\ \ I \ \ National Wheelchair Association NEWSLETTER Oltiu 01 the C-.m!uIo_ • • le.lngton, KY ~D50' Volume XXIX November 21, 1989 Number 1

NEW SEASON CHANGES CONFERENCE-INDEPENDENTS

As the 1989-90 season gets underway. these As a result of the new legislation allowing are some of the changes to be noted : teams to register as conference-independents, 10 teams have been accorded that status: Two conferences have disbanded -the Arkansas Rollin 1 Razorbacks (Arkansas Bluegrass and Northern California. Two of Valley) the four Bluegrass teams, University of Courage Rolling Timberwolves (North Kentucky Wheel Kats and Maryville Central) Wheelbillies. remain as independents. while Dallas Mavericks (North Texas) two of the four Northern California leams also Vancouver Cablecars (Northwest) retain membership as independents - Golden Los Angeles Stars (Pacific Coast) State 76ers and Fresno Red Rollers . The San Diego City Knights (S . California) Smokey Mountain Locomotion, Nashville Rollin' Casa Colina Condors (S. California) Rebels J San Luis Obispo SLO Motion Riders. Lakeshore Pioneers (Southern) Berkeley Breakers and Santa Cruz Roller Music City Lightning (Southern) Coasters have all departed the scene. Long Beach Flying Wheels (Pacific Coast)

Countering this development is the Another 5 teams have been recognized as establishment of the new, four-team Texas independents as a result of continuing status Border Conference made up of the Rio Grande or conferen ce break-ups: Valley Spinners, Wheelchair Athletic Club, Toledo Silver Streaks Lightning Spokes, and Wheelchair Warriors, Fresno Red Rollers all in the McAllen, Texas area and in Mexico. Golden State 76ers We welcome them to NWBA competition. A Maryville WheelbiUies second welcome development is the University of Kentucky Wheel Kats reorganization of the Florida Conference after a year's inactivity. The four-team group will A new team, Montana Rollin' Cats, gains have newly-cons tituted Northeast Florida independent status automatically because of River City Rollers, and Orlando Magic join its isolated location. A warm welcome to the with North Florida Renegades and Tampa Bay Cats. Suncoasters. The Indianapolis Olympians. who have chosen Elsewhere, the Lone Star Conference adds the to withdraw from the Mid-America Conference Ho uston Cavalry; the Champaign-Urbana but who have not applied for conference­ Black Knights return to the Midwest independent status. are in limbo at the Conference; the North Texas Conference moment. Their rights to post season expands to 8 teams with the addition of the competition will not be decided until they Waco Knights, U. of Texas- Arlington Blue, petition one way or the other. a nd Texas Heat; the Montgomery (AL) Rollers join the Southern Conference; and on the ELEVEN TEAMS DROP OUT west coast, the Orange Coast Pirates have heen added to the Southern California We regret the dI'Opping out of the following Conference. teams for 1989-90 but hope that in another year they will be back in full swing: 2

