Mark Zupan
Months after Zupan's accident, at Jackson Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital, he was introduced to Quad Rugby. He had no interest at that time, believing that he would soon return to the soccer field. Quadriplegic? Me? Nah.
In September of 1994, realizing that his life was in fact forever changed, Mark decided to pursue his engineering education at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. It was here that Mark first suited up and wheeled onto a rugby court. He quickly took to the game's hard-hitting action and, after graduating in 1999, he relocated to Austin, Texas, with hopes of joining the #2-ranked Stampede--and one day, the USA Paralympic Team.
His training paid off. He became one of the most feared players on the Stampede, and was subsequently chosen for three National Teams. In 2002 he was voted Quad Rugby Player of the Year, and in 2004 he was a starter for Team USA at the Paralympics in Athens, Greece, where he led the team to a Bronze medal. He continues to compete and train, preparing for the 2008 summer Olympic games in Beijing.
Joe Soares
Joe started playing rugby in 1989 and is the only player to have participated in 13 consecutive US National Championships. While a member of the Tampa Generals, his team held a 93-game consecutive winning streak and had 41 consecutive tournament final appearances.
Outside of rugby, Joe enjoys playing tennis and basketball. He was a finalist in singles and a champion in doubles at the 1996 US Open for wheelchair tennis in the Quad "A" Division, and has earned several all-tournament team selections during his 24 years of experience playing basketball. Joe and his wife Patricia have two sons, Joseph, 22 and Robert, 14.
Keith Cavill
Born and raised in Wayne, NJ, Keith was actively racing Motocross and always into adventurous activities such as snowboarding, street bikes, four wheelers, and ice hockey. While racing Motocross in the summer of 2003, Keith's accident led to a broken neck (C4-C5). He's actively participating in therapy 3 days/week as well research studies associated with physical rehabilitation. He's building up his strength and upper mobility in preparation to tackle Quad Rugby and all of the other extreme Quad sports he can find. He also enjoys talking with other spinal cord injury patients and would love to be a motivational speaker.
During down time Keith has been getting back to hanging with friends, which includes going out to lounges, clubs, and bars in New York City, and looking for someone special.
Andy Cohn
