The United Spinal Association New York Jets quad rugby team won five straight matches over two days to win the First Annual Capitol Clash wheelchair quad rugby tournament held at the Hoop Magic Sports Academy in Chantilly, Virginia, at the end of October.
On Saturday, October 27th, the Jets “ruggers” eked out a victory over the Carolina Crash team by a score of 37 to 28. Their second rugby match of the day was not as difficult as the Jets flew past the Connecticut Jammers by a 14 goal margin. On Saturday evening in a “precursor of the future” battle, the Jets grounded the Pittsburgh Steelers rugby team by a 41 to 30 score.
On the following “championship” Sunday, the Jets opened up against their perennial rival, the Magee (Philadelphia) Rebels, but this time around they coasted to a 41 to 24 triumph. The past became the future in the tournament championship game as the Jets squared off once more against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The result was even more convincing as the Jets glided to a 13 point victory, and the tournament’s first place trophy.
Jets “rugger” George Taborsky of Smithtown, NY, was named to the All Tournament Team as the “Best Low Point” player.
In addition to Taborsky, local Jets quad rugby players include Long Islanders Brian Amundsen from Mount Sinai, Jim Cabrera from Farmingdale, Joe Jeremias from West Hempstead, and Joe Testaverde from Wantagh; New Jersey players include Keith Cavill from Wayne and Luis Pereira from Englewood Cliffs; and, Matt Castelluccio of Monroe, NY also plays on the Jets squad.
Quad rugby players are individuals who have a combination of upper and lower extremity impairment, and the sport is contested in wheelchairs that are built for speed and maneuverability.
The game is played on a standard basketball court, and a volleyball is used to score points when a player carries the ball over the back line of an eight meter wide goal. Tactics such as “setting a pick” and “checking” are employed to advance the ball up court, and to stop an opposing player’s progress. They also help to make quad rugby an exciting contact sport.
