The Starting Blocks

2008 PARALYMPIC GAMES: U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team Finds Redemption in Beijing; Wins Gold Medal with 53-44 Defeat of Australia

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September 16, 2008

BEIJING, China –The U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team had to wait four long years for another shot at the gold medal that eluded the team in Athens. On Tuesday night in Beijing, the U.S. seized its opportunity by defeating Australia, 53-44, to be crowned Paralympic champions.

"It’s just an awesome feeling to be up on that medal stand and hearing the national anthem. I've been playing on the U.S. team for 10 years and this is hands down the best team I've played on," said U.S. co-captain Norm Lyduch (Austin, Texas). "We never backed down and always played together as a team."

Australia, led by 19 year old wonder-kid Ryley Batt, pushed the U.S. for nearly three quarters as both teams traded goals and turnovers. Back-to-back turnovers by Australia with five minutes to go in the third helped Team USA open a three goal lead, and from then on the U.S. took complete control.

By the end of the third quarter, the Americans had a five goal advantage, 36-31, and in the final eight minutes hammered their point home for the nine goal win.

“It’s emotional. We’ve been waiting on this for four years. Our team was on a mission. We set a game plan and stuck to it and now we’re gold medalists,” said team co-captain Bryan Kirkland (Leeds, Ala.).

Team USA was led by Will Groulx (Portland, Ore.) with 15 goals, Kirkland with 13 goals and Andy Cohn (Tempe, Ariz.) with 10 goals. Batt scored an unbelievable 23 goals for Australia, accounting for more than half his team’s points.

“I’m so proud of everyone – the staff, the coaches, my teammates,” said Cohn. “We have trained and prepared for this since the day we left Athens four years ago. Every time Australia got close, we turned it up and just crushed it. It’s an amazing feeling to win a gold medal.”

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September 14, 2008

BEIJING, China –Wheelchair rugby’s greatest rivals took to the court on Sunday before a packed house at the University of Science & Technology of Beijing Gymnasium.  This was only a preliminary round match-up, but the intensity between the U.S. and Canada was felt all the way up to the rafters.  On the court, the U.S. used its speed and depth to overtake Canada, 37-32, and finish pool play undefeated.  The win also secured a berth in the semifinals for Team USA. 

“We knew coming into this game it was going to be a great battle,” said U.S. head coach James Gumbert (Austin, Texas).  “We had great transition in between the whistles and our guys came out with the most energy they’ve had so far in this tournament.”

 The first quarter ended in an 11-11 tie, but strong pressure defense from the U.S. in the second forced Canada to make some mistakes and the Americans took a 24-21 lead into halftime.  Canada attempted to stall, literally, the U.S. momentum coming out of the break.  The Canadians held the ball for the first four minutes and 18 seconds of the third quarter before finally scoring a goal.

 The stall tactics were no match for an endless rotation of U.S. line-ups that Scott Hogsett (Phoenix, Ariz.) said helped keep up the pace when Canada tried to slow the tempo.

“Our team is so deep, we can bring anyone off the bench to help get us fired up at any time, regardless of what our opponent is trying to do,” said Hogsett.  “When you have fresh bodies to rotate into the game, it helps keep up the intensity and energy through the course of a game.”

Keyed by two big turnovers late in the third, the U.S. headed into the final eight minutes with a five goal lead and never let Canada any closer.  Team USA’s offense was led by Will Groulx (Portland, Ore.) and Joel Wilmoth with seven goals each.  Seth McBride (Portland, Ore./Juneau, Alaska) scored six goals and Nick Springer (St. Petersburg, Fla./New York, N.Y.) and Andy Cohn (Tempe, Ariz.) chipped in with five goals apiece.

“We are completely together as a team,” said Wilmoth.  “A big key to our success is knowing that you have the trust of each of your teammates every second you’re out on the court.  This win certainly builds momentum for us, but we know with each game we win people are going to be gunning for us even more.”

The U.S. faces Great Britain in the semifinals on Monday, Sept. 15, at 6:00 p.m. at the University of Science & Technology of Beijing Gymnasium.

September 13, 2008

BEIJING, China –The U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team withstood a furious fight from Japan on Saturday to secure its second victory of the preliminary round, 44-37. The win locked up a spot in the medal round for Team USA.

The Americans’ pressure defense put Japan on its heels from the start. Three turnovers by the Japanese in the first quarter gave the U.S. a three goal lead, which it held onto throughout the first half and into the start of the fourth quarter. The quarter began with Team USA leading 31-28, but a turnover and ensuing score by Japan narrowed the gap to just two goals.

“We knew Japan was going to be fighting like dogs,” said Andy Cohn (Tempe, Ariz.). “We jumped them early and then relaxed a little bit. It’s a good lesson for us that you can’t relax at the big tournaments.”

