Rene Aquino (Chicago, Ill.), Eric Duda (Gainesville, Fla.), Joey Evans (Springville, Utah), Essam Hamido (Nashville, Tenn.), Brent Rasmussen (Omaha, Neb.), Chris Seilkop (DeLand, Fla.) and Bill Steen (Westminster, Colo.) were all part of the squad that finished sixth at the 2004 Paralympic Games, and are back to represent the USA once again.

Brad Johnson (Pompano Beach, Fla.), a member of the 2000 U.S. Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Team, returns to the court after he earned a bronze medal at the 2004 Paralympic Games in sailing.

Newcomers to the squad include Josh Franklin (Houston, Texas), Matthew Johnson (Omaha, Neb.), Edgardo Laforest (Puerto Rico) and Jose Zabala (Puerto Rico).

Bill Hamiter (Bethany, Okla.) is currently in his fifth season as head coach of the USA men. He will be assisted by Dixie Collins (Burke, Va.) and Edgar Miraku (Oklahoma City, Okla.).

The World Championships, scheduled for June 18-26 in Roermond, the Netherlands, will be the first event for the USA Men since the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece. The USA Men's and Women's Sitting Volleyball Teams will both be competing as members of the Para Pan American Zone.

The schedule for the 2006 Men’s Sitting Volleyball World Championship was announced on April 18. Team USA will be a member of Pool A along with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Croatia, Germany and Russia. Pool B consists of China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Japan and the Netherlands.

The Americans will begin play on Monday, June 19 with matches against Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. On Tuesday, June 20 the Americans will play matches against Para Pan American rival Brazil and Russia. The United States concludes pool play on Wednesday, June 21 with a match against Germany.

The championship round gets underway on Thursday, June 22. The bronze and gold-medal matches are scheduled for Saturday, June. 24.

Team USA, which has been training for the World Championship since January, has one more training camp planned for May 11-17 at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla.

UCO is the official training site for the USA Men's National Sitting Team during the 2005 to 2008 quadrennium. UCO supplies three training courts, conditioning facilities, office space and room and board, as well as numerous support services for the team.

2006 USA Men’s Sitting World Championship Roster
Rene Aquino (Chicago, Ill.)
Eric Duda (Gainesville, Fla.)
Joey Evans (Springville, Utah)
Josh Franklin (Houston, Texas)
Essam Hamido (Nashville, Tenn.)
Brad Johnson (Pompano Beach, Fla.)
Matthew Johnson (Omaha, Neb.)
Edgardo Laforest (Puerto Rico)
Brent Rasmussen (Omaha, Neb.)
Chris Seilkop (DeLand, Fla.)
Bill Steen (Westminster, Colo.)
Jose Zabala (Puerto Rico)

Head Coach: Bill Hamiter (Bethany, Okla.)
Assistant Coaches: Dixie Collins (Burke, Va.) and Edgar Miraku (Oklahoma City, Okla.)

2006 Men’s Sitting Volleyball World Championship Schedule

Pool A – Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Croatia, Germany, Russia, United States

Pool B – China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Netherlands

USA Matches

Sunday, June 18
Opening Ceremonies (No Match Scheduled)

Monday, June 19
Croatia vs. USA
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. USA

Tuesday, June 20
Brazil vs. USA
Russia vs. USA

Wednesday, June 21
Germany vs. USA

Thursday, June 22
Quarterfinals

Friday, June 23
Consolation Semifinals
Championship Semifinals
Seventh-Place Match
Fifth-Place Match

Saturday, June 24
Bronze Medal Match
Gold Medal Match