May 2, 2016
USA Wheelchair Rugby Rio Training Squad: Japan Para Championships Next
Photo: USA Wheelchair Rugby
Doug Coil
The article is based on USA Wheelchair Rugby article by Mandy Goff, May 1, 2016 with information on the Japan Para Championships added.
The USA Wheelchair Rugby team qualified for 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio last week with a gold medal win in Paris. Upon returning a team selection camp was held at the Lakeshore Foundation to choose the 2016 Paralympic Training Squad for Rio. The camp lasted four day and 35 athletes participated. Upon the conclusion of camp, 16 athletes were named to the training squad. They will be training together in preparation for the Paralympics.
0.5 Jason Regier, Centennial, CO
0.5 Jeff Butler, Austin, TX
1.0 Chad Cohn, Tucson, AZ
1.0 Lee Fredette, East Moriches, NY
1.5 Adam Scaturro, Lakewood, CO
2.0 Joe Delagrave, Prairie du Chien, WI
2.0 Nick Springer, Phoenix, AZ
2.0 Seth McBride, Portland, OR
2.0 Chuck Melton, Benton, KY
2.0 Eric Newby, Nashville, IL
2.5 Josh Wheeler, San Tan Valley, AZ
2.5 Alex Pabon, Newark, DE
3.0 Kory Puderbaugh, San Diego, CA
3.0 Chuck Aoki, Minneapolis, MN
3.5 Josh Brewer, Battleground, WA
3.5 Anthony McDaniel, Pascagoula-Gautier, MS
James Gumbert, USA Wheelchair Rugby Head Coach indicated that, “We feel that we have selected a group that will be the next standard for USA and we know that the expectations are high, but they are no higher than the expectations we put on ourselves.We have introduced a lot of youth to our team and it’s exciting to watch them, not only come in, but contribute to making the overall team a better squad.”
Jeff Underwood, President of Lakeshore Foundation added “First I want to thank each athlete for their incredible sacrifice, hard work, and commitment to their effort to represent the US in Rio this summer. I have watched all these guys work and they have not made the coaches decisions easy. With this pool of talent, the future of U.S. Paralympic wheelchair rugby is bright. To those athletes who have made the final cut, congratulations, good luck, and bring home the gold!”
The next event for the USA Wheelchair Rugby team is the Japan Para Championships May 14-24, 2016
2016 Japan Para Wheelchair Rugby Championships
Game Schedule
Thursday, May 19
9:30 Opening Ceremony
11:00 G-01 Japan vs Great Britain
13:00 G-02 USA vs Australia
BREAK “Come & Try” session
16:00 G-03 Australia vs Japan
18:00 G-04 Great Britain vs USA
Friday, May 20
10:00 G-05 Great Britain vs Australia
12:00 G-06 Japan vs USA
BREAK “Come & Try” session
15:00 G-07 USA vs Great Britain
17:00 G-08 Australia vs Japan
Saturday, May 21
10:00 G-09 Australia vs USA
12:00 G-10 Japan vs Great Britain
BREAK “Come & Try” session
15:00 G-11 USA vs Japan
17:00 G-12 Great Britain vs Australia
Sunday, May 22
10:30 G-13 Bronze Medal Game 3rd vs 4th
BREAK
13:00 G-14 Gold Medal Game 1st vs 2nd
15:00 Closing Ceremony
About USA Wheelchair Rugby
Wheelchair Rugby was invented in Canada in 1977. Originally known as “murderball” because of its intense physical nature, the sport’s name was changed to wheelchair rugby. By 1993 wheelchair rugby was officially recognized as a sport for athletes with disability and the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation was founded. In 1994 Wheelchair Rugby was recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as a Paralympic sport and made its Paralympic debut as a demonstration event in Atlanta in 1996. It became a medal sport in Sydney in 2000, where the United States won the gold medal. In 2013, USA Wheelchair Rugby partnered with USA Rugby in order to collaborate in the growth of Rugby in America.
Lakeshore Foundation, a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site in Birmingham, Alabama, serves as the High Performance Management Organization for USA Wheelchair Rugby under contract with the United States Olympic Committee. With a unique combination of activity, research and advocacy Lakeshore is a leader in their field. Learn more about USA Wheelchair Rugby and Lakeshore Foundation at www.lakeshore.org.
USA Wheelchair Rugby is proudly supported by Liberty Mutual Insurance. Liberty Mutual Insurance is the official property and casualty and life insurance partner of the U.S. Olympic Committee for the 2016 Olympic Games and 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The company also is the proud sponsor and partner of several national governing bodies, including ASA/USA Softball, U.S. Rowing, U.S. Soccer Federation, US Youth Soccer, USA Hockey, USA Volleyball, USA Water Polo and USA Wrestling.
