By Steven Michael
Johnson
MTSU News
MURFREESBORO,
Tenn. — Prior to this semester there were only two universities in the
country with a wheelchair rugby team affiliated with them.
That
number increased to three recently as a Middle Tennessee State University-based
team officially began its inaugural season.
The team
was formally founded a year ago this month after the extensive work of MTSU
Exercise Science faculty adviser Gerald Christian, who also serves as team
manager. The team will compete as the QuadCrushers this season as a part of the
United States Quad Rugby Association, which has teams representing cities and
states all across the country.
“We have
really awesome disabled student services. The campus itself is very open-minded
and handicap friendly,” said Christian, a quadriplegic since being injured in a
car wreck as a teenager. “We wouldn’t even have it if the school wasn’t as
accessible or accommodating as they are.”
Wheelchair
rugby is considered one of the most physically demanding quadriplegic sports.
Games are played inside on hardwood courts and physical contact between
wheelchairs is an essential part of the game. The QuadCrushers practice on
auxiliary basketball courts in Murphy Center and the Campus Recreation Center.
The
MTSU-based team recently competed in its first ever tournament in Fort Wayne,
Indiana, and defeated the state of Indiana’s team 38-20 in its first match.
They would later go on to face teams from Chicago, Detroit, and Texas, taking
losses in each but gaining valuable experience along the way.
The
dream for Christian and those involved is to eventually make MTSU’s wheelchair
rugby team a club sport so that the program will be able to officially represent
the MTSU at athletic events and showcase the university’s commitment to
disabled students.
Officially
becoming a club sport could prompt other universities across the nation to
follow in the steps of Houston and MTSU and start their own wheelchair rugby
programs and leagues.
“MTSU is
extremely accommodating to individuals with disabilities, so it would be great
to represent MTSU by competing across the nation,” Christian said. “We will see
where it goes, and how much student involvement we get.”
Even
though the program has just started, “Full House” actor John Stamos already
thinks highly of it, posting a news story about the team by student television
station MT10 News to his Facebook profile. The story has been viewed at least
200 times and shared another 15 times.
You can
watch the MT10 News story at https://youtu.be/evXBWW4GnMI.
Stamos
and Christian met at a Beach Boys concert a few years ago and have remained
friends and kept in touch ever since singing the group’s classic “Surfing USA”
after the group invited Christian on-stage to sing.
Christian
began the process of developing a team by consulting with the director of
adaptive athletics at the University of Houston, Michael Cottingham. Cottingham
started the only other two wheelchair rugby teams at Houston and the University
of Phoenix.
Christian
eventually turned to MTSU Campus Recreation’s adaptive recreation and exercise
coordinator Caleb Paschall. With Paschall’s assistance he was able to get the
wheelchair program listed as an Adaptive Rec program.
While
the process of organizing a team was strenuous, Christian again lauded the
university’s open-minded environment regarding people with disabilities.
Paschall is pleased to be a part of the process and credited Christian for
doing most of the legwork.
“This
was really Gerald’s baby. He was working on this for a few years before he came
to me and I’m just glad we’re finally doing this on campus,” Paschall said.
The rec
program is all-inclusive. Both disabled and non-disabled students are invited
to come out to learn, watch and even play.
The
QuadCrushers will compete in multiple tournaments this year and the state of
Alabama’s wheelchair rugby team, Lakeshore Demolition, will be traveling to
MTSU for a contest in January, which Christian plans to promote around campus.
Paschall
is confident that the program would be able to meet Christian’s expectations.
“I
definitely think it will grow. Right now we’re just trying to get it off the
ground and get more people to know about it and eventually join,” he said. “You
have to have a certain amount of students involved to be considered a club and
I think we’ll get there once more start to find out about this.”
While
Christian is quick to point out that his goal may be years down the road, the
benefits of the program for both disabled and non-disabled students is already
clear to see.
“It’s
been really big for people to experience new things and see sports really is
for everyone… We eventually want people to come here because of this. It’s benefitted
a bunch of people in many different ways,” Christian said.
For more
information, contact Christian at gerald.christian@mtsu.edu
or call 615-898-4807.
—30—
No comments:
Post a Comment