TOKYO 2020
WHEELCHAIR
RUGBY
Wheelchair Rugby became a great outlet for Joe after enduring a life altering injury. The competitive fire is one thing that never left his body. This is evident by his 13 consecutive years of being named to the National Team. With his many medals and accolades, Joe can proudly proclaim that he is the only athlete to ever earn the USQRA Athlete of the Year Award twice. Joe has a passion for leadership, and has served as a co-captain of the the United States of America Wheelchair Rugby Team (USAWR) for 8 years. Competing in wheelchair rugby has taken Joe all over the states and world. He most notably has been apart of 3 World Championship teams (2010 gold, 2014 bronze, and 2018 bronze), and won Bronze at the 2012 London Paralympics. After being an alternate in 2016 for the Rio Paralympics, Joe was motivated to reach the goal of making it to Tokyo 2020, and ended up winning Silver!
Athletic bio
Joe is one of the best wheelchair rugby players in the world. Joe is in his 13th year playing for the US Wheelchair Rugby National Team. He truly knows the meaning of overcoming obstacles after sustaining a life altering spinal cord injury on July 10, 2004. He loves to spread his story about his journey from college football player to life in a wheelchair to elite athlete.
Joe is the only wheelchair rugby player to be named Athlete of the Year for the USQRA, winning the award in 2012 and 2015. He was named best in class 2.0 in the 2014 and 2018 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships. Leadership is a passion of Joe’s and has been able to provide it to the team as a captain 8 years on the squad. Joe won bronze at the London 2012 Paralympics, was an alternate for the Rio 2016 squad that won Silver, and won Silver at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. With these accolades, it is easy to see how no obstacles will stand in his way of achieving success.
Awards & Recognition
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2020: Paralympic Games - Tokyo, Japan - Silver Medal
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2020: Quad Nations - Leicester, England - Gold Medal
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2019: World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge - Tokyo, Japan - Gold Medal
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2019: Parapan American Games - Lima, Peru - Gold Medal
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2019: Four Nations Wheelchair Rugby Invitational - Birmingham, Alabama - Silver Medal
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2018: USA Wheelchair Rugby World Championship Team – Bronze Medal
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2018: World Championships All Tournament Team- Best 2.0 in the world
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2018: Canada Cup- Vancouver, Canada- Gold Medal
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2018: Quad Nations- Leicester, England-Gold Medal
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2017: American Zonal Championships- Asunción, Paraguay- Gold Medal
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2017: Japan Para Championships - Chiba, Japan - Gold Medal
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2017: Tri Nations - Birmingham, Alabama - Silver Medal
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2017: Tri Nations All Tournament Team
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2016: Paralympic Games - Rio de Janiero - Alternate
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2015: World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge - London, United Kingdom - Silver Medal
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2015: World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge All Tournament Team
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2015: Parapan American Games- Toronto, Canada- Silver Medal
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2015: USQRA Athlete of the Year (Only player to receive award twice)
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2014: USA Wheelchair Rugby World Championship Team
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2014: World Championship All Tournament Team-Best 2.0 in the World
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2014: Phoenix Heat Club Team - Division I National Champions
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2013: Denmark Wheelchair Rugby Challenge - Odense, Denmark - Gold Medal
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2013: Tri-Nations Tournament Sydney, Australia - Gold Medal
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2013: American Zonal Championships - Birmingham, Alabama - Gold Medal
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2012: Paralympic Games - London, United Kingdom - Bronze Medal
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2012: Canada Cup, Vancouver, Canada- Gold Medal
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2012: USQRA Athlete of the Year
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2011: Wheelchair Rugby American Zonal Championships-Bogota, Columbia- Gold Medal
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2010: World Wheelchair Rugby Championship-Vancouver, Canada- Gold Medal
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2009: USA Wheelchair Rugby American Zonal Training Team
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