Inside Top End Sports
Since its founding in 1986, Top End has stood as a beacon of innovation and excellence in the realm of adaptive sports equipment. With a steadfast commitment to empowering athletes, we've fostered a legacy of support and achievement that spans the globe. From seasoned competitors to budding enthusiasts, Top End has been there every step of the way, witnessing triumphs on countless podiums worldwide.
At Top End, our mission is clear: to redefine the landscape of adaptive sports by making it more accessible, enjoyable, and fiercely competitive for all. We believe in breaking down barriers, both physical and mental, to ensure that every individual, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to pursue their passions to the fullest. With our cutting-edge equipment and unwavering dedication, we're not just shaping athletes; we're shaping futures. Join us as we continue to push the boundaries of possibility and inspire a new generation of champions.
Congratulations to Team USA for winning GOLD in Paris!
Meet our Top End Athletes
Paul Schulte: A Paralympic Champion’s Journey of Resilience and Triumph
Paul Schulte’s journey began in Manchester, Michigan, where he grew up with a passion for
sports. However, his life took a sudden turn in 1989, when, at just 10 years old, a car accident
left him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite this life-altering event, Paul’s love for sports
remained unwavering.
At the age of 14, Paul was introduced to wheelchair basketball, a sport that would redefine his
life. Throughout high school, he excelled as a member of the Grand Rapids Junior Pacers in
the Varsity Division, helping his team secure two Varsity Division National Championships.
In his senior year, Paul was honored as the National Most Valuable Player (MVP). In 1997, his
athletic prowess earned him a full athletic scholarship to the University of Texas at
Arlington (UTA).
During his freshman year at UTA, Paul’s talent earned him an invitation to try out for the U.S.
Men’s Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball Team. He made the team, launching a remarkable
international career. Paul went on to represent the U.S. in three Paralympic Games,
competing in Sydney (2000), Beijing (2008), and London (2012). He became a two-time
world champion, clinching gold at the 1998 Sydney and 2002 Kitakyushu, Japan World
Championships, where he was also named MVP. Paul’s senior year saw him lead UTA to the
Intercollegiate Championship, where he earned MVP, Academic All-American, and
Sportsmanship awards. His legacy at UTA was cemented when the university retired his #20
jersey.
Over the years, Paul achieved incredible success, becoming a five-time National Champion in
the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA). He was also named MVP of the
Championship Division three times. His excellence earned him nominations for both the ESPY
and Laureus Awards for Best Male Athlete with a Disability. Paul’s extraordinary
accomplishments also led to three invitations to the White House, where he had the honor of
meeting Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and most recently, President Joe
Biden.
After retiring from competitive play, Paul transitioned into broadcasting, serving as a color
commentator for NBC Sports during the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Outside of his athletic career, Paul pursued academic success, graduating with a degree in
Mechanical Engineering. Today, Paul is the President of Top End Sports LLC, a
manufacturer of adaptive sports equipment based in Pinellas Park, Florida.
In his personal life, Paul married his high school sweetheart, Meghan Greenwald (Schulte), in
2000. The couple has a 14-year-old son named Brady.
In 2024, Paul added to his incredible legacy by coming out of retirement to compete with Team
USA in his fourth Paralympic Games in Paris, France, where he won a gold medal in wheelchair basketball. This monumental victory further solidified his status as one of the sport’s
greatest athletes.
Career Accomplishments
• 4-time U.S. Paralympian: 2000 Sydney, 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, 2024 Paris
• Gold Medalist, 2024 Paris Paralympic Games
• Gold Medalist, IWBF World Championships: 1998 Sydney, 2002 Kitakyushu, Japan
• MVP, IWBF World Championships: 2002 Kitakyushu, Japan
• Silver Medalist, IWBF World Championships: 2006 Amsterdam, 2014 South Korea
• Bronze Medalist, Paralympic Games: 2000 Sydney, 2012 London | IWBF World
Championships: 2010 Birmingham, UK
• 5-time National Champion, NWBA Championship Division
• 3-time MVP, NWBA Championship Division
• National Champion, NWBA Intercollegiate Championships: 2002
• MVP, Sportsmanship & Academic All-American Awards, NWBA Intercollegiate National
Championship: 2002
• National Champion, NWBA Varsity Junior Division: 1995, 1997
• MVP, NWBA Varsity Junior National Championships
• Retired Jersey #20, University of Texas at Arlington
• NBC Sports Paralympic Analyst/Commentator: 2016 Rio de Janeiro, 2020 Tokyo
• Director, The Paul Schulte Foundation 503(c)(3): 2007-Present
• Hall of Fame, National Wheelchair Basketball Association
• Hall of Fame, Michigan Wheelchair Sports Association
• ESPY Award Nominee: 2002 Los Angeles
• Laureus Award Nominee: 2002 Monaco
Jeremy "Opie" Lade: 2024 Update on His Wheelchair Basketball Legacy
Jeremy "Opie" Lade continues to be a significant figure in the world of wheelchair basketball as of 2024. A renowned Paralympic athlete and respected coach, Jeremy's contributions to adaptive sports, particularly wheelchair basketball, have left a lasting impact.
