USA Wheelchair Rugby

A group of wheelchair rugby athletes wearing light blue t-shirts smile for a group photo

The Official Mattress and Restorative Sleep Provider of USA Wheelchair Rugby

USA Wheelchair Rugby is pleased to announce the 16 athletes who have been selected for the 2026 National Training Squad. The players were chosen from a group of 32 athletes following a three-day selection camp, November 13-15, at Lakeshore Foundation, a U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site in Birmingham, Alabama.

The team will return to Birmingham, AL for their next training camp in January as the team starts preparing for their 2026 international competition schedule leading up to the 2026 World Wheelchair Rugby World Championship, taking place August 15-24 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Lakeshore National Adapted Sport Organization (LNASO), located in Birmingham, AL, is proud to be the National Governing Body of USA Wheelchair Rugby. Team members and staff travel from across the country to Lakeshore for training camps and competitions.

For more information, usawr.org, and follow the team on Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.

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2026 USA Wheelchair Rugby Training Squad

Sarah Adam, Naperville, IL
Chuck Aoki, Minneapolis, MN
Travis Baker, Hamilton, OH
Justin Beavers, Portland, OR
Clayton Brackett, Birmingham, AL
Chris Fleace, Tuscon, AZ
Lee Fredette, East Moriches, NY
Kevin Hamilton, Arlington Heights, IL
Zayne Hammoudeh, Green, OH
Brad Hudspeth, Stilwell, KS
Mandy Marchiano, Colonial Heights, VA
Josh O’Neill, Colorado Springs, CO
Alex Pabon, Guayama, Puerto Rico
Kory Puderbaugh, Boise, ID
Zion Redington, Birmingham, AL
Mason Symons, Hershey, PA

Staff

Joe Delagrave, Head Coach
Eric Newby, Assistant Coach
Ryan Albino, Strength and Conditioning Coordinator
Chuck French, Equipment and Bench Staff
Lacey Gammon, Dietitian
Callie Martin, Support Staff
Jim Murdock, ATC/Medical Coordinator
Heather Rennerfeldt, Support Staff
Meagan Rowe, High Performance Manager
Meg Smith, Sports Psychology Provider
Sue Tucker, Classification Consultant

About

Wheelchair rugby player reaches for ball

As the home of USA Wheelchair Rugby, membership is open to all applicable groups including: amateur athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators or officials.

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, now the United States Wheelchair Rugby Association (USWRA), 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.

Classification

In order to safeguard the integrity of fair competition, all Para sports have a system in place which aims to ensure that winning is determined by sporting factors such as skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus, the same factors that account for success in sport for able bodied athletes.

This system is called classification.

Through classification, it is determined which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how those athletes are then grouped together for competition, in order to minimize the impact of those athletes’ impairments on sport performance.

Wheelchair Rugby Classification Guide

Forms and Documents

As the home of USA Wheelchair Rugby, membership is open to all applicable groups including: amateur athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators or officials. USA Wheelchair Rugby is committed to providing an equal opportunity to amateur athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, and officials to participate in amateur athletic competition, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, or national origin and with fair notice and opportunity for a hearing before declaring any such individual ineligible to participate.

Selection Procedures

Athlete Resources

Team USA Athlete Ombuds

Team USA athletes may contact the Office of the Athlete Ombuds for independent and confidential advice on a variety of sport-related matters, including their rights, applicable rules, policies or processes, and questions related to resolving disputes and grievances. The Athlete Ombuds can also help Team USA athletes connect with legal, mental health, and other support resources. All other NGB athletes (i.e., athletes competing at the masters, recreational, or youth level) are welcome to visit the Athlete Ombuds website to review informational resources and should work directly with their NGB to understand additional resources and options available to them.

Contact Information Phone: 719-866-5000

Email:

Website: usathlete.org Athlete Ombuds

Confidentiality and Privacy Policy: (A) In general.—The Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall maintain as confidential any information communicated or provided to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds in confidence in any matter involving the exercise of the official duties of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds. (B) Exception.—The Office of the Athlete Ombuds may disclose information described in subparagraph (A) as necessary to resolve or mediate a dispute, with the permission of the parties involved. (C) Judicial and administrative proceedings.—(i) In general.—The ombudsman and the staff of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall not be compelled to testify or produce evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding with respect to any matter involving the exercise of the duties of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds . (ii) Work product.—Any memorandum, work product, notes, or case file of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds—(I) shall be confidential; and(II) shall not be—(aa) subject to discovery, subpoena, or any other means of legal compulsion; or (bb) admissible as evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding. (D) Applicability.—The confidentiality requirements under this paragraph shall not apply to information relating to—(i) applicable federally mandated reporting requirements; (ii) a felony personally witnessed by a member of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds;(iii) a situation, communicated to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds, in which an individual is at imminent risk of serious harm; or (iv) a congressional subpoena.

Anti-Retaliation Statement No employee, contractor, agent, volunteer, or member of the NGB or USOPC shall take or threaten action against an athlete as a reprisal for disclosing information to or seeking assistance from the Office of the Athlete Ombuds.

U.S. Center for Safe Sport

Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO) is committed to providing a safe, healthy and fun learning environment for our athletes. All participants are required to have a Background Screening and current U.S. Center for SafeSport training.

The Minor Athlete Abuse and Prevention Policy (MAAPP) is a proactive prevention and training policy. The Center developed the MAAPP to assist National Governing Bodies, such as LNASO, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and other individuals to whom these policies apply in meeting their obligations under federal law.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport (The Center) is an independent nonprofit headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The Center provides a safe, professional and confidential place for individuals to report sexual misconduct within the U.S. Olympic Movements. The Center also provides resources on abuse prevention and policies.

If you suspect child abuse is occurring, which includes emotional, physical, or sexual abuse of a minor (under the age of 18) you must report to law enforcement immediately. Additionally, if any of the individuals are involved in the Olympic & Paralympic Movement, a report must also be filed with the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Keep in mind filing a report with the U.S. Center for SafeSport does not satisfy the requirement of reporting to local law enforcement.

Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP)

Reporting

If you see questionable behavior, say something! Report all sexual misconduct and child abuse to law enforcement and file a report with the U.S. Center for SafeSport at uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern. Violations such as non-sexual child abuse, emotional and physical misconduct, including stalking, bullying behaviors, hazing, and harassment; criminal charges or dispositions not involving child abuse or sexual misconduct and minor athlete abuse and prevention policy violations should be reported to LNASO at .

Report a Concern

U.S. Center for SAFESPORT LNASO

The U.S. Center for SafeSport has exclusive jurisdiction over allegations of sexual misconduct and discretionary jurisdiction over allegations of physical and emotional misconduct and MAAPP violations.
U.S. Center for SafeSport Reporting Line: 833-5US-SAFE
There are no associated costs or fees to report. You may report anonymously by leaving your name off of the reporting form.

How to Report a Concern