Lakeshore is proud to be the home of USA Wheelchair Rugby (USAWR) as the High Performance Management Organization. For more information on USA Wheelchair Rugby, visit usawr.org and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic year is here and USA Wheelchair Rugby is focused on capturing its fourth Paralympic gold medal. Following a December training camp, the 16-person Paralympic training squad was announced. This squad will train and compete together until the final 12-person Tokyo 2020 roster is named in May. The Paralympic Games will take place August 25 to September 6 in Tokyo, Japan and will be the seventh Games the U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team has competed in. Athletes can find posted selection procedures and other pertinent information in the forms and documents tab.
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Training Squad
Chuck Aoki
Jeff Butler
Ernie Chun
Chad Cohn
Jake Daily
Joe Delagrave
Liz Dunn
Lee Fredette
Ray Hennagir
Montrerius Hucherson
Joe Jackson
Chuck Melton
Eric Newby
Kory Puderbaugh
Adam Scaturro
Josh Wheeler
What is Wheelchair Rugby?
Wheelchair Rugby is a sport with roots grounded in wheelchair basketball and ice hockey and was developed by three Canadians from Winnipeg, Manitoba as an opportunity for athletes with quadriplegia to compete. The sport was originally called Murderball due to the aggressive nature of the game. It was introduced to the United States in 1979 at a demonstration at Southwest Minnesota State University. In 1981, Brad Mikkelsen, with the aid of the University of North Dakota’s Disabled Student Services, formed the first team, the Wallbangers, and changed the game’s name from Murderball to quad rugby. Today it is called wheelchair rugby.
In 1988, the United States Quad Rugby Association (USQRA) was formed to help regulate and promote the sport on both a national and international level. There are now more than 40 organized teams in the United States with many others in the developmental stage. In addition to the teams in the U.S., there are at least 29 international teams with 20 more in the development stage. Wheelchair rugby is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports in the world.
USA Wheelchair Rugby has a spirit of excellence. Since its inception as a Paralympic sport in 2000, the U.S. team is the most successful country in wheelchair rugby history with a medal in each Paralympic Games (two gold, one silver and two bronze). Coming off a silver medal finish in Rio 2016, the U.S. is striving to get back on top. Support USAWR as they go for the gold and give today!
- 2020 Paralympic Games Athlete Selection Procedures Approval Letter
- 2020 Paralympic Games Athlete Selection Procedures
- 2020 Paralympic Games Staff Selection Procedures Approval Letter
- 2020 Paralympic Games Staff Selection Procedures
- 2020 Staff Code of Conduct
- 2020 Complaint Procedures
- Safe Sport Policy
- Athlete Advisory Council Bylaws
- Athlete Advisory Council Election Procedures
- 2019 Staff Selection Procedures
- 2019 Staff Approval Letter
- 2019 Athlete Selection Procedures
- 2019 Athlete Approval Letter
- 2018 Code of Conduct
- 2018 Code of Conduct Addendum
- 2018 Selection Procedures
- 2018 Petition Procedures
- 2018 Complaint Procedures
- 2018 Skills Assessment Document
- 2018 Training Camp and Competition Schedule
The three most recent 990s are available upon request. Please contact Cathy Miller at cathym@lakeshore.org or 205-313-7413.
