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Athletes Nominated for 2007 U.S. Men's Parapan American Wheelchair Basketball Team
By Susan Katz
// Lakeshore Foundation
// April 14, 2007
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| Photo by Getty Images |
Matt Scott (left), shown competing at the 2004 Paralympic Games, and his U.S. teammates will need a top-three finish to make sure they can play at the next Paralympic Games in Beijing.
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Twelve athletes have been nominated to the 2007 U.S. Men’s Parapan American Wheelchair Basketball National Team. The team will compete at this summer’s Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The team was announced after a weekend tryout camp that was held at Lakeshore Foundation, an official U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site.
Seven of the athletes nominated to the team return from last summer’s U.S. team, which won a silver medal at the Wheelchair Basketball World Championships. These athletes include Matt Scott (Detroit, Mich./Whitewater, Wisc.), Joe Chambers (Davis, Calif./Whitewater, Wisc.), Steve Serio (Westbury, N.Y./Champaign, Ill.), Paul Schulte (Manchester, Mich./Bradenton, Fla.), Jeremy Lade (Oconto, Wisc./Janesville, Wisc.), Mike Paye (Warren, Mich./Gissen, Germany) and Josh George (Fairfax, Va./Champaign, Ill.).
Jason Nelms (Emmett, Mich./Fort Worth, Texas) is another athlete making a return appearance on the U.S. team. Though he was not a member of the 2006 squad, he was a member of the 2004 U.S. Paralympic Team.
There are four brand new faces on the 2007 National Team. Making their first U.S. team are Jacob Counts (Covington, Ky./Tuscaloosa, Ala.), Ian Lynch (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Whitewater, Wisc.), Aaron Gouge (Wake Forest, N.C./Arlington, Texas) and Jaimie Mazzi (Boston, Mass./Whitewater, Wisc.).
“This is the best team for us for to take to Brazil this summer,” said U.S. head coach Steve Wilson (Racine, Wisc.). “This group of guys is going to have to answer a lot of questions about what we have for the future. We have four newcomers that could be pinnacle players at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. I fully expect us to take home the gold and qualify for Beijing.”
The Parapan American Games will serve as the United States’ qualification tournament for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. The team must finish in the top three to earn a spot at next summer’s Games.
Name Hometown/Current Residence
Joe Chambers (Davis, Calif./Whitewater, Wisc.)
Jacob Counts (Covington, Ky./Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Josh George (Fairfax, Va./Champaign, Ill.)
Aaron Gouge (Wake Forest, N.C./Arlington, Texas)
Jeremy Lade (Oconto, Wisc./Janesville, Wisc.)
Ian Lynch (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Whitewater, Wisc.)
Jaimie Mazzi (Boston, Mass./Whitewater, Wisc.)
Jason Nelms (Emmett, Mich./Forth Worth, Texas)
Mike Paye (Warren, Mich./Gissen, Germany)
Paul Schulte (Manchester, Mich./Bradenton, Fla.)
Matt Scott (Detroit, Mich./Whitewater, Wisc.)
Steve Serio (Westbury, N.Y./Champaign, Ill.)
About Lakeshore Foundation, an official 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 three Olympic Training Centers, Lakeshore Foundation plays a critical role in the success of U.S. athletes. For more information, visit http://www.lakeshore.org/.
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