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 2019 season was a huge success for USA Wheelchair Rugby. The team captured gold at the Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru, securing a spot at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and then finished with another gold medal at the World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge in Tokyo. But there is no time to rest. The 2020 season is quickly approaching. Thirty-seven athletes will attend the 2020 USA Wheelchair Rugby Selection Camp at Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, AL December 11-15, 2019. The training squad of up to 16 athletes selected at camp will compete for a spot on the Paralympic Games Team roster of 12. The Paralympic Games will take place August 25-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.
2020 Selection Camp Invitees
James Adams
Chuck Aoki
Clayton Brackett
Clayton Braun
Jeff Butler
Ernie Chun
Chad Cohn
Jake Daily
Joe Delagrave
Liz Dunn
Chris Fleace
Lee Fredette
Kevin Hamilton
Ray Hennagir
Montrerius Hucherson
Brad Hudspeth
Eric Ingram
Joe Jackson
Talbot Kennedy
Tom Knaus
Andre Lampkin
Joshua McFadden
Tony McPherson
Chuck Melton
Matt Milstead
Mike Monthervil
Eric Newby
Josh O’Neill
Alejandro Pabon
Kory Puderbaugh
James Sa
Adam Scaturro
Mason Symons
Paco Torres
Tim Vixay
Josh Wheeler
Jake Zunich
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
- 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
