Article/Quad Rugby - Chunn churning up goals for USA

UNITED STATES QUAD RUGBY ASSOCIATION

Team USA

3.5 Joe Soares
3.0 Brad Updegrove
2.5 Mike Wyatt
2.0 Dave Gould
2.0 Cliff Chunn
1.5 Bill Renje
1.0 Dave Ceruti
0.5 Eddie Crouch

Chunn churning up goals for Americans

By Dennis McCafferty, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

At 17, Cliff Chunn is that rare Paralympian who is younger than disco music. Cliff Chunn, class 2.0 from the Tennessee Quad Crushers

And with his wiry build, he looks like he'd be better off on a tennis court than in the macho world of wheelchair rugby. In fact, he's ranked third nationally as a quadriplegic tennis player.

But as the U.S. team defended its world title with two wins Tuesday, Chunn showed why he's a rugby force as well. Against third-ranked New Zealand, he whipped his wheelchair from end to end on the indoor court, banging into would-be scorers like a destruction-bent kid on the Coney Island bumper cars.

And, oh yeah, he scored 13 goals in a dominating 47-26 win -- making him the leading scorer.

Chunn put on such an intense show he blew out a tire in the first quarter. He got a new one popped in and scored another goal.

Contrary to rugby's image as a beer-chugging beefy man's sport, the wheelchair version's stars often are guys who don't look like they're auditioning for a Hell's Angels flick.

Still, Chunn brings explosive quickness and a constant in-your-face defensive presence to the game. With both arms and legs disabled from a neurological disease, Chunn got interested in the sport three years ago.

Wheelchair rugby is an exhibition Paralympic sport, and all six teams have been seeded according to their finish at last year's World Championship. Besides the top-ranked United States, Canada and New Zealand are strong contenders.

In other games, the United States beat Sweden 37-16, the Canadians beat the Swedes 30-22, and the New Zealanders beat the Australians 39-23. Competition continues Wednesday.

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