Pinellas Park, Fla. – What began as a modest effort to keep injured veterans active has blossomed into an internationally recognized adaptive‑sports hub right here in the Tampa Bay area. Founded in 2015 by Marine veteran Mike Delancey and his father, the Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch provides a dedicated space for wounded service members to stay active, build confidence and forge lasting friendships.
From combat injury to community impact
While serving with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines in Iraq in 2006, Delancey was critically wounded by a sniper’s bullet, losing the use of his legs after a six‑week coma. Rather than retreat from public life, he and his father opened the ranch to give fellow injured veterans a place to train and connect.
“I was trying to yell out ‘I’m hit,’ but nothing came out. My dad was in D.C. at the time and they kept saying to get ready to say goodbye,” Delancey recalled.
World‑class adaptive teams
Today the ranch’s adaptive gym is outfitted for wheelchair athletes and supports multiple sports. Its wheelchair rugby team, WWAR, holds the No. 1 world ranking, while its wheelchair basketball, handball and softball squads all rank in the Top 10 internationally.
Veterans share their stories
Active‑duty Army Ranger Master Sgt. Mike Haley, who suffered a spinal‑cord injury, says the program gave him a new competitive drive. “It wasn’t about returning to who I was before, but realizing you can embrace something new,” he said.
Athlete Linas Pagano, a wheelchair‑using survivor of polio from Lithuania, credits the ranch with giving his life new fulfillment: “We all have struggles and fight demons, and adaptive sports is one of the biggest highlights of my life today.”
One veteran told Delancey the program saved his marriage and his life, later earning a spot on Team USA after joining the rugby squad.
Looking ahead
Nearly two decades after his combat injury, Delancey views his paralysis as a catalyst for lasting community impact. “As we get older we wonder what kind of impact we’d have, and I’d never have made that kind of impact had I not gotten hurt… I pretty much go where the wind takes me, and it’s been a good ride,” he said.
Residents and veterans interested in joining or supporting the adaptive‑sports programs can learn more on the Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch website.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
