SPORTS 'N SPOKES

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Batt-Man Begins

The rugby nationals brought forth its usual excitement, while a potential superhero emerged onto the scene.

The United States Quad Rugby Association's (USQRA) National Championships were overshadowed by the emergence of a new force in rugby—Batman, or, more accurately, Batt-man. That's right, there's a new superhero in the league who has everyone abuzz—3.5 (highest functioning) Ryley Batt, the Division I (D-I) MVP. Batt-man, 18, is just a youngster, but he doesn't play like one. From Australia, he competes for the Sharp Edge, the San Diego D-I squad. (Each U.S. club team is allowed one international player.)

The USQRA National Championships took place in Louisville, Ky., April 3-5. This is the year's biggest gathering of the wheelchair-rugby family. It was also the fifth time Jill Farmer, Karey McDowell, and all the volunteers from Frazier Rehab hosted these games. Farmer and McDowell received the 2009 USQRA Spirit of Achievement Award for their professionalism and dedication to the sport.

Playing With the Big Boys

This wasn't Batt's first battle with the big boys. He played on the Australian squad that lost to Team USA in the gold-medal game at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. He gave the Americans fits for two quarters, but the U.S.'s depth wore the Aussies down. Batt emerged as a force. If only a U.S. team could coax him into playing for them. Sharp did. Batt-man came to San Diego, and Sharp brought home the USQRA D-I National Championship.

Certainly Batt didn't do it alone. Sharp would be a really good team without Batt-man, but with him they are great. What makes Batt-man Batman? Well, he is missing limbs, but he has full trunk function. He's big. Very strong. Extremely quick. And perhaps, most important, he is as smart as he is strong. Combine all that, and you've got Batt-man.

It doesn't hurt to have Andy Cohn, a 2.0 who is a starter on Team USA and one of the best 2.0s in the world. Add Brent Poppin and Sammy Gloor, both 2.0s with world-class experience who sub for one another, and low-pointer 0.5 Paul Richardson, and you have a team that is extremely tough to beat.


Read about how Sharp, with that Batt man leading the way, went on to the D-I title. Coverage also includes D-II action, with the Minnesota North Stars edging the Portland Pounders for the championship.

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