz found the Swoverlands and talked about the role Josh Swoverland played in his race.
“When I’m running and I’m debating whether this is a lot of fun or a lot of work, I think of him and it keeps me going,” Seitz said. “He’s an inspiration.”
kristine.brite@flyergroup.com
Local News
Related Photos
-
Swoverland (left) chats with fellow mini-marathon participant Mark Seitz, who nominated him for the Indianapolis 500 Festival Celebrating Life Award. Kristine Brite/Flyer photos
-
Avon resident Josh Swoverland (center) gets ready to take off at the starting line of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. Kristine Brite/Flyer photos
-
Swoverland nears the finish line en route to his personal best mini-marathon time of 59 minutes 6 seconds. Kristine Brite/Flyer photos
AHS frosh inspires with mini-marathon participation
Celebrating Life
- Local News
-
-
Plainfield man arrested in band theft
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department detectives and officers with the Southwest Neighborhood Resource Office collaborated in arresting 28-year-old Timothy Pepper of Plainfield in connection with a musical equipment heist from a rock band’s trailer.
-
Beacon of Hope prepares for annual jazz event
The Beacon of Hope Center for Women’s fourth annual winter fundraiser will move to The Murat Shrine Center this year. The theme for the event is “Evening of Hope & All That Jazz.”
-
Civic Theatre presents 'classic farce'
Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre continues its inaugural season at the Center for the Performing Arts with the audience and actor favorite comedy by Ken Ludwig, "Lend Me A Tenor," Feb. 10-25 at the Tarkington, 3 Center Green, Carmel.
-
Beef & Boards to have auditions for young performers
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre will host auditions for young performers in March.
-
Myers opens 2012 season with 'I Do! I Do!'
Myers Dinner Theatre announces the first show in their 2012 season, "I Do! I Do!" opens Feb. 8.
-
Bratwurst voted best Super 46 Sandwich
The Schnitzelbank Restaurant's Bratwurst is the winner of the Super 46 Sandwich competition. The restaurant, located in Jasper, garnered 63 percent of the vote for its brat in the final round over the Mile High Club from Rock Cola 50s Cafe in Indianapolis.
-
Man found shot dead in west side home
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers are working the apparent homicide of 20-year-old Derik Tanner, found shot to death in a residence along the 1600 block of N. Livingston Ave.
-
Indianapolis gets rave Super Bowl reviews
The early reviews are in for the city’s first Super Bowl and they are through the roof.
Mayor Greg Ballard was at the Indianapolis International Airport Monday morning to thank the many travelers who visited Indianapolis.
-
Habitat builds on Super Bowl hoopla
CAMBY — More than 80 volunteers participated in the Habitat for Humanity Super Build Event last Friday where walls for two homes were built.
-
Indy hosts world's biggest football party
A wild and record-setting Super Bowl week was capped Sunday with the New York Giants winning their fourth title game. But the host city of Indianapolis was a winner as well.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Murder Trial for Ex-U.Va. Lacrosse Player Begins
NY Giants Touch Down Victorious
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Few Answers in Death of Sons of Missing Utah Mom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
Blast Kills Husband of Missing Utah Mom, 2 Boys
Obama: US, Israel Will Work Against Iran Nukes
Romney Picks Up Decisive Win in Nevada Caucuses
