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The Mountain

@alexonwheels67

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Florida's Tallest Engage Pickleball Sponsored Athlete. Enjoying life in my 50's. Looking forward to my Retirement living abroad!

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What does it really mean to "stand tall?"

For our friend Alexander "The Mountain" Puga, it has nothing to do with height and everything to do with resilience.

After surviving cancer and a spinal cord injury, Michael found a new passion through adaptive pickleball. Today, he's proving that a wheelchair doesn't define what's possible. It simply changes the way you get there.

One of our favorite takeaways from his recent interview:

"Standing tall means facing challenges head-on, helping others whenever possible, and refusing to quit when life becomes difficult."

At The Way Forward Foundation, we believe that's what moving forward looks like.

Thank you to The Pickleball Weekly for sharing Michael's inspiring story and for helping shine a light on the adaptive sports community. We encourage everyone to give it a read.

Keep moving forward. Never give up.
📷: @the.pickleball.weekly

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𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲?

For adaptive pickleball athlete @alexonwheels67 the answer was not to give up, but to pivot.

In this week’s feature, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻’𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗸: 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗴𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 we share the inspiring story of resilience, determination, and finding purpose through sport. It’s a reminder that our greatest victories aren’t always measured by medals or trophies, but by the courage to embrace life’s next chapter.

Alexander’s journey is one of perseverance, perspective, and the belief that every challenge can become a new beginning.

👉 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: ThePickleballWeekly.com.

#ThePickleballWeekly #AdaptiveAthlete #Pickleball #AdaptivePickleball #WheelchairPickleball

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The Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships brings together players from all walks of life, and every voice adds something to the week. A small glimpse of the personalities, passion and pride that show up on and off the court 🙌

#franklinusopen #pickleball #pickleballcommunity #usop2026

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TKE Founders Day Dinner with My TKE Fraternity Brothers, Their Friends, & Their Families.

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Athletes from yesterday's Quad 13 Pickleball Open wheelchair division going at it! 🎾

Swipe ➡️ to watch some clips!

#spinalcordinjuryawarenessmonth #quadriplegic #quad #13 #philippians4:13 #physicaltherapy #sci #therapy #pickleball #wheelchairpickleball #miami #fundraiser #foundation #nonprofit #athletes #sports

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This past week, I attended my first of many future US Open Pickleball Championships, playing in the wheelchair division 3.5 and below. I met so many great people. A huge thank you to Doris and Harry, who helped me on singles day to get my wheelchair on the concrete and carry my walker. The security was fantastic, and especially looked out for us disabled players and allowed us to park in actual disabled parking spaces. I look forward to working with my new sponsor, Engage Pickleball, and hopefully playing hybrid with my sponsor Josh in 2026.

I am thankful to all of the referees, volunteers, and all of the spectators for cheering us on. And just all of the people whom I met at the US Open who offered to help me in many different. I had such an amazing time seeing a few of my wheelchair tennis friends and meeting so many other wheelchair players that I didn't know.
A huge thanks to my doubles partner Steve Paskiewicz and to my hybrid partner Jessica Bosworth for making doubles and hybrid funner. Also meeting Zorano Tubo FROM NYC and Johnny Pickles from Philly.

It was also great meeting Chris and his partner from Pickleball Studio.

I am looking forward to next year and will try to bring a few more wheelchair pickleball athletes.

#Alexonwheels67
#Themountain
#teamengage
#engagepickleball
#USOPENWHEELCHAIRPICKLEBALL

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Yesterday was nothing short of a dream at the @miamiopen 🎾. While watching Djokovic and Dimitrov battle it out was unforgettable, the true highlight of my 2025 experience was witnessing the Wheelchair Tennis Invitational.

I had the absolute honor of watching the women’s final (Van Koot vs. Angelica Bernal) and the men’s final (Shingo Kunieda vs. Gustavo Fernandez)—and I am still at a loss for words. The athleticism. The speed. The precision. The heart.

As a physical therapist, I was in complete awe of their ability to generate such explosive power from a seated position, the finesse in their spins, and their lightning-fast side-to-side mobility on the court. It was like watching poetry in motion—gritty, graceful, and gut-wrenchingly inspiring.

Even more special was being able to witness it all alongside my friends @alexonwheels67 @wayforwardfoundation @woodychatter Sharing that energy and awe with them made the experience even more unforgettable.

‼️To the Miami Open: thank you for hosting this invitational. But I have to be honest—the sparse crowd was disheartening. These athletes deserve so much more visibility and celebration. We need more awareness, more support, and more voices uplifting adaptive sports.

PS: In the clip of me, the true highlight is the phenomenal woman serving behind me. That serve? That moment? That’s the magic I came for.

#PT #PhysicalTherapy #Reels #ReelsInstagram #Tennis #Wheelchair #WheelchairTennis #SCI #Amputee #Neuro #Sports #Athlete #Motivation #Growth #Community #Movement #Fit #Health #Wellness #Medicine #Spirit #Soul #Laughter #Happiness #Viral #Power #Greatness#MiamiOpen #AdaptiveSports #Inspiration

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Hello Everyone. Please share my eflyer with anyone that you know who may be in need of my services. Involved in a car accident? Call me today!

John Grullon aka Toki
1-800-NO-FAULT
Cell: 786-683-4523
Auto Accidents / Slip & Falls / Workman’s Compensation
I am not an attorney, & I do not provide legal advice.

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Pickleball Series: Adaptive Athletes Nirvana Project

Last year, I met @ruthp_figueroa the inspiring founder of @nirvana.project , during a 5K Veterans run with @gorunmiami . From the moment I learned about her foundation and witnessed her unwavering passion for empowering athletes, I was hooked. I promised Ruth we’d collaborate, but as 2024 swept in like a whirlwind, still, I held on to a dream—a vision of creating something meaningful before the year’s end.

This vision only came to life because of one crucial lesson from my incredible mentors: learning to delegate. With this in mind, I entrusted my talented students and the board members of the @neurosigmiami , @mercedes.gargiulo and @ike.and.ikes to help me turn this idea into reality. From ensuring doorways were accessible for wheelchairs with increased camber to organizing holiday-themed snacks, they left no detail untouched.

And what an event it was. Athletes of all functional levels participated with incredible adaptations—whether standing with braces, tapping the paddle, or seated with appropriate support. Their smiles were radiant, their laughter contagious, and their interactions with students, family, and fellow athletes were nothing short of magical. For one precious hour, pickleball became the only focus. No obstacles, no “I can’t do this”—only creative adaptations to ensure that everyone could play. In this game, “disability” simply didn’t exist.

Ruth, thank you for believing in this collaboration and bringing your athletes to life in such a powerful way. Mercedes and Ike, I couldn’t be prouder of how you orchestrated a seamless, safe, and joyous event. To the students who volunteered amidst practicals and finals, your dedication and enthusiasm are a testament to the impact we, as physical therapists, can make when we infuse therapy with creativity and connection.

#Reels #PhysicalTherapy #Atheltes #NirvanaProject #PT #Neuro #AdaptiveAthletes #Pickleball #NeuroSIG #PhysicalTherapy #NirvanaProject #Inclusion #Empowerment #Creativity #Fitness #Joy #Wellness #TheBestIsYetToCome

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Life is simple ..
AMAZING ....
We are here.
ENJOY IT...

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Such a great morning of tennis and fun on the courts! 🎾🦩

#flamingotenniscenter #canasracket #tenniscommunity #tennismorning

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Late Post! Thursday Night Wings & Beer with My TKE Fraternity Brothers!

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