Since the Hollister Free Wheelers’ inception 18 years ago, three players—Luis Garcia and brothers Chad and Shane Arzie—are still with the team today.
“I saw all these guys grow up, which is a nice experience for my wife (Susan) and I,” said Don Jones, who along with Susan coach and manage the day-to-day operations of the team. “It’s kind of neat seeing how these guys progressed and how the sport has helped take them out of their shell.”
The Free Wheelers play power soccer, a sport designed and developed specifically for power wheelchair users. All participants have some type of major physical disability that prevents them from playing able-bodied sports, and they also use power wheel chairs in their everyday lives.
The game is played indoors on a regulation-sized basketball court, and each team’s starting unit is comprised of three offensive players and one goalie. During a game, the objective is to maneuver the soccer ball with the aid of a guard placed in front of the wheelchair through dribbling and passing skills.
Like able-bodied soccer, the game incorporates a wide open passing style and uses corner, penalty and goal kicks. The fouls and penalties that are enforced in power soccer are also similar to the able-bodied game and also feature red and yellow cards.
The Free Wheelers play their final two home games at Maze Middle School on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., respectively. After that, Hollister heads to Indiana to play in the Conference Cup Championships on July 17-19.
The Free Wheelers enter Saturday’s games with a 3-11-4 record; however, Jones said team camaraderie trumps winning.
“We’re undermanned, but we’re having a good time,” he said.
Due to costs, the Free Wheelers are taking just five of their eight-player roster to Indiana; fortunately, teams only need four players to play a match.
“Everyone will have to play the full 40 minutes,” Jones said.
For Chad Arzie, 27, playing on the Free Wheelers has affected his life in a variety of ways.
“(Being able to play power soccer is) very important,” Arzie said in a text message. “(It) gives me something to do on weekends besides truck pulling. Truck pulling keeps me going and keeps me mobile.”
Arzie counts power soccer and truck pulling as his two favorite hobbies. Arzie said he’s looking forward to playing with his friends in the Conference Cup. A 2006 San Benito High graduate, Arzie has developed a positive attitude when it comes to his physical challenges.
Garcia, 31, has cerebral palsy, while the Arzies have a progressive condition that developed when they were 6 to 8 years old. Chad lost his ability to walk without assistance—he can walk with a walker—four years ago.
Despite losing his ability to walk, Arzie maintains a positive attitude.
“I don’t have many challenges; I don’t let them bring me down,” he said. “I live life to the fullest.”
Garcia said the Free Wheelers are like a second family to him, and it’s impacted his life in a powerful way.
“It’s given me a lot of encouragement and something to look forward to with excitement,” Garcia said in an e-mail. “I am very proud and happy that I belong to this team. It is my everything. I love being with my teammates and enjoy seeing the rest of the players during competitions. I love the interaction and my coach keeps me going.”
Garcia said he receives tremendous support from his family, especially in tough times. His role model is his cousin, Frank. Garcia loves the competition of the games, and every Saturday can’t come soon enough.
“I can never sleep the night before (a game), and my parents make every effort to get me where I’m supposed to be,” he said.
Power soccer has proved to be an oasis for the original three players of the Free Wheelers, giving them a sense of purpose and hope when things seemed downright gloomy.
“Shane had some pretty bad health for a while there,” Jones said. “One of the things that got him through that situation was that power soccer was waiting for him once he got better.”
Garcia doesn’t let his physical disabilities define him; instead, he’s thankful for having a wonderful family, friends and the ability to play power soccer.
Eighteen years ago, Don and Susan Jones took an avid interest in looking at people with physical challenges as individuals.
So they formed the Hollister Free Wheelers, which has given individuals a chance to show they’re far from finished. That’s the power of sports and how they can give everyone a sense of purpose, no matter the circumstances.
“For most disabled people, they just want to fit in like anyone else,” Don Jones said. “The question that’s always in their head is, ‘How do I fit in?’ Our program strips away those barriers. This program gives them a safe and nurturing environment where everyone is treated the same and there aren’t any differences.”