Early Life and Introduction to Wheelchair Basketball
Hailing from Oconto, Wisconsin, Jeremy's life took a pivotal turn at the age of 8 when he was injured in a car accident. His journey into wheelchair basketball began when he attended his first sports camp at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at the age of 13. This early exposure laid the foundation for what would become a distinguished career in the sport.
Athletic Career Highlights
USA Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball Team 2001 – Present
Jeremy "Opie" Lade has achieved numerous accolades over his athletic career:
● Parapan American Games Gold Medals: 2007, 2011
● IWBF World Champion: 2002
● Paralympic Bronze Medalist: London, 2012
● Paralympic Competitor: Beijing 2008, Athens 2004
His contributions to Team USA’s wheelchair basketball legacy remain an integral part of the sport’s history. Jeremy’s leadership as a player helped elevate the team to success in various international tournaments, and he served as a Team Captain during his tenure.
Coaching Career at UW-Whitewater
As of 2024, Jeremy continues to serve as the head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's wheelchair basketball team, a position he has held for several years. His coaching record is nothing short of outstanding:
● National Championships as Head Coach: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016
● Ongoing Success: Continued dominance in collegiate wheelchair basketball through 2024
Under Jeremy’s leadership, the UW-Whitewater program has become a training ground for future Paralympians and national team players. His commitment to excellence has ensured a pipeline of talent that continues to compete at the highest levels, both nationally and internationally.
Daniel Romanchuk is a 25-year-old native of Mount Airy, MD.
He got started in adaptive sports at the age of 2 with the Bennett Blazers and played a number of sports before focusing on wheelchair racing around the age of 16, when he moved to Champaign, IL, to train with the University of Illinois Wheelchair Racing Team. He still lives and trains there today.
He first competed for Team USA on the track at the 2015 Para PanAm Games and the 2016 Rio Paralympics, going on to break the World Record in the 800m and 5000m multiple times between 2018 and 2021. Daniel became the youngest person ever to win an Abbott World Marathon Major in Chicago in 2018 and went on to win the New York City, Boston, and London Marathons, most of them multiple times. At the Tokyo 202 Paralympic Games, he became the first American in over 30 years to win a medal in the men’s T54 category, bringing home the gold in the 400m and the bronze in the marathon.
A Top End-sponsored athlete since 2018, Daniel can often be found down in Florida, testing new equipment and providing feedback to the design teams with the goal of creating high performing yet affordable equipment. Along with other racers such as Krige Schabort, he has also produced several online videos about wheelchair racing equipment and makes appearances at clinics around the country to help new wheelchair racers learn the sport. Most recently, he and his mom founded Wheels for Change, Inc., a nonprofit focused on supporting wheelchair racing at the grassroots level, both here in the US as well as abroad.
▪ Collegiate All-American
▪ 2023 World Champion
▪ 2023 ParaPan Games champion
▪ National Team member for Paris 2024
▪ 2017 U23 National Team member
Jeromie Meyer was injured when he was 9 riding his bicycle. Found wheelchair basketball when he was in rehab. He's been playing basketball for 18 years. His passion and dedication in wheelchair basketball has provided him with an opportunity to compete for Team USA and be a role model to the next generation of adaptive athletes.
Stephen Zuravel currently serves as an Engineer at Top End Sports and competes in handcycling.
In 2009, Stephen was involved in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in a C7 spinal cord injury.
In 2010, he returned to school and began handcycling, completing his first marathon in the fall.
In years following, Stephen graduated from the University of Akron with a Mechanical Engineering degree and continued to become involved in adaptive sports. Through sport and relationships with peers, he became independent and moved to Florida in 2016 to work full time at Top End Sports.
He is now continuing his professional and athletic development with goals of making sport more accessible and achieving high levels of athletic performance.
Ken Bestine
Cycling has been a key element of my life since high school.
An accident 22 years ago closed one door and opened another for me.
Handcycling filled a void created by paralysis. Always looking for better fit and equipment to improve the handcycling experience. I found myself in a role of helping others achieve their goals as well.
One of my first handcycling experiences was participating in Saddles Ultra Challenge.
A week long race held in Alaska that brought the best participants from all over the world.
The event had a positive effect on me. It led me to hosting a similar event in Western NY with a
non-competitive twist that kept riders together in a pack for approximately 50 miles per day for a week.
Recognizing a need for a platform to promote handcycling events and racers that participate in the U.S. I developed a website USA Hand Bike Circuit.
