By Tom Scott
The United Spinal New York Jets quad rugby team is a force to be reckoned with. “We’re back on the map,” says Damon Rozier, Jets co-captain, who along with Len Lacina, has been the driving force behind the team’s success.
The 2007-2008 Season has been good to the Jets, who have practiced hard all year and earned a pile of respect from their opponents for their grit and determination on the court and impressive tournament play.
The team played tremendously at the United States Quad Rugby Association (USQRA) Atlantic North Regionals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ramming their way to 2nd place and claiming a ticket to Atlantic Sectional Playoffs in Raleigh, North Carolina on March 14-16. Last time the team was invited to the Sectionals was in 2003 where they finished in last place. But the trip back was reason to celebrate and proof that the team was once again a viable contender in the sport of quad rugby. The sectionals presented the tightly knit Jets unit a hefty challenge early on, as they mixed it up with their rivals, the Magee Eagles, who had outplayed them in Philly to take the Regional crown. But payback wouldn’t come that easy. The Eagles proved to be too much for the Jets, as they lost their opener 47-21. The Jets tried to shake off the jitters during their second game, but lost to the Tampa Generals, 55-35.
But like any great heavyweight, the Jets fought back. The team won their final three games against the Carolinas Crash, Raleigh Sidewinders, and Capitol Punishers—finishing in a respectful 5th place and gaining a wealth of experience and confidence.
“We have a lot of talented players and we all play really well together,” Rozier says, adding that the Jets have focused a lot of their energy on practicing for opponents and being mentally prepared for their games—one reason for their newfound success. He also mentioned that the sport has taken off in popularity since the movie Murderball was released—which stars Keith Cavill of the Jets— along with a host of other wheelchair rugby athletes. “The movie really inspired a lot of younger guys to get out and try the sport,” Rozier says.
George Taborsky, Jets co-captain and team representative, added that this was the team’s best season so far. “A few new additions have helped our team out a lot, including Matt Castelluccio, Joe Testaverde, and Len Lacina. We also have many veteran players who weren’t very strong when they began playing but are coming along now and have improved greatly. Leadership and effort from our veteran players like Joe Jeremias and Louis Pereira has made a big difference. Also Brian Amundsen has really brought his game up and helped us out a lot,” Taborsky says. Another factor working in the Jets favor is more favorable recruiting options. A few of the players are active and work at rehabilitation hospitals, giving the team access to a larger pool of prospective wheelchair athletes.
Early in the season, the team also benefited from a 3-day clinic at Queens College that included instruction from senior Canadian player and quad rugby pioneer Brad Mikkelsen, who was instrumental in bringing the sport to the US in 1981, forming the first American quad rugby team, the Wallbangers, with assistance from the University of North Dakota.
Although it’s the end of their successful season, the Jets will continue practicing until the end of May. A few representatives from the team will be heading to Canada in early May to compete in a “miniolympic” style international tournament against quad rugby players from all over the world. The team is also working on hosting a demonstration/fundraiser at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, New York.
The Jets are hopeful that next season will hold even more success and are optimistic that the team is strong enough to compete with the best teams in the country. “Our biggest goal for next season is to beat our main rival Philadelphia,” Taborsky says. “The DC team also always gives us a run for our money.”
NY Metro Abilities Expo
United Spinal members, athletes, and staff recently took part in 2008 New York Metro Abilities Expo held on March 28-30 at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison. The United Spinal Jets and Giants athletes gave demonstrations of the sports of wheelchair football and rugby, and also hosted a kids’ clinic during the weekend’s festivities.
The Expo included plenty of activities for kids of all ages, including a variety of other adaptive sports demonstrations including power soccer, tennis, and basketball, which were co-sponsored by United Spinal, Wheelchair Sports Federation, and Xtreme Medical. Safe Kids of Middlesex County introduced the “Safe Kids Safety Zone” program, to help educate children and their parents about summer safety. The program included five activity stations focused on the leading summer risk areas of biking/wheeled sports, pedestrian, motor vehicle, water, and falls.
Drive Master and Accessible Racing (www.accessibleracing.com) displayed a modified race car at their booth to promote their “Arrive and Drive” program, that enables people with disabilities to strap into accessible race cars and try out motorsports on autocross courses at a variety of venues located throughout the Northeast.
Driving Aids Development Corporation also provided a driving simulation game that allowed attendees to use hand controls to drive simulated race cars head-to-head around the famous Formula 1 course at the Nurburgring, in Germany. Legsdontwork.com showcased the ParaGolfer, an outdoor power wheelchair with stand-up function, by hosting chipping contests.
Other highlights included a book signing by Joe Gannascoli who played the role of Vito in the Sopranos. Gannascoli is an advocate for Bright Steps Forward (www.brightstepsforward.com), a nonprofit organization that provides funding for intensive pediatric therapy to financially disadvantaged children with neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy, disabilities of prematurity, autism and other congenital or acquired conditions that affect their physical functioning.
Justin Hines, a musician with a rare genetic joint condition called Larsen Syndrome, gave two amazing singing performances for those in attendance. The Expo’s keynote speaker was Randy Pleva, national president of Paralyzed Veterans of America, which was also honored during the event. Coverage of the entire expo, including video of interviews with exhibitors, special performances, and events, can be viewed online at www.xable.com, which provides interactive media for the disabled community.
Tom Scott is staff editor.
The New York Metro Abilities Expo in Edison, New Jersey, last month, provided activities, information, and demos for men, women, and children with all kinds of disabilities.
