Magee Eagles Wheelchair Rugby Team Wins its First National Championship

Philadelphia, Pa. – The Magee Eagles wheelchair rugby team recently notched its first-ever national championship. The squad dominated its way through the competition at the United States Quad Rugby Association (USQRA) Division II National Tournament, held April 7-9 on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The Eagles finished with an impressive 5-0 record, capped by a thrilling 38-33 championship victory against the top-seeded OG’s from Southern California. The local team, sponsored by Magee Rehabilitation Hospital and the Philadelphia Eagles, lost in the finals last year.

Coached by Tom Hammill of Voorhees, NJ, the members of the National Champion Magee Eagles are:

Eric Anderson of Philadelphia, PA
A.J. Nanayakkara of Roslyn, PA
Adam Bencsik of Plymouth Meeting, PA
Keith Newerla of Absecon, NJ
Everett Deibler of Lebanon, PA
Jim Thompson of Cherry Hill, NJ
Rob Deller of Lebanon, PA
Brian Yarrusso of New Castle, DE
 
The Eagles, which were seeded second in the tournament, defeated Michigan’s Great Lakes Storm, 36-30; the Chicago Bears, 44-33; and The University of Arizona Wildcats, 37-36, to advance to the semifinals. In the semifinal game, the Eagles battled the Pasadena Texans—the Cinderella story of the weekend—who were the eighth and lowest seed to qualify for the tournament.  The Eagles jumped on the Texans early and eventually won, 42-20, earning themselves a spot in the finals.

Bencsik was named the USQRA Division II Most Valuable Player for his performance over the weekend.

Last year, “Murderball,” which is available on video and DVD, brought national attention to the sport of wheelchair rugby. The Academy Award-nominated documentary introduced both the sport and the physically disabled culture to the general public.

Wheelchair rugby is a contact sport played by individuals with disabilities in both their upper and lower extremities.  The sport is played on a regulation basketball court.  The object of the game is to carry a volleyball across the goal line that is located on both baselines of the court.  Players on offense must pass or dribble the ball every 10 seconds.  Defensive players are allowed to smash their specially designed wheelchairs into offensive players in an attempt to knock the ball free.