By Tom Scott
Spectacular Support for United Spinal Youth Sports
The Wachovia Center in Philadelphia recently announced that they will once again host United Spinal Association’s Kids Sports Spectacular on Saturday, August 4. “Last year’s event was a phenomenal success with participants from a number of local children’s hospitals,” said United Spinal President and CEO Paul J. Tobin. “Many of the children participated in softball, hand-cycling, basketball, and tennis for their first time. I am sure that Sports and Recreation will put together an equally impressive day for this year’s event.”
In addition, John Page, COO of Global Spectrum has offered the use of stadiums and arenas in California and Arizona for similar events. “This is a tremendous step forward in the effort to bring United Spinal’s sports program to other regions of the country,” Tobin added.
EWBC Championship Results
The New York Rolling Knicks defeated the United Spinal Nets 70 to 42 for the Eastern Wheelchair Basketball Conference (EWBC) Championship for the 2006-2007 Season on Saturday February 24 at the Hackensack Middle School.
The following are the scoring results:
New York Rolling Knicks
Dave Snowden – 8 points
Kevin Grant – 9 points
Pete Schuyler – 18 points
Eddie McGee – 12 points
[First Name] Gugliotta – 15 points
[First Name] McLeod – 4 points
[First Name] Bebee – 2 points
Yusuke Maikino – 2 points
Total Points – 70 points
United Spinal Nets
Denton Johnson – 4 points
Dylan Levine – 7 points
Jose Garcia – 4 points
Luis Dalmau – 5 points
Jim Jeffreys – 18 points
Joe Mendez – 2 points
Justin Sherwood – 2 points
Total Points – 42 points
Final EWBC Division 2 Standings:
1st: New York Rolling Knicks
2nd: United Spinal Nets
3rd: Bulova Renegades
Liberty Competes at the National Championships
The United Spinal Liberty Women’s wheelchair basketball team recently competed in the 33rd Annual Women’s Wheelchair Basketball National Championship at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Center in Warm Springs, Georgia. With only 15 teams in the United States, the United Spinal Liberty battled the first four games, but came up short against some of the best women’s wheelchair basketball teams and players in the world. They hung tough, however, and won their final game against a veteran team from Pittsburgh, the Steel City Starz.
For the 2nd year in a row, the University of Illinois captured the National Title by beating the Mercury Phoenix.
Here were the final standings:
National Champions: University of Illinois
2nd: Mercury Phoenix
3rd: University of Alabama
4th: University of Arizona
5th: RIC Sky
6th: Dallas Lady Mavericks
7th: United Spinal Liberty
8th: Steel City Starz
Thanks to all the players, parents, volunteers, and sponsors who helped raise the $6,000 necessary for the women to travel to the tournament and everyone looks forward to continuing to improve on the rankings. Last year the United Spinal Liberty captured 10th Place.
Tom Scott is staff editor.
