14th Annual Day on the Lake

Day on the Lake makes a big splash at Barlett Lake. Over the course of two days, June 4 and 5 2010, 118 participants with neurological disabilities participated in Barrow Neurological Institute's 14th annual Day on the Lake. The sports and recreation event allowed participants to water ski, jet ski, fish, kayak and take boat rides. Day on the Lake provides unique opportunities to the neurologically impaired who don't have many opportunities to experience these types of water sports. With the help of The Barrow Connection and a specialized team from California, participants can try their hand at water sports in a safe and encouraging environment. "Day on the Lake" provides access to recreation and allows people with disabilities to live an active life. For more information of events such as Day on the Lake, please contact Jo Crawford at The Barrow Connection at 602-406-6280.

2010 Desert Challenge Games

More than 120 athletes from across the nation, Canada and Bermuda gathered in Mesa from May 19-23 for the 2010 Desert Challenge Games. The weekend included competitions in archery, field, track, swimming and weightlifting. Individuals were also able to obtain international classification at the event in Mesa which is only one of two locations in the U.S. to provide the opportunity. The US Olympic Committee hosted a military camp for Wounded Warriors the week prior to the games and then 25 Wounded Warriors competed in the Desert Challenge Games. Many awards were given out to the amazing athletes including the 2010 Power Player Award presented by Grand Canyon State Games to David Ryberg. More information at www.desertchallengegames.com.

AzDS is launching their new E-newsletter

Arizona Disabled Sports is excited for the creation of a new E-newsletter that will be distributed by email to athletes, families and community members each quarter. The E-newsletter will feature quick news on upcoming and past events and then the new AzDS Blog will feature the full-length story.

2010 USPSA Nationals: Bittersweet Ending

The 2010 USPSA National Tournament was going to be the culmination five great years with the Arizona Heat soccer team. After spending the last five years with the Heat, I decided to join the new Arizona State University Power Soccer Club at the conclusion of the season. But before I join my new team, I wanted to make sure that my final season with the Heat would be our best season ever.

Expectations were high as we welcomed two new teammates from Indiana, Ginny Munson and Katie Dickey. The two came from a successful power soccer program, so we were hoping some of that winning spirit would follow them to the Valley of the Sun. And follow them it did. From the first practice, our new teammates brought a renewed vigor to the Heat squad that hasn’t been around for a long time. Our team had a new dimension and excitement that gave us hope for a very successful 2010 season.

2010 USPSA Nationals: A Lesson of Perserverance

After a great second place finish at the Western Regional, we on the Arizona Heat 2nd Degree were feeling really good about our chances at this year’s national tournament. However, those hopes were dampened slightly when we found out that one of us wasn’t going to be able to make the trip. It would change our game plan a bit, but we still felt strong heading to Indianapolis.

Arriving at the airport, another member of our team showed up extremely ill, but he decided to make the trek anyway. He wanted to be there for the rest of us and he was sacrificing his health for the team. When the team arrived in Indianapolis, it was decided that our sick teammate was too sick and needed immediate medical attention. A trip to the hospital now left us with only four players. Despite the circumstances, we had to carry on.

2010 Power Soccer Golf Benefit raises funds to support team trip to Nationals

This past April, the Arizona Heat Power Soccer Team held its annual benefit golf tournament at The Links at Queen Creek. In order to take advantage of the cooler weather, the tournament was moved to April, and the temperatures did not disappoint. The temps hovered around the high 80s for the event and it was a perfect day for a trip to the links. More than 80 golfers came out to support the Heat and hang out with friends. And in an effort to root on the golfers, several of the Heat athletes were on hand to cheer everyone on and thank them for their support. The athletes even made their way out to hole number five to help run the closest to the pin contest and watch the action up close.

Everyone had a great time on the course and the event was a great success. After the golf was over, everyone was treated to lunch, an awards ceremony and raffle. All of the golfers, athletes and volunteers had a great time as it was another successful tournament. When it was all said and done, the tournament raised more than $5,000 for the Heat and the funds were used to help supplement the expenses of the trip to the National Power Soccer Tournament this past June in Indiana. Thank you to everyone who participated and volunteered at the event. If you would like to participate in next year’s tournament, please email Gabe Trujillo at gabettrujillo@gmail.com.

USPSA Restructuring

There will be a major restructure of the divisions next year for the United States Power Soccer Association. The USPSA is doing away with the familiar division 1 and division 2 system and adopting a new conference format. Starting next season, the 60 teams in the USPSA will be divided into six conferences. The new conferences will be created by the teams’ overall skill level. For example, the top 10 division 1 teams will be in the top conference and new teams and the lower level division 2 teams will be in the bottom conference. The USPSA Competition Committee will review each team and inform all the teams of which conference they’re in later this year.

Once the new conferences are created, each team will be required to play at least 12 games in order to qualify for the Conference Cup. Instead of the traditional National Tournament, each conference will now hold a Conference Cup Tournament to determine a conference champion. The tournaments will be held at the end of the season in June and tournament sites are yet to be determined. For updates on the new conference alignment, please visit the USPSA Website at www.powersoccerusa.net.

Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) is amazing!

The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) raises money to help people with physical disabilities pursue an active lifestyle through physical fitness and competitive athletics. For more information on CAF visist: http://www.challengedathletes.org/

Through the generous grant program for individuals with physical disabilities, the following Arizona Heat athletes were able to receive brand new adaptive equipment:

Troy Davis - handcycle
Erik Hightower - handcycle
Mike Fleming - handcycle
David Ryberg - racing chair
Mike Tagliapietra - racing chair
Gavin Warren - racing chair
Ty Kachanuk - racing chair
Elysse Power - racing chair
Rachel Kroener - basketball wheelchair
Austin Alcorn - recumbent cycle
Evie Boone - recumbent cycle

The total grant amount for the Arizona Heat athletes is over $25,000!!! CAF is amazing!

Junior Suns 9th at Invitational Tournament

Senior Robert Reed finished his junior wheelchair basketball career on a high note in Denver last April, scoring 114 of the Suns' total 183 points for their 4 games of the National Junior Invitational Tournament.

"Robby," as he is known by his teammates, led the team to their best finish yet in the national tournament, ninth overall, scoring an average of 28 points per game with assistance from starters Paul Rodriguez, also a senior, Stephen Binning, Joe Underwood, Rachel Kroener and, in the last game of their high school career, Adam Phillips.

For the first time in the '09-'10 season, the league determined which teams played varsity and which played the Junior Invitational Tournament (formerly junior varsity) from among all teams playing on the 10 foot baskets. The Suns were ranked 25th among the 53 ten-foot teams, giving them the 9th seed in the invitational tournament. The Junior Banner Wheelchair Suns are jointly sponsored by Arizona Disabled Sports and Banner Wheelchair Suns/Mercury.

Working 2 Walk Symposium

An exciting new conference is coming to Phoenix this year! Unite 2 Fight Paralysis is hosting the 5th annual Working 2 Walk Science & Advocacy Symposium on November 11-13, 2010 at the Phoenix Airport Marriott. The symposium will be full of cutting edge research and resources. Arizona Disabled Sports is partnering with Unite 2 Fight Paralysis to end the conference with a fun day full of adaptive sports and recreation.

Speakers at the conference include Drs. Wise Young, Philip Horner, Stephen Davies & John McDonald, Ed Wirth and Frank Reynolds. For more information visit www.working2walk.org or email unite@unite2fightparalysis.org.