The U.S. didn’t relax for long. That one mistake seemed to kick the team’s intensity to a higher gear and the Americans responded by forcing four turnovers in the quarter, three of which came in the last two and half minutes.

“This team does a great job of supporting each other when we make mistakes,” said co-captain Bryan Kirkland (Leeds, Ala.). “We kept our composure, didn’t get down and just kept playing.”

Will Groulx (Portland, Ore.) led the U.S. with 12 goals and four steals, while Kirkland pitched in 11 goals and four assists. Also getting on the board were Mark Zupan (Austin, Texas) with seven goals, Nick Springer (St. Petersburg, Fla./New York, N.Y.) and Cohn with five goals each and Joel Wilmoth (Hueytown, Ala.) with four goals.

“Our team’s biggest asset is that we’re 11 strong, we’re not just one guy or one line-up,” said U.S. head coach James Gumbert (Austin, Texas). “No matter what four we put on the floor today, they fought. They played with heart and intensity and never gave up on any play.”

The U.S. wraps up pool play against archrival Canada on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 3:00 p.m. at the Beijing Science & Technology University Gymnasium. Four years ago at the Athens Paralympics, Canada defeated the United States in the semifinals, knocking the Americans out of contention for the gold medal and the U.S. finished with bronze.

BEIJING, China –Four years ago, the U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team didn’t win gold at the Paralympic Games for the first time ever.  On Friday, the team began its journey back to the top of the medal podium with a dominating, 65-30, victory over China.

 “We’ve been chomping at the bit to take the court and it felt great out there,” said Will Groulx (Portland, Ore.).  “We set some goals for ourselves and did a nice job working on the parts of our game that we felt needed some improvement.”

 The Americans owned every aspect of the game, scoring at will and forcing China to commit 33 turnovers.  Conversely, the U.S. only committed one turnover the entire game.  Team USA was led by Groulx with 16 goals, Chance Sumner (Denver, Colo.) with 12 goals and Mark Zupan (Austin, Texas) with 11 goals.

 “This is my first Paralympic Games and finally getting on the court and playing in a game was just awesome,” said Sumner.  “The crowd was great, there was a lot of energy out there and we can’t wait to take the next step on Saturday against Japan.”

 The U.S. continues pool play against Japan on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 3:00 p.m. at the Beijing Science & Technology University Gymnasium.

September 11, 2008

2008 PARALYMPIC GAMES: U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team the New “Redeem Team” in Beijing

BEIJING, China - As documented in the Academy Award nominated film, Murderball, the U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team was heavily favored heading into the 2004 Paralympic Games, but was upset by Canada in the semifinals and had to settle for bronze. The U.S. regained its international status in 2006, going 17-0 en route to the gold medal at the World Wheelchair Rugby Championships that year and the team is looking to build on that success and return to the top of the podium in Beijing.

“We redeemed ourselves to an extent by winning worlds in 2006,” said Scott Hogsett (Phoenix, Ariz.). “But, we haven’t completely gotten rid of our demons. We won’t be fulfilled until we win gold at the Paralympics.”

A core group of athletes from the Athens team returns to represent the U.S. in 2008. The experience they gained there, as well as at the World Championships, is one thing Team USA will rely on to help recapture the gold.

Those veterans include Hogsett, Mark Zupan (Austin, Texas), Bryan Kirkland (Leeds, Ala.), Norm Lyduch (Austin, Texas), Andy Cohn (Tempe, Ariz.) and Will Groulx (Portland, Ore.). Kirkland and Lyduch are the most senior members of the squad with both having played in the previous two Paralympic Games. Cohn and Groulx each made their Games debut in Athens, but have grown to be great leaders of the U.S. team and are likely to be big contributors here in Beijing.

“We’ve been waiting for this opportunity for four years and we’re ready to prove what happened in Athens was a fluke,” said Kirkland. “We’re not a team that’s arrogant or cocky, but we have a lot of confidence in our abilities. This is the best team I’ve ever played on.”

This isn’t just a team of seasoned veterans. There is much youthful exuberance on its side, as well. Five athletes – Seth McBride (Juneau, Alaska), Jason Regier (Denver, Colo.), Nick Springer (St. Petersburg, Fla./New York, N.Y.), Chance Sumner (Denver, Colo.) and Joel Wilmoth (Hueytown, Ala.) – will be competing in their first Paralympic Games. Wilmoth, at age 19, is the youngest of all team members and with his strength and size is also considered one of the sport’s fastest rising stars.

“We’ve been here for a week training and getting ready to play,” said Wilmoth. “We’re excited and completely prepared for anything anybody throws at us. We’re taking this tournament one game at time, one minute at a time.”

The U.S. begins pool play against host country China at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, at the Beijing Science & Technology University Gymnasium.

This article can be found on www.quadrugby.com