Twenty-Two Named to Player Pool for Wheelchair National Team
by Matthew Collins
USA Team Handball has announced the inaugural Wheelchair National Team Player Pool. While varying in age, all of the athletes have prior adaptive athletics experience, having competed in wheelchair basketball, tennis, and rugby, among others.
PLAYER POOL | AGE | HOMETOWN |
Austin "Mack" Johnson | 27 | Charlotte, NC |
Jeff Townsend | 45 | Anderson, SC |
Rashad Bennett | 26 | Birmingham, AL |
Joe Rafter | 22 | West Chester, PA |
Samuel Armas | 24 | Villa Rica, GA |
Najee Smothers | 17 | Lawrenceville, GA |
Ben Edwards | 19 | Lee's Summit, MO |
Chayse Wolf | 27 | Blythewood, SC |
Larry Furnace | 56 | St. Louis, MO |
Jian Jackson | 19 | Hoover, AL |
Joon Reid | 44 | Vestavia, AL |
Elizabeth "Liz" Pentecost | 22 | Atlanta, GA |
Samantha Fraser | 20 | Atlanta, GA |
Stuart Olsen | 43 | Seattle, WA |
Erica Wilson | 26 | Childersburg, AL |
Emilee Gustafson | 23 | Big Lake, MN |
Drew Selz | 26 | Milwaukee, WI |
Ryan Eliassen | 25 | Tuscaloosa, AL |
Luke Robinson | 22 | Alexandria, VA |
Sydney Schmidt | 23 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Jake Eastwood | 21 | Mill Creek, WA |
Harsh Thakkar | 38 | Alexandria, VA |
The next opportunity for the athletes to showcase their skills to the coaching staff will be from August 2nd to 4th in Auburn, AL, at the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum.
"Selecting the 22 athletes for the inaugural USA Team Handball Wheelchair National Team Athlete Pool is a monumental step forward. Our athletes, competing for the final roster of just 10 spots, represent the pinnacle of dedication and showcase the very best of adapted athletics," Head Coach Ford Dyke said.
"I am confident in our 2024 Athlete Pool, as we prepare to compete in the 3rd IHF Wheelchair Handball World Championship. We are poised to make a significant impact on the world stage."
The athletes are seeking a roster spot for the 2024 3rd IHF Wheelchair Handball World Championship, which will take place in Cairo, Egypt from September 16th to 21st. The tournament in Egypt this September will be played with four players, per team, on the court at one time.
More information about the World Championship can be found HERE.
The Rules of the Game for Four-a-Side Wheelchair Handball can be found HERE.
Our athletes, competing for the final roster of just 10 spots, represent the pinnacle of dedication and showcase the very best of adapted athletics...We are poised to make a significant impact on the world stage.