USA Wheelchair Rugby is pleased to announce the 12 athletes who have been selected for the 2023 Parapan American Games team that will compete in Santiago, Chile November 18-23. The players were chosen following a 12 day training and selection camp, September 6-17, at Lakeshore Foundation, a U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site in Birmingham, Alabama.
- Sarah Adam (3.0 F), Naperville, IL
- Chuck Aoki (3.0) Co-Captain, Minneapolis, MN
- Clayton Brackett (2.5), Birmingham, AL
- Jeff Butler (0.5), Ft. Wayne, IN
- Chris Fleace (0.5), Tucson, AZ
- Lee Fredette (1.0), East Moriches, NY
- Montrerius Hucherson (3.5), Tallassee, AL
- Brad Hudspeth (1.0), Stilwell, KS
- Eric Newby (2.0) Co-Captain, Nashville, IL
- Josh O’Neill (1.5), Colorado Springs, CO
- Zion Redington (3.5), Birmingham, AL
- Talon Teague (3.5), Kansas City, KS
Head coach Joe Delagrave said, “I am excited for this group of 12 who have worked tirelessly this season to learn and grow as individuals and as a unit. We are ready to represent USA as we face tough opponents from across the Americas, and we are focused on punching our ticket to the Paris 2024 Paralympics.”
The team is led by co-captains Chuck Aoki and Eric Newby who have been stalwarts for USAWR across multiple quadrennium. The 2023 Parapan American Games will be USA Wheelchair Rugby’s first chance to qualify for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. A gold medal finish in Santiago will secure the team’s spot in Paris.
Following the Parapan American Games in November, USA Wheelchair Rugby will host a December selection camp at Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, AL to determine the 2024 USAWR National Team Training Squad. The Lakeshore National Adapted Sport Organization is proud to be the National Governing Body for USA Wheelchair Rugby. Team members and staff travel from across the country to Birmingham for training camps and competitions.