Wheelchair & Ambulatory Sports, USA

After much preparation and training, TEAM USA made Wheelchair Sports USA (WSUSA) and our entire country proud as they competed at IWAS (International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports).  Hosted by Children’s Specialized Hospital and Foundation, the third annual Junior World Championships was held this past July 20th through 26th in Piscataway, NJ at Rutgers University .  The largest IWAS Jr. Team USA ever to compete comprised of fifty-two athletes and seventeen staff members.

Athletes: Zachary Abbott, George Anglin, Kenjy Asin, Valerie Baker, Joshua Beronotto, Wen Bumgardner, Sean Burns, Ryan Chalmers,  Jordan Clyburn, Sam Craven, Jim Cuevas, Colin Cutter, Steven Ferreira, Timothy Field, Michelle Fischer, Maggie Frederick, Cody Futrel, Lynne Ganley, David Grassi, Heather Haynie, Johathan Heider, Bob Hunt, Gianfranco Iannotta, Kaleb Kallappa, Lan Fen Kaplan, Kelsie Kellen, Jaclyn Lanzetti, Cody Mace, Raymond Martin, Tara Mastroeni, Chelsea McClammer, Tatyana McFadden, Bryson McLeod, Kristen Messer, Jill Moore, Krista Pylkki, Louis Riccardi, Trey Roy, Adam Saldana, Joshua Scanlon, Adam Schmuki, Emily Seelenfreud, Kanya Sesser, Brian Siemann, Austin Slaymaker, Kiya Smith, Matt Smith, Joshua Swoverland, Jacob VanHemelryck, Rachel Voss, David Watts, and Amber Weber;

Team Staff: Karie Allen, Leann Anzalone, Wayne Bozeman, Gregg Chalmers, Barb Chambers, Isabel Cuevas, Jimmy Cuevas, Billy Eddins, Judy Kallappa, Joan Karpuk, Daniel Martin, Glen O’Sullivan, Sara Schmidt, Barb Schmuki, Joe Shifflett, Teresa Skinner, and Tomie Zuchetto.

With the support of Team Manager Barb Chambers, Team Leader Gregg Chalmers, Assistant Team Leader Tomie Zuchetto, and Equipment Manager Daniel Martin, Team USA athletes challenged international competitors from 19 other countries in track, field, power lifting, and swimming.  Since this event was held simultaneously with the National Junior Disability Championships (NJDC) most athletes competed with their local teams at NJDC also, making their commitment to competition double this year.  However this did not impede their competitive spirit or the amount of medals attained. 

USA Swimming - Led by Coach Joan Karpuk and assistants Barb Schmuki and Glen O’Sullivan, 17 swimmers proudly represented the USA at the 2008 IWAS Swim Championships.  They represented 14 states, becoming a very united and spirited team winning 44 gold medals, 16 silver and 2 bronze.  While swimming to such great success, every swimmer posted personal bests at the finish.  During the final evening, despite the thunderstorms, one the highlights of this competition was the camaraderie amongst all the athletes from all the nations.  They celebrated by posing for a photograph of all the nation’s swimmers and traded t-shirts, swim caps, pins, etc. with athletes from 10 other countries. 

USA Field – Directed by Coach Teresa Skinner and assistants Karie Allen, Leann Anzalone, and Wayne Bozeman, it was a new experience for all of our USA athletes, getting internationally classified and some reviewed on the first day of competition, going out to the pits with a group of athletes without coaching or assistance, except from behind the fence.  They had to be able to explain how to set up their chairs and know how to have their straps placed.  It was a great learning experience for all of them as they moved into the next realm of competition… INTERNATIONAL!  “It was good to get to know all the other athletes from the other countries… the ones throwing in our pits.  I really had a good connection with the Iranian athletes,” reported Kenjy Asin of Tampa, FL.  These field athletes all did an incredible job!  They had numerous PR’s…even some improvements from NJDC on Monday.  The overall results are as follows: 6 golds, 7 silvers, and 5 bronze. 

USA Track – Coach Joe Shifflett and his assistants Judy Kallappa, and Jimmy and Isabel Cuevas were thrilled to see teamwork at its best during the track competitions of IWAS New Jersey with Team USA Jr. Athletes.  Athletes from different teams who are rivals on a regular basis made the success of Team USA the primary goal.  “The name of the winner doesn’t matter as long as the USA flag is flying,” stated athlete Josh Swoverland of Indiana, after competing in his first IWAS Jr. competition.  And the US flag did fly 59 times during award ceremonies at the track competition.  This spirited team made up of 32 athletes crushed personal bests throughout the week and racked up 17 gold, 22 silver, and 20 bronze medals. 

USA Power Lifting - Coaches Billy Eddins and Sara Schmidt could not be prouder of the USA Junior Power Lifting team as they completed its first IWAS competition in NJ with seven lifters earning 4 medals-one gold and three silvers. Jake VanHemelryck of Idaho earned a silver in the 48 Kilo class, Louis Riccardi of New Jersey earned a silver in the 60 Kilo class, Rachel Voss of Illinois earned a gold in the 82.5 Kilo class and Wen Bumgardner of S. Carolina won silver in the 100 + Kilo class. Four countries competed- USA, Iran, Kuwait, and Great Britain. These US coaches and athletes were all competing in their first international Power Lifting event with outstanding results.  Team USA Power Lifters remarked that sport and competition served as a bridge to meeting fellow athletes and making new friends from countries all over the world. These coaches and lifters are definitely looking forward to attending international power lifting meets in the future.

During the NJDC/IWAS Banquet on Saturday evening, two US athletes were honored with the “US Athlete with Most Potential – Under 16” award for displaying exemplary vision, focus, commitment, persistence, discipline, and sportsmanship.  Chelsea McClammer of Benton City, WA and Trey Roy of West Bend, WI were the proud recipients of this prestigious award. 

Adam Schmuki of Arizona summarizes this experience saying “Team USA and the IWAS Junior World Games has been a great experience in my life.  I have had the great opportunity to meet many people from many different countries.  Between competitions I have stayed in contact with these friends.  The experience has also solidified my want to travel and experience the world.  I believe the opportunity to compete wearing your nation's flag is the highest honor any citizen can have and all athletes should experience it.”  Indeed this was an amazing experience, one these athletes and coaches will remember and feel proud to be a part of for many years. 

For more information on future international competitions for juniors, please contact WSUSA at:
Phone: 636-614-6784
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website:  www.wsusa.org