Quad Rugby/Story - Cliff Chunn's Hall of Fame Induction Speech

UNITED STATES QUAD RUGBY ASSOCIATION

April 2007

Cliff Chunn's USQRA Hall of Fame Induction Speech
Given April 20, 2007 in Louisville, Kentucky

I would like to recognize some people who were very instrumental to my success. First, I would like to thank a couple of teammates, Wayne Romero and Eddie Crouch. I am certain that I would not have enjoyed the same success, both on and off the rugby court, without both of you being the friends, mentors, and teammates that you were. I always believed that we could make something special happen every time we stepped on the court.

The two people that got me started in wheelchair sports and took me under their wings were Mike Sells, who taught me to practice the right way, and Doyle Mann, who gave me the best advice I have ever received by telling me that I need to find out who Cliff is as the person, and not just Cliff the athlete/rugby player. He made me aware of being a well rounded person.

I would also like to thank the Tennessee QuadCrushers, who gave me the foundation of my work ethic. We endured some of the hardest practices I have ever been apart of.

Also, a teammate on the QuadCrushers, Lee Moore, who has been a very good friend to me over the years. His play and fire on the court taught me to play with heart and determination.

I would like to thank Terry Vineyard who took a chance on a 16 year old kid succeeding on the 1996 Paralympic team. I learned more from him about strategy of the game in the six months playing for him than I have in my whole career.

My Mom has been a huge influence on my life. She supported me from the very beginning and always treated me as a regular athlete and not a disabled athlete. She taught me how to mentally prepare for competition, as well as to physically condition from her experiences training for the Olympic Games.

I would like to thank my Dad and his wife, Cheryl, as well as my brother, Justin, and my uncle, Ray Fordyce, for supporting me and traveling to my competitions over the years.

Many thanks go to The Lakeshore Foundation, which I believe is a very special place, and for the great run we had at the National Championships for several years. They were the most fun team I have ever been a part of.

I would also like to thank Eagle Sportschairs for the support of wheelchair rugby they have given over the years and helping to push-the-envelope in wheelchair design.

Lastly, thank you, especially goes to the people that voted for me. It is a great honor to be recognized by the greatest to ever be involved in wheelchair rugby.

Story:

Young athlete Cliff Chunn

I would like to tell a little about what the game meant to me. There were two things I was excited about doing the first time I started to play rugby. The first was to put on a jersey that was a part of a team. Second, prepare for a game in a varsity like atmosphere. I remember when I was playing with the Tennessee QuadCrushers at my first tournament in Champaign, IL in 1993. The starters went in and got a lead by the end of the first quarter. At that point, they thought it would be a good idea to put the 14 year old kid in who did not really know what he was doing. I remember starting the second quarter and I could not stop smiling up and down the court because I knew at that moment that I was competing with athletes on the same playing field with similar abilities.

I have always respected what the game represented and always felt that by respecting the game, that in return the game would reward me. For hard work, discipline, and sacrifice, I have had the privilege of a long career and competing at the highest level rugby offered. I played because I loved the game and I wanted to win, those were my motivations.

Most of all I would like to say to you, treasure these moments at the USQRA National Championships because there will be a time in all of your lives when the closest you can get to the feeling of being on the court again are the dreams at night.

Finally, I want to thank you for this great honor and I want to wish all of the teams competing this weekend to play with respect and to play safe.

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