Hi, my name is Ezra Linnan. I play a unique sport called underwater hockey and will be representing the United States internationally at the Age Group World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Originating in 1954 as a freediving exercise, underwater hockey is a below-the-surface team sport where players battle to push a puck into the opposing team's goal. It has pushed me past my boundaries as an athlete and as a person. While still relatively new, underwater hockey is played everywhere around the world, from the US to New Zealand to South Africa, and spreading rapidly.

Underwater hockey is the light of my life, leading me to lifelong friendships, everlasting memories, and otherworldly experiences. I look forward to each workout, practice, tournament, get-together, and every other event that has anything to do with underwater hockey because of the amazing culture and true joy I receive. I am proud to represent my country on a global scale this July.

The unfortunate reality with such a new sport is a lack of funding for athletes. All of the costs for this tournament fall back onto myself, a high school student trying to save up for college in the fall. Donations from this fundraiser will help pay for tournament fees, plane tickets, hotels, equipment, and other expenses. Any excess proceeds will go towards making underwater hockey known and accessible for all, so that more people can have the same experiences with it as I have.