UNITED STATES QUAD RUGBY ASSOCIATION

October, 2005

2005 World Wheelchair & Amputee Games
By Seth McBride

8 hours to Miami, 7 hour layover, 9 hours to Rio. A full day after many of us had started traveling the US delegation landed in Brazil. We consisted of a whopping 19 athletes, including the sixteen members of the dual US rugby squad, two power chair track stars, and shooter Bob the cross-eyed rifleman. In the baggage claim area of the Rio de Janeiro International Airport shifty looking baggage handlers wander around with calculators in hand and wads of money in their pockets. These amateur money lenders haggle over exchange rates when they're not throwing luggage; however shady, these guys will give you about 40 cents on the dollar better than any of the official stands. Outside, one of the only lift buses in the country rumbles to life. Behind it sits another bus with a freshly painted, obscenely steep, and structurally questionable plywood ramp leading up to the door. They jam in another piece of plywood to bridge the gap between the ramp platform and the interior of the bus. This is our bus. They push us up the ramp one by one and squeeze us through the doors, down the aisle, and 30 minutes later we're a happy sardine family bouncing down the road to Copacabana.

All of the hotels and venues for the World Wheelchair Games are equipped with these sketchy white ramps, except one. The opening ceremonies are at a large outdoors track stadium. Outside athletes from all over the world are milling around; Chinese, Iranian, Sri Lankan, you name the place, they're probably flopping around there somewhere.

Not us. We're sitting on the bus wondering how the off we're going to get off without a f-ing ramp. Gumbie's a little pissed. Dennis, the Wheelchair Sports USA honcho, is outside yelling at Brazilian volunteers in English, wondering why they hell they don't understand him. Needless to say, he's not making much progress. After two and a half hours sitting in a bus sauna with 18 quads, no food, and the world watching, a ramp suddenly materializes and we are freed. This lesson makes dealing with the rest of the Brazilian organizing genius relatively simple, wait around long enough and something's bound to happen.

After five days in Brazil, the waiting is over; we finally get to play some Rugby. Gumbie's happy. Big Daddy's sweating. Dirty Jim, Nurse Jane, and Kelly are running around filling up water bottles, emptying pee bottles, and soaking towels in ice water (Brazilians apparently don't believe in fans). USA Stripes is getting ready to play Canada. Everybody's a little nervous when the game first starts. Chance Sumner, Justin Patterson, Nick Springer, and Jason Regier round out a balanced line. About 3 minutes into the first quarter they force Canada into the game's first turn-over and the bench and the sidelines go wild. From here it’s all down hill for Canada, they play strong for the first quarter and a half, but the Stripes are able to wear down Whitehead and Say with their depth and Canada doesn’t have the bench to respond. In the second half the Stripes continue to build their lead, forcing bad passes and rushed plays. They make a few unforced turnovers and nervous plays but Canada is never able to capitalize. When it’s all said and done the Stripes give Canada a solid nine-point defeat. Gumbie says we should have won by 20. In the other morning game the Stars played South Africa, who gave a terrifying pre-game show, a la New Zealand, unfortunately that’s where the similarities ended and they proceeded to get whomped by 24 points.

That afternoon the big game is an inter-USA match-up, a game we all hope will be a preview of the Gold Medal game. The Stripes were able to jump out early and use their speed to force a few important turnovers against the Stars starting line of R.J. Bunnel, Dave Jenkins, Brad Schrammel, and Nick Fonner. In the second half the goals went back and forth but the Stars were never able to rally, and the game ended with the Stripes on top by five.

Thursday’s big game saw USA Stars facing off against a Canada squad still smarting from their loss to the Stripes. Canada came out with a fury and forced a few turnovers, opening up an early lead against the Stars. By half time they had stretched the lead to three or four goals. In the second half Canada played the possession game, using the clock and dropping back into the key. This kept Canada’s big gun’s fresh and the Stars were never able to rally back, the game ended with Canada holding on to a 35-29 win. In other games on Thursday the Stripes cruised to easy victories against South Africa and a mostly Paraplegic Brazilian line, setting up a semi-final against South Africa on Saturday morning. The Stars also easily beat Brazil to force a Saturday morning rematch against Canada.

Saturday morning saw the Stripes facing off first against South Africa. Much like the previous match, South Africa was not able to counter the Stripes attack. Using their speed and depth the Stripes cruised to an easy victory, and a spot in the Gold Medal game. In the second semi-final, the Stars came out strong trying to avenge their previous loss. A starting line of Pat O’Connor, Willard Brooks, Dave Jenkins, and Mike Deyoung gave the Stars the experience and balance they needed. The game was back and forth for much of the first half, with the Stars forcing a couple of turnovers in the second quarter, putting Canada on the defense. In the second half Canada was forced to try and run against the Stars and the difference was apparent. Canada’s starting line wore down and they were forced to sub, allowing the Stars to capitalize and open up a lead from which Canada wouldn’t be able to recover. In the fourth quarter the Stars used their depth and experience to frustrate Canada and roll to a satisfying victory, setting up an all USA Gold Medal game!

At this point everything else is just icing on the cake. Outside eating lunch before the game, everybody is smiling. We’ve done what we came here to do. Gumbie’s happy. No matter what happens now the USA is going home with the Gold and the Silver. Before the championship game, the two USA squads warm up together, it’s been one team all along, just a scrimmage now. In the first half the game stays tight, back and forth, as everybody gives everything they’ve got. The first half ends with the Stripes up by two. Early in the third quarter the Stripes stretch the lead to three or four, but the Stars rally at the end of the period to make it a two-point game. In the fourth the Stripes score quickly to bring it back to a three point lead and then drop back into the key. The Stars have a hard time scoring against the key and are unable to get any defensive turnovers. The game ends with the Stripes holding on to a three-point victory. Gold and Silver, beating Canada, Saturday was a good day. That night we celebrate, we fall out of our chairs, and we think about New Zealand.

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