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U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team Goes Undefeated in World Championships Tune-Ups
USA wins 2006 Canada Cup
By Susan Katz
// Lakeshore Foundation
// June 27, 2006
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| Photo by Milos Bicanski |
Bryan Kirkland, shown competing at the 2004 Paralympic Games, was named, along with teammate Scott Hogsett, to the 2006 Canada Cup All-Tournament Team.
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - After going undefeated to win the 2006 North American Cup, the U.S. Paralympics Wheelchair Rugby Team went to Burnaby, British Columbia, and did the same thing at the 2006 Canada Cup, which concluded Sunday with the U.S. defeating New Zealand, 49-48, to win the championship in triple overtime. The team finished the two tournaments with a perfect 10-0 record, providing great momentum heading into the upcoming 2006 Wheelchair Rugby World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, this September.
"We saw glimpses of what this team is capable of accomplishing, but there are even more aspects of our game that can be corrected and improved upon," said U.S. head coach James Gumbert.
The event featured the top eight teams in the world - (in order, No. 1-8) New Zealand, Canada, United States, Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Sweden and Japan.
The U.S. began the competition in Vancouver by eking out a last second victory over Germany, and then beat Japan and New Zealand to finish pool play undefeated. The Americans faced archrival Canada in the semifinal and cruised to a 35-28 win. It would be a rematch with New Zealand in the final, and after the three extra sessions, the U.S. finished the 10-day stretch with an unblemished 10-0 record. Two U.S. athletes, Scott Hogsett (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Bryan Kirkland (Leeds, Ala.) were also named to the Canada Cup All-Tournament team.
"Having to play this caliber of competition twice in such a short period of time proved to us that it's going to take more than four guys for us to win.
I'm excited by the contributions of our younger guys and feel good that our bench played so strongly," said Gumbert. "The thing I'm most impressed with from this team is the way in which we played with one heartbeat."
The team first competed at the North American Cup, June 16-18, in Birmingham at the Lakeshore Foundation U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site. This tournament featured the top four wheelchair rugby teams in the world - New Zealand, Canada, United States, and Great Britain. The U.S. advanced undefeated through pool play, took down top-ranked New Zealand in the semifinals, and won the championship with a 31-26 victory over Great Britain.
The U.S. Paralympics Wheelchair Rugby Team will spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the World Championships. The team returns to the Lakeshore Foundation U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site in both July and August for its final two training camps before departing for New Zealand on Sept. 5.
About Lakeshore Foundation
U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site Lakeshore Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with physical disabilities through fitness, recreation, and athletics. These programs help children and adults with physical disabilities maintain healthy and active lifestyles, as well as develop stronger self-esteem and improve independent living skills. The United States Olympic Committee designated Lakeshore Foundation an official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site in 2003. Along with the nation's other Olympic Training Sites, Lakeshore Foundation plays a critical role in the success of U.S. athletes. For more information, visit www.lakeshore.org.
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