Carolinas Conference: Triad Trailblazers challenge of revitalizing the sport has been Eastern Conference: Orange County met with great vigor and the 1989- 90 season Spiders promises to be the most interesting and Glass City dynamic in the 41-year history of the Thunder Association. Kaw v.nov Chairmen Los Amigos Raiders We are confident that the decision made by Berkeley Breakers. SLO the delegates to the 1989 annual meeting in • Santa Cruz Roller Coasters Hartford was a right one. There has long Bluegrass Conference: Knoxville Smokey been a need for accommodating differing team Mountain Locomotion, Nashville Rollin' strength and commitment to the sport. The Rebels conference-independent team concept, accompanied by a restructuring of post season WOMEN'S DIVISION TEAMS AT TEN competition reflects a serious (and studied) attempt to serve the interests of all segments There will be ten women's teams contending of the NWBA membership. for the 1990 national crown. Five will playa regular season's schedule in 8 division of the It has not been easy; witness the three-year North Central Conference: Courage Rolling debate and lengthy work undertaken by two Timberwolves, Courage Rolling Gophers, RIC separate task forces focusing on the issue. Express (Chicago). Wright Stale University Disaffected teams, playing outside the official Lady Raiders. and University of Illinois realm of the NWBA, are now made to Fighting Illini . A newly organized team, the understand that there is a place for them Texas Heat, will play in the North Texas within the Association's competitive structure. Conference while the long established In time, this will lead to increased expansion Southern California Sunrise will continue to and greater opportunities for more and more playa regular schedule in the Pacific Coast disabled individuals to participate in the Conference . The Eastern Renegades sport. The decision to restructure is a wise (Boston). Sharp Renegades (San Diego). and one and will call for everyone's energetic Bay Area Meteorites (San Francisco). will support to see it carried out successfully . manage independent schedules. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT TEAM GROWTH SEEN IN 1989-90 There has been a rash of calls to the There will be 165 teams on the membership President's office and the Office of the rolls of the NWBA for the 1989- 90 season . Commissioner over the past several months This compares very favorably with last year's complaining about unscrupulous fund raising number - 161 teams - in a season that some practices in the name of wheelchair observors thought would automatically bring basketball . They have centered mainly in a about a radical decline in membership because number of midwestern and southern cities. of the introduction of the conference­ The complaints have in common telephone independent system. solicitations which promote baby pageants and exhibitions that are not Writing in the November/December issue of connected with NWBA member teams . "Sports 'n Spokes", senior editor Cliff Crase has been brought to observe that, " .. . in the The NWBA has not authorized any past few years not only has the sport not organization to raise money in its name via been growing, it isn't even sitting still; these practices. Anyone with information that unfortunately, the membership is on the indicates unethical and illegal fund raising decline . " We are pleased to inform Mr. Crase programs connected with the sport is asked to that, contrary to his premature observation, contact me at once . the sport is healthy and expanding. The 3

It goes without saying that we are all faced playing sites and team accommodations . with the constant problem of funding our local Minneapolis was the site of the 6th national wheelchair basketball programs . In many tournament in 1980. cases sources are not available, which may bring responsible team personnel to use RULES AND CASE BOOK MAILED questionable methods for acquiring funds for their teams. We don't wish to see the This mailing of the NWBA Newsletter to team integrity of the sport sacrificed when this representatives, conference officers, and happens . It is important for everyone's sake Assistant Commissioners, is accompanied by to maintain a healthy public image for the the 1989-90 Rules and Case Book and the sport. Do your part for maintaining the minutes of the 1989 Annual General Meeting. integrity of the sport. Those on the extended mailing list who do not receive a copy of the last two items are Marvin Lapicola, President welcome to receive them if they simply request them. Please call (606:257-1623) or write (110 LEXINGTON TO HOST MEN'S FINAL FOUR Seaton Building. University of Kentucky. Lexington, KY 40506) to receive your copies. The 42nd National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament will be held in Lexington NWBA/PVA CAMP DRAWS 105 PARTICIPANTS Kentucky, April 6 and 7, 1990. It will be a men's four-team final, only. The NWBA/PVA basketball camp held at Wright State University, August 6-13, was The decision to hold the tournament in adjudged to be a success from several points Lexington was made by the Executive of view. The 85 players and 20 coaches Committee after no bids were received from (maximum capacity) were put through a week other teams or conferences by the September of rigorous instruction by 14 of the NWBA's 1 deadline established . Lexington was the finest coaches. Asked in the evaluation at site of the 37th NWBT played in 1985 . the end of the camp, every participant said he or she would recommend it to his or her The tournament will be played in the teammates. The camp staff director was Lew University of Kentucky's Memorial Coliseum, Shaver (Southwest State V . ); head coach just a few minutes ride from the Radisson instructors were: Brad Hedrick (U. of Plaza Hotel, which has been selected to house Illinois), Dan Byrnes (Wright State U.), the contending teams, Executive Committee, Frank Burns (Lakeshore Pioneers), Bob Assistant Commissioners and delegates to the SZym8n (Courage Rolling Timberwolves), Ron annual meeting of the NWBA. Detailed Lykins (V of Wisconsin-Whitewater), Frank information will be forthcoming in January. Brasile (Central Intercollegiate Conference), and Harry Vines (Arkansas Rollin' REGIONAL AND SECTIONAL DATES SET Razorbacks). Assistant coach instructors were: Toby Broadrick (Courage Rolling The dates for the 1990 post season regional Timberwolves), Mike Woodard (V . of and sectional tournaments are: Kentucky), and Randy Snow (Lakeshore Chariots) . Veteran NWBA official, Paul Regionals: March 9-11 Camitsch of st. Paul, MN, presented Sectionals : March 23-25 officiating points of view and interpretations while two headliners who participated in MINNEAPOLIS TO HOST WOMEN'S NWWBT scrimmages with the campers were Dave Kiley and Curtis Bell of the Casa Colina Conrlors. The 16th National Women's Wheelchair Basketball Tournament will be played March 27 Thanks go to PVA Sports Director Andy through 31 in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Fleming for his tireless efforts in putting all Arrangements are still to be made for the of the elements together to make this the 4 finest camp to date. Next year's camp dates Fleming (Orange Spiders), Fidel Fausto and site have not been decided as yet. (Fresno Red Rollers), Bob Groggel and Dave Kroon (Grand Hapids Pacers), Andy Krieger The NWBA extends thanks to the Paralyzed (Wright State U.), Angelo Mongiovi (New Veterans of America for its sponsorship of the Jersey Blue Devils), Greg Ridley (U. of camp. Illinois), Scott Robeson (Courage Rolling Gophers), John Sikora (Pittsburgh CANADA TOPS USA IN SMWWG Steelwheelers), and Anardo Valdez (EPVA Chargers). Assisting Head Coach Byrnes The U. S . basketball team entered in the 1989 were Tony Broadrick (Courgage Rolling Sloke Mandeville World Wheelchair Games could Gophers), as his assistant, and Kathy Curtis do no better than a bronze medal as they were of Santa Monica, CA as team trainer. defeated by Canada, 68-50. The U.S. team, coached by Wright State University's Dan REGIONAL AND SECTIONAL BIDS Byrnes. ad vanced to the championship game undefeated after victories over Great Britain Bids for regional and sectional tournaments (70-56). Germany (59-30). Spain (81-65). are now being considered and the awards will Jordan (86-29). Belgium (91-38). and Austria be announced in the next two weeks. To (68-51) . date, 12 bids have been received.

