Athlete Spotlight: Derek Holcomb and DJ Vanderwerf
July 21, 2025 / pwsadmin / Comments Off on Athlete Spotlight: Derek Holcomb and DJ Vanderwerf
Derek lost his right leg below the knee in 2013 as a result of trauma. Sport and physical activity have always been part of Derek’s identity, and he refused to accept limitations or entertain excuses as a result of wearing a prosthesis. In late 2019, he applied to Amputee Blade Runners and received his first leg in the spring of 2020. He quickly put it to good use by running his fastest 5K time and hitting the hiking trails! Derek’s passion for baseball has always been strong, but he feels more confident on the basepaths and in the field with his ABR leg. He has been a long time member of the LS Warriors, a nationally sponsored and extremely competitive amputee baseball team that consists of U.S. Military Veterans, Active Duty personnel, Wounded Warriors and current and former amputee college baseball players. In June of this year, Derek made a return trip to ABR to be fit for a new leg. This time around, we got to put a special twist on it. DJ Vanderwerf, one of ABR’s original athletes, has been working closely with us during his prosthetic residency. He also happens to be one of Derek’s teammates on the Warriors baseball team! ABR believes not just in providing equipment to athletes with lower extremity amputations, but fostering community connections like these!
