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.