Quad Rugby/Story - Nineteen Athletes Named to 2007 U.S. Paralympics Wheelchair Rugby National Team

UNITED STATES QUAD RUGBY ASSOCIATION

Nineteen Athletes Named to 2007 U.S. Paralympics Wheelchair Rugby National Team

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-Nineteen athletes have been named to the 2007 U.S. Paralympics Wheelchair Rugby National Team following a weekend long selection camp held at the Lakeshore Foundation U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site. The roster includes all 12 athletes that won a gold medal at the 2006 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships, as well as seven new players.

The seven new athletes selected to the team include Paralympians Sam Gloor (San Diego, Calif.) and Eddie Crouch (Smyrna, Tenn.). Athletes selected to their first-ever U.S. national team include Chad Cohn (Tucson, Ariz.), Zachary Tapec (Sumner, Wash.), and Joel Wilmoth (Hueytown, Ala.). Also joining the U.S. team for 2007 are Nick Fonner (Homewood, Ill.) and Steve Kearley (Spring, Tex.).

Those athletes returning from the 2006 world championship team include Jason Regier (Denver, Colo.), Nick Springer (St. Petersburg, Fla./New York, New York), Seth McBride (Juneau, Alaska), Chance Sumner (Denver, Colo.), and Justin Patterson (Salinas, Calif.), as well as Paralympians Norm Lyduch (Austin, Tex.), Scott Hogsett (Phoenix, Ariz.), Will Groulx (Portland, Ore.), Bryan Kirkland (Leeds, Ala.), Andy Cohn (Tempe, Ariz.), Mark Zupan
(Austin, Tex.), and Steve Pate (Kalispell, Mont.).

"I was impressed with the energy, effort, and heart I saw from all of these guys this weekend," said U.S. Head Coach James Gumbert (Austin, Tex.). "Selecting a national team is never an easy decision, but now we have an
incredible group of 19 guys who we are going to work with throughout the year. In 2007 we'll be setting the foundation for achieving our ultimate goal of winning the gold medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing,
China."

2007 U.S. Paralympics Wheelchair Ruby National Team
*Andy Cohn Tempe, Ariz.
Chad Cohn Tucson, Ariz.
Eddie Crouch Smyrna, Tenn.
Nick Fonner Homewood, Ill.
Sam Gloor San Diego, Calif.
*Will Groulx Portland, Ore.
*Scott Hogsett Phoenix, Ariz.
Steve Kearly Spring, Tex.
*Bryan Kirkland Leeds, Ala.
*Norm Lyduch Austin, Tex.
*Seth McBride Juneau, Alaska
*Steve Pate Kalispell, Mont.
*Justin Patterson Salinas, Calif.
*Jason Regier Denver, Colo.
*Nick Springer St. Petersburg, Fla./New York, NY
*Chance Sumner Denver, Colo.
Zachary Tapec Sumner, Wash.
Joel Wilmoth Hueytown, Ala.
*Mark Zupan Austin, Tex.

*These athletes were members of the 2006 U.S. Paralympics Wheelchair Rugby National Team that won a gold medal at the World Wheelchair Rugby Championships.

Media inquires and requests can be sent to Susan Katz, Communications Coordinator at (205) 313-7434, (205) 381-0600 (cell), or susank@lakeshore.org.

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