COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – The University of Wisconsin at Whitewater and the University of Missouri wheelchair basketball teams are well represented on the 2017 U.S. Men’s U23 World Championships Team, announced by the NWBA on Monday. The University of Wisconsin at Whitewater secured five positions, with the University of Missouri placing three athletes on the team that will compete at 2017 IWBF U23 Men’s World Championships in Toronto, Canada, in June 8-16.
Leading the way for the Whitewater team are Kyle Gribble of Elmhurst, Illinois, and John Schwartz of Osceola, Indiana, who both helped the Warhawks to a National title in the 2015-16 season. Mark Krenz II of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Collin Evans of Mondovi, Wisconsin; and Drew Selz of Waterford, Wisconsin, round out the five athletes from Whitewater.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has produced numerous U.S. Paralympians, and is a perennial force in the NWBA’s Intercollegiate Division. The Warhawks have won six of the last nine National Championships, all under the guidance of head coach Jeremy Lade of Whitewater, Wisconsin, who is also the head coach of the U.S. U23 Men’s team.
Representing the Mizzou Tigers are Marshall Lindsay of Stansbury Park, Utah; Tyler Malone of Arlington, Texas; and Joe Underwood of Phoenix, Arizona.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha has two athletes on the team with Jeromie Meyer II of Woodbine, Iowa, and Brent Regier of Henderson, Nebraska.
Rounding out the 12-athlete roster are Fabian Romo of Missouri City, Texas, who plays for the University of Texas at Arlington, and Chayse Wolf of Wilmington, Ohio, who rolls for Edinboro University.
Team USA won the International Basketball Federation Continental Qualifier in January by going undefeated in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the Qualifier, Team USA outscored its competition 438-171 over six games with an average of 73 points per game, and holding its opponents to 28.5 points per game.
The United States was drawn into Pool B for the 12-team World Championships. They will start pool play on June 8 against Great Britain at 10 a.m. EDST. The rest of Pool B includes: Japan, France, South Africa and Germany. Pool A is Turkey, Iran, Brazil, Australia, Italy, and host country Canada.
Quarterfinals for the World Championships is slated for June 14, followed by 5th-10th place games and semi-finals on June 15. The gold and bronze medal games scheduled for June 16.
Joining Lade on the sidelines are assistant coaches Christian Burkett of Seattle, Washington, and Scott Meyer of Columbia, Missouri. Kelly Fischbach will serve as the Team Leader, with Mike Lenser of Whitewater, Wisconsin working at the athletic trainer.
The U23 men’s wheelchair basketball program is an international development team that serves as NWBA pipeline to the U.S. Men’s National Team. This program provides elite youth athletes the opportunity to compete at the international level. Team USA has reached the championship game in three of the last five U23 World Championships, having won in 2005 and 2009. The United States claimed a bronze medal in 2001, and did not participate in 2013.
2017 U.S. Men’s U23 World Championships Roster
Alphabetical
Name, Hometown, College Team
Collin Evans, Mondovi, Wis., Univ. Wis-Whitewater
Kyle Gribble, Elmhurst, Ill., Univ. Wis-Whitewater
Mark Krenz II, Milwaukee, Wis., Univ. Wis-Whitewater
Marshall Lindsay, Stansbury Park, Utah, Univ. of Missouri
Tyler Malone, Arlington, Texas, Univ. of Missouri
Jeromie Meyer II, Woodbine, Iowa, Univ. Nebraska-Omaha
Brent Regier, Henderson, Neb., Univ. Nebraska-Omaha
Fabian Romo, Missouri City, Texas, Univ. Texas-Arlington
John Schwartz, Osceola, Ind., Univ. Wis-Whitewater
Drew Selz, Waterford, Wis., Univ. Wis-Whitewater
Joe Underwood, Phoenix, Ariz., Univ. of Missouri
Chayse Wolf, Wilmington, Ohio, Edinboro University
Head coach: Jeremy Lade, Whitewater, Wisconsin; Assistant coaches: Christian Burkett, Seattle, Washington; Scott Meyer, Columbia, Missouri; Team leader: Kelly Fischbach, Vermillion, South Dakota; Athletic Trainer: Mike Lenser, Whitewater, Wisconsin
2017 IWBF U23 Men’s World Championships Schedule
Toronto, Canada, June 8-16 (All Times EDST / Home Team Listed Last)
June 8 at 10 a.m.
USA vs. Great Britain
June 9 at 3 p.m.
Germany vs. USA
June 10 at 8 a.m.
France vs. USA
June 11 at 12 p.m.
USA vs. Japan
June 12 at 12 p.m.
South Africa vs. USA
June 14
11th/12th Place Game at 10 a.m.
Quarterfinals at 12 p.m.; 3 p.m.; 6 p.m.; 8 p.m.
June 15
9th/10th Place Game at 10 a.m.
7th/8th Place Game at 12 p.m.
5th/6th Place Game at 3 p.m.
Semi-Finals at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
June 16
Bronze Medal Game at 10 a.m.
Gold Medal Game at 12 p.m.
2017 IWBF U23 Men’s World Championships Pools
Toronto, Canada, June 8-16
Pool A: Turkey, Iran, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Italy
Pool B: Great Britain, Japan, United States, France, South Africa, Germany
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