MERRICK, NY — A Merrick man competing in the first-ever FIH Para Hockey World Cup in Belgium scored a goal Friday while representing Team USA on the international stage and hoping to inspire other people with disabilities.
With the announcement of the inaugural FIH Para Hockey World Cup, 28-year-old Scott Adam Weisbrot could see his longtime dream of representing Team USA become a reality.
"I was speechless," Weisbrot said when he found out he had made the team in April.
The athlete traveled across the Atlantic to Belgium to achieve his international dream.
"I want to have more people like me play field hockey in the future for new generations of athletes," he said.
The Para Hockey World Cup will be a 6-a-side tournament played in both Belgium and the Netherlands.
Team USA opened on Aug. 20 at 4 a.m. EST against hosts Belgium. In Belgium, the games will run until Aug. 24, and the full schedule can be found on the USA Field Hockey website. The co-ed teams are made up of 10 adult athletes and five staff members, including coaches and managers.
Weisbrot has been playing field hockey for five years and said he was selected for the national team based on the skills he has demonstrated with the Long Island All Stars Field Hockey Club.
"I love the sport," Weisbrot said. "Field hockey is one of the best sports to play because it's a lot of moving."
Now in Belgium, Weisbrot said the experience has been terrific. In a video shared by his family, he celebrated his goal Friday with excitement.
For Weisbrot, his dreams are only getting brighter as he hopes to continue playing field hockey around the globe.
"Hopefully one day USA field hockey will be a popular sport for boys, girls, and athletes with disabilities to get the opportunity to bring the sport for everyone," Weisbrot said.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Merrick Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.