Photos by Phillip Jeffery
July 23, 2025
Teen athlete dedicates performance to flood victims
By Jessica Nohealapa'ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Local athlete Matthew Jeffery recently returned as a National Champion in the Move United Hartford Nationals parasport competition. Held this year from July 12 - 17, in Grand Rapids, Mich., Jeffery dedicated his achievements to the families who were impacted by the floods throughout the Texas Hill Country.
This year marks the 16-year-old’s fifth competition. He earned National Champion U-17 S-8 in the Long Course Swim: 50 Meter Breaststroke, 100 Meter Breaststroke, and 50 Meter Butterfly; Short Course Swim: 50 Yard Breaststroke, 100 Yard Breaststroke, 50 Yard Butterfly, and 100 Yard Butterfly.
Jeffery earned silver medals in the F-45 Discus, Long Jump, and Javelin T-45 100 and 200 Meter; and he helped Team Texas bring home the gold medals in the Mixed 4x100 Meter Re
This year marks the 16-year-old’s fifth competition. He earned National Champion U-17 S-8 in the Long Course Swim: 50 Meter Breaststroke, 100 Meter Breaststroke, and 50 Meter Butterfly; Short Course Swim: 50 Yard Breaststroke, 100 Yard Breaststroke, 50 Yard Butterfly, and 100 Yard Butterfly.
Jeffery earned silver medals in the F-45 Discus, Long Jump, and Javelin T-45 100 and 200 Meter; and he helped Team Texas bring home the gold medals in the Mixed 4x100 Meter Re


