Article/Quad Rugby - Sharp Shadow looks to repeat in 96-97

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Shadow Looks to Repeat in 96-97

From Quad Rugby Today

The only thing Shadow wants to repeat about the 95-96 season is the ending. This year they hope to win some or all of the major tournaments (Best of the West, Top End, Warm Springs, and Middle Tennessee) as well as the National Championship. Tampa has had four shots at repeating but have only done it once. Shadow will try to match last years National tournament win to become only the second repeat winner and the third two time National Champion. Shadow's lineup reads like a who's who of Southern California Rugby. They also hired Reggie Richner, who formerly coached Quadzilla from 1991-1996. The Paralympic assistant coach was canned by his former squad, a move that this publication is still trying to figure out. Quadzilla's self inflicted loss should be Shadow's gain. His big game experience should fill the void left by the retiring Gorden McGuirk.

Tampa will be on a mission to avenge their National Tourney loss to Shadow. They will probably run two teams due to an influx of players that joined their program for the upcoming season. New Zealand's Geremy Tinker and a returning Dan Casady will replace class 2.0, Darren Ransome. High pointer Vi Vorasane returns to Tampa after graduating from Wright State where he played three years of Rugby. The low point additions would allow Tampa to enter a ones tournament without outside players. Headlining the cast are Paralympian transplants Dave Ceruti (1.0) and Bill Renje (1.5). Also in camp are 1.0 Norm Lyduch, U of I and 0.5 Peter Schriener from Germany.

Tennessee hopes to utilize the emerging Paralympic star Cliff Chunn. His defensive prowess should earn him much more playing time and keep class 3.0's Moore and Romero fresh. They beat Tampa and Shadow once each early last year.

Houston's Brad Updegrove questionably moved to a 0.5 forcing them to hunt for a 0.5. They found a good one in Kevin Griffs of New Zealand. His headsy play and large build will keep the Hurricanes in the hunt for top four finishes. Casa Colina hopes to challenge the Canes new lineup but will be challenged themselves by Chicago who picked up Shawn Merideth from the collapsed University of Illinois team. Chicago will have to travel to some top flight tournaments if they hope to improve on their 7th place finish last season.

Alabama hopes to contend again this year with the improving twin towers (Bryan Kirkland and Willard Brooks) along with set up player Tommy Sullivan. They also have some depth at the 2.5 class with Kevin Whalen and Tommy Greenbaulgh.

The Boston Pitbulls will be a little more docile this season without standout class one Dan Daggett and (2.0) Harley Freedman. Lack of a strong competition schedule won't help them either. Look for New York to rule in the Northeast but they may run into trouble in the Eastern Sectional with Atlanta revamping. They have a team record number of players practicing under new head coach Wendy Gumbert (formerly Wolfe). As mentioned earlier, Tampa looks to field two teams for the third time in history. The last time they did, they placed both teams in the top four at the 94 Nationals in Boston. This year's squad could be even better with the addition of Wright State standout Vi Vorasane and a surplus of top low pointers. Although it is not clear as to how their squads will be divided, you can be certain that they will be competitive.

Heading out to the Northwest,- you'll likely see Oregon battling a fading Quadzilla squad for a trip to Nationals. Colorado hopes to return to Nationals after getting bumped out by Alabama and San Antonio. San Antonio might not roster a team after fostering two teams just two years ago.

In the Southwest Region, the Long Beach Land Sharks look to be the third best team after the Bushwhackers of San Deigo lost a starting 2.5 player. In the North Central, look for Tennessee and Chicago to dominate while one of the Minnesota teams might have to take on a team transferring into their region for a ticket to the Nationals in Spokane Washington come April. Yes that's a long way off.

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