The Road to Rio in men’s wheelchair basketball commences at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games Selection Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., Jan. 3-6. The deep class of athletes trying out for the 2016 men’s squad is Jeremy Lade of Milton, Wis. (2004, 2008, 2012), and Matt Scott of Southfield, Mich. (2004, 2008, 2012), who are attempting to play in their fourth Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in September.

The Lade and Scott tandem have played in the last three Paralympic Games for Team USA and are hoping to impress for a return to the hardwoods in hopes of adding to their 2012 London bronze medal. 

The U.S. Men’s team qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games by winning the 2015 Parapan Am Games in Toronto, Canada, earlier this year. The U.S. men dominated the competition by outscoring their six opponents by 36 points per game and defeated Canada 62-39 en route to the gold medal. 

Four athletes are eyeing a third trip to the Paralympics with Michael Paye of Macomb, Mich., and Steve Serio of Westbury, N.Y., headlining the list of athletes. Also joining for a potential third trip are Joshua Turek of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Will Waller of Hudson, Ohio (2000 and 2012). 

The field of 26 athletes trying out for the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team brings a wealth of experience with nine U.S. Paralympians, and 11 of the 12 athletes from the 2015 U.S. Parapan Am Games gold-medal team. Seven athletes from the bronze-medal winning 2012 London Paralympics look to return to the big stage, as well as five from the 2008 Beijing and four from the 2004 Athens teams. 

Nate Hinze of Oshkosh, Wis., and Trevon Jenifer of Edinboro, Pa., are attempting to make their second Paralympic squad after winning bronze in London in 2012. Jermell Pennie of Dallas, Texas, hopes to make a second team after last playing at the Athens Paralympics. 2008 U.S. Paralympian 

2015 Parapan Am Games teammates Jared Arambula of Valparaiso, Ind., Brian Bell of Foreset Park, Ill., John Gilbert of Salisbury, Mo., Ryan Neiswender of Lebanon, Pa., and Aaron Gouge of Grand Prairie, Texas look to make their first U.S. Paralympic Team. 

U.S. Men’s Team Head Coach Ron Lykins of Columbia, Mo., who coached the U.S. Women’s Paralympic Teams to gold medals in 2004 and 2008, will lead the selection camp with Robert Taylor of Chicago, Ill., and John Sikora of Pittsburgh, Pa., serving as assistant coaches. Christian Burkett of Seattle, Wash., and Gavin Cloy of Cummings, Ga., are also part of the selection committee. 

The final selection of 12 athletes that will represent the United States at the Rio Paralympic Games will occur in June of this year, following several more evaluation camps and friendly competitions. The Rio Paralympic Games are scheduled for Sept. 7-18. 

The U.S. Men’s team finished with a bronze medal at the 2012 London Paralympics and look to improve in Rio de Janeiro. The men’s team finished 7th in 2008 and fourth in 2004, following bronze-medal performances in 2000 and 1996. 

The sport of wheelchair basketball started in the United States in 1945 following World War II. The sport has grown worldwide and was introduced at the Rome 1960 Paralympic Games and today it is nearly participated in 100 countries. The sport is designed for athletes who have physical impairment that prevents running, jumping and pivoting. Men and women play on teams of five players each and the measurements of the court and the height of the baskets are the same as in able-bodied basketball. 

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2016 Rio Paralympic Games
Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Selection Camp Roster
Name    Residence
Jared Arambula    Valparaiso, Ind.
Brian Bell    Forest Park, Ill.
John Boie    Milton, Wis.
Matthew Bollig    Columbia, Mo.
John Gilbert    Salisbury, Mo.
Aaron Gouge    Grand Prairie, Texas
Tyrone Griner    Medford, Ore.
Nate Hinze    Oshkosh, Wis.
Randy Jaramillo    Albuquerque, N.M.
Trevon Jenifer    Edinboro, Pa.
Derek Klinkner    Marshall, Minn.
Jeremy Lade    Milton, Wis.
Matt Lesperance    Sun Prairie, Wis.
Marshall Lindsay    Columbia, Mo.
Ian Lynch    Bellevue, Ky.
James Moceri, Jr.    Macomb, Mich.    
Ryan Neiswender    Lebanon, Pa.
Michael Paye    Macomb, Mich.
Jermell Pennie    Dallas, Texas
Jorge Sanchez    Dublin, Calif.
Matt Scott    Southfield, Mich.
Steve Serio    Westbury, N.Y.
Joshua Turek    Council Bluffs, Iowa
Will Waller    Hudson, Ohio    

Selection Staff:  
Head Coach: Ron Lykins, Columbia, Mo.
Assistant Coaches: Robert Taylor, Chicago, Ill.; John Sikora, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Team Leader: Scott Meyer, Columbia, Mo.
Athletic Trainer: Mary Vacala, Savannah,  Ga.
Strength Coach: Michael Cohen, Savannah, Ga.
Selection Members: Christian Burkett, Seattle, Wash.; Gavin Cloy, Cummings, Ga.