Tjp Thiboutot, writing in the PATTI JONES REINSTATED November/December issue of "Sports In ll Spokes • sums it up this way: One formerly disqualified player has been reinstated during the grace period established "Led by the superb floor leadership and by the delegates to the 1989 NWBA annual an ll-poinl scoring effort from the meeting to receive applications. She is Patti tournament's best player, Reg McClellan, Jones of the Hamilton Steel City Wheelers who Canada decimated the United States' was disqualified according to the NWBA's aggressive defense with a torrid shooting minimal disablity ruling established in 1985 . performance. Jim Enright proved to be a The annual meeting approved a resolution veritable picking-and-scoring machine, enabling players who had been classified tallying 17 second-half points and 22 for before 1985 but disqualified at the National the game. Enright's performance provided Tournament level to apply for reinstatement. the total basketball package, including excellent rebounding and solid defense. IMPORTANT DATES Pat Griffin, Keith Cartwright, and MIke Frogley, added 12, 10 and 8 points, Deadline dates to observe: respectively, to this Canadian mas terpiece . January 15: Nominations for NWBA Hall of Fame and proposals to amend the playing John Sikora, the U. S. 's most consistent rules and impressive developmental players in this tournament, led his team's attack with February 1: Proposals to amend the 18 points. However, Dave Kroon, the Constitution U . S. team's roost productive player in its previous six victories, was able to muster February 14: Applications to enter post a mere 4 points, as he was heavily season play burdened by fouls and the tormenting defense of Enright and his teammates." March 1: Proposals to amend the Bylaws.

Players selected to the team were: Ed Bland (Dallas Mavericks), Joe Bravo and Gerry 1989-90 PLAYER TRANSFERS

A review of team rosters reveals that 109 players have transferred to a new team this season. The following listing does not include transferring players who have inactive for more than one year. The dean departed is in parentheses. Baltimore Ravens Rodney Allen (BWAC) Washington Warriors: Joe Russo (Long Island Express) (formerly Bullets) EPVA Chargers: Ramon Mercado & Pierce Bunce (Orange Spiders): Ed Lopez (Bulova) Orlando Magic : Jerry Daniels (NO. Florida Renegades); Eaden Keith (Memphis) Tampa Bay Suncoasters: Gary Sunley (North Florida) Akron Rubber City Rollers : Steve Smutac (Cleveland) Pittsburgh Steelwheelers: Mark Gorman (Bordentown): Mark Shaffer (Johnstown) Chicago Sidewinders: Perry Bender, Milt Smith, Bob Trotter, (RIC Rollers); Dave Reynolds (Lafayette); Greg Ridley, (U . of Illinois) Chicago Wheelchair Bulls : Pat Daley (Phoenix Suns); Josh Fabian (RIC Rollers) Rockford Chariots: Craig Carlson (Quint Cities); Mike Weldon (Madison) Ottawa Shooters : Barry Butler & Don Patterson (Ottawa Royals) Detroit Sparks: Gary Odorowski (Toledo) Kitchener Twin City Spinners: Eric Courseau (London); Archie Hardie (Hamilton) Ottawa Royals: Linda Kutrowski (Ottawa Shooters) Pasadena Bay Area Coasters : Roberto Moldonado (South Texas) Lafayette Spinners: Bill Suter (Circle City) Cincinnati Flyers: Kent Waltz (Wright State) Bordentown Elks: Ariel Roman , Tony Hewitt (New Jersey) New Jersey Blue Devils: Joe Bravo, Gerry Fleming (Orange County); Chuck Wyatt (EPVA Chargers) Philadelphia Spokesmen: John DeAngelo, Jim Falls (Temple U.); Randy McGlocklin (Courage Rolling Gophers); Kevin Paxton, (Houston) Champaign-Urbana Black Knights : Mike Boyce , Greg Ridley (U. of Illinois); Ray Clark (St. Louis Rams) Courage Rolling Gophers: Scott Euteneuer (Southwest State U.); Elmer Megna (UW-Whitewater): Greg Schlosser (Granit City) Mankato Key City Rollers: Mark Schmitt (Southwest State U.) Sioux Wheelers: Craig Charbonneau, Shannon Gladue (Grand Forks) Courage Rolling Gophers Women: Diane Jacobsen (Mankato); Jill Wickman (Southwest State U.) UTA - College : Jesus Alamillo, William Hernandez (LOS Angeles Stars); Dean King, Jan Mattern (UTA- White) UTA - Blue Quant Khuu (UTA-White) UTA - White: Rick Gore, Wanders Stons (UTA-Blue) Waco Knights: Joe Thiege (Colorado Rolling Cowboys) Canton Chariots: Ken Medeiros (Boston Mustangs) Bellevue Bombers: Lennie Clark (Seattle) Eugene ORC Lowriders: Cleary BUCkley (Pasadena) Willamette Valley Rollin' Rebels: Bob Lafavor (Lane County); Mike Meier (Grand Forks): Bob Verril (San Diego Knights) Albuquerque Bullets: willie Davis (Grand Forks); Art Creach (Pittsburgh) Phoenix: J. Wilsford (N. Alabama Wheelers) Chattanooga Big Wheels: Rick Helms ( ) Orange Coast College Pirates: Axel Flores, Steve Javier, Bonnie Jones, Bradley Ray, Bob Rice, Mike Watson, Tom Czarnecki (Saddleback College); Paul MaCMonagle , (Cypress College) Whittier Wings: Kevin Hardiman, Fernando Leyva, Clark Whitehead (Rancho Los Amigos) Cypress College Chariots: Ron Gardy , Dan Osburn, Craig Shewmake (Saddleback Gauchos) Inland Empire Rolling Bears: Guy Perry (San Diego); Richard perry (Whittier) Phoenix Samarital Wheelchair Suns: Larry Falk (Sioux) Green Bay Horizons : Mike Bloshowiak (OW -Whitewater); Randy King (Courage) U of Wisconsin-Whitewater: Mike Frogley (Ottawa Royals) Wright State Univ. Raiders: Tod Cox (Baylor): Andy Krieger (Fresno) Arkansas Rollin' Razorbacks: Tim Kazee (Columbus) San Diego City Knights: Dan Altan (Kitchener Spinners) Dallas Mavericks: Mike Gabriel (North Florida) Courage Rolling Timber- wolves: Steve Hansen (Twin Port) Fresno Red Rollers: Sal Diaz (Los Angeles Stars); Mik Elix (Golden State) Golden State 76ers: Victor Escamilla, Rod Hart (Berkeley) Lakeshore Pioneers: David Gould () Maryville Wheelbillies: David Stami, Tony Torbett (Knoxville) Toledo Silver Streaks : Claude Autry, Gus Franks, Dennis Mussery , Rick St. John (Glass City) Cas a Colina Condors : Andre Anderson (New Jersey): Dan Lachman (Cypress College); Mike Schlappi, (V. of Arizona); Javier Gonzoles (Casa Colina Commodores)