In terms of whats news in the world of the disabled community and Arizona, it does not get much bigger than the opening of the Virginia G Piper Sports & Fitness Center for Persons with Disabilities (SpoFit).

The SpoFit is one of two centers in the U.S. that is specifically designed for people with disabilities.  It features two full-size basketball courts, an indoor suspended jogging track, climbing wall, fitness center and three pools.  The center is designed for the public to enjoy and also to serve as a venue for national and international sporting events.  In December, the center will be hosting it’s first Wounded Warrior event for newly disabled veterans.

The center will be home to the Phoenix Heat wheelchair rugby team, who’s roster includes numerous gold-medal Paralympians, and the Banner Phoenix Suns and Mercury wheelchair basketball teams (www.bannerwheelchairsuns.org). The basketball courts have a both 10′ and 8′ hoops to allow youths to play more competitive basketball.

One of the main attractions for competitive sports is the venue’s lockers, bathrooms and team equipment facilities.  Every space is designed to accommodate many athletes in wheelchairs at one time.  The showers are all accessible.  Not just a few, all of them.  As is the locker area and spectator seating.  For team sports, the venue has a basement that will be quartered off to allow teams to lock up their sports chairs and equipment.

Amber Blanchard is the manager of the SpoFit.  She was most recently the therapeutic recreation program coordinator at The Bend Park and Recreation District in Bend, Oregon, and program director/ board member at Oregon Adaptive Sports.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Arkansas. She is a current member of the National Recreation and Parks Association (N.R.P.A.) and National Therapeutic Recreation Society (N.T.R.S), Arizona Therapeutic Recreation Association (ASTRA), and has been Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Recreation for over a decade.

Fitness Manager, Gabe Gerbic tries out the 35' indoor rock wall.

The fitness center is on the second floor.  The center has two elevators.  The spacious work-out center includes an all-accessible line of Cybex weight-training and aerobic equipment. Gabe Gerbic is the fitness manager.  He has a B.S. in Exercise Science/Exercise Physiology and a Masters in Physical Education with an emphasis in exercise physiology.

The SpoFit opened for business in late October,  The grand opening ceremony will be in February, 2012.  The 3-day event will feature key-note speaker, Anthony Robles, the Arizona State University alumni who in spite of being an amputee became the NCAA wrestling champion at 125lbs.

The center is open 6 days a week.  Adults pay $35/month or $5.00/visit. Scholarships are available.  Visit the center at www.disabilitysportcenter.org.

 [Ed note: author is affiliated with ABIL and the SpoFit]

The Virginia G Piper Sports & Fitness Center is Open is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

The United States is set to play five games, opening Tuesday, September 21, against the eighth-ranked German team and continuing on to face Great Britain (9), Finland (11), Sweden (6) and Canada (3). Assuming that the heavily-favored United States makes it out of group play competition, it will go on to play in the semifinals and possibly the gold medal game on September 26.

The team competing in these world championships is not the same team that came away victorious at the Beijing Games. Of the 12 players competing at worlds, seven were on the roster in 2008. Team USA veterans Will Groulx (Portland, Ore.), Andy Cohn (Tempe, Ariz.) and Scott Hogsett (Tempe, Ariz.) make up the team’s nucleus and newcomers Chuck Aoki (Minneapolis, Minn. and UoA, Tucson) and Derrick Helton (Tuscumbia, Mo.) are poised to make an impact for Team USA in the upcoming tournament.

Fans can watch games live and see the full competition schedule at http://www.sportscanada.

US Wins 2010 Wheelchair Rugby Nationals in Vancouver is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

The United States Olympic Committee announced the members of the 2010 US Olympic quad rugby team this week. Arizona is well represented as many members either currently reside in Arizona or have roots here.The U.S. is currently the top-ranked wheelchair rugby team in the world.

Of the 12-man roster, the University of Arizona had three current players selected, Chuck Aoki, Chad Cohn and Derrick Helton. From the Phoenix Heat, Scott Hogsett (Tempe) returns to the team, and former Phoenician, now residing in San Diego, Andy Cohn made the team as well. Both Scott and Andy were part of the 2008 Beijing gold medal team. Mark Zupan, who is currently playing for the Phoenix Heat was selected as an alternate.

UoA Wildcat team mates Derrick Helton, Chuck Aoki, and Chad Cohn, Photos by Gerry O'Conner

Andy Cohn (11) of the San Diego Sharp Edge, competes against Phoenix Heat team mates Scott Hogsett (8), and Mark Zupan (3). Photo by Loren Worthington

Arizona Well Represented on 2010 US Quad Rugby Team is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

San Diego Sharp's Riley Batt (5) races with Phoenix Heat's Mark Zupan (3) for the ball. Sharp won the tournament and Batt was MVP. (Photo Loren Worthington)

Tucson Arizona – December 4 – 6, 2009 – Article by: Gabe Nyrkkanen

(Additional Photos Here)

The University of Arizona Rugby Rage, co-hosted by the Utah Scorpions, returned to the quad rugby schedule this season after a brief hiatus last year. This year’s competitors included defending national champion Sharp from San Diego, Denver Harlequins, Phoenix Heat, Utah Scorpions, Arizona Outcasts, Michigan Storm and two squads from the University of Arizona.

Sharp and their starters from last season, including tournament MVP Riley Batt, breezed through the competition and finish in 1^st place after winning the final with Denver (62 – 54).  Denver competed with their full squad including British import Ross Morrison and veteran 3.0 Chance Sumner.  Denver beat the newly reformed Phoenix Heat team in pool play by a one-goal margin (49 – 48).  The Heat competed with their full squad for the first time this season including new Arizona residents Mark Zupan, Joe Delgrave, Nick Springer and Landon Groff, as well as Japanese import and all tournament 3.0, Shinichi Shimakawa and player/coach Scott Hogsett.  Phoenix defeated the UA Red squad to secure third place (50 – 42).  The Wildcats had high hopes for their home tournament, but were decimated by injuries to two of their starters, Travis Murao and Chuck Aoki prior to the tournament.  Despite their difficulties, the Wildcats managed a fourth place finish after losing to Denver by 4 in the crossover (56 – 52) and to Phoenix in the third-place final.

The Utah Scorpions topped the Division II level rugby squads and finished the Rugby Rage in 5^th place.  The Scorpions are led by the speedy and sure-handed Josh Wheeler, and had decisive victories over the Wildcat B-squad and the Michigan Storm.  They were challenged in their final against the Arizona Outcasts who are led by the ever improving 2.0 Josh Johnson.  The Scorpions beat the Outcasts by a 6-goal margin (60 – 54) in the final.  The Michigan Storm struggled over the weekend with their skeleton crew of four players, two of which (Dave Mengyan and Nick Long) had barely shaken off their Colombian jet lag to strap up for the weekend.  Their lengthy but noteworthy travels eventually caught up with their team, as the Storm had only three players for competition on the final day.  Though forced to forfeit in their final against the UA B-squad (1 – 0), they borrowed a couple Wildcat players and completed the weekend with a moral victory over the Wildcats.

Tournament results are as follows:

1. Sharp
2. Denver Harlequins
3. Phoenix Heat
4. UA Wildcats (Red)
5. Utah Scorpions
6. Arizona Outcasts
7. UA Wildcats (Blue)
8. Michigan Storm

MVP’s were;

• 0.5 Jason Regier
• 1.0 Jeremy Brown
• 1.5 Chad Cohn
• 2.0 Andy Cohn
• 2.5 Josh Wheeler
• 3.0 Shinichi Shimakawa
• 3.5 Riley Batt
• MVP Riley Batt

Special Thanks goes out to the tournament sponsors Rochester Medical, Melrose Wheelchairs, The ROHO Group and all the Disability Resource Center staff and volunteers for their exceptional efforts to make the 3^rd Annual University of Arizona Rugby Rage a success!

(Additional Photos Here)

San Diego Dominates the 3rd Annual University of Arizona Quad Rugby Rage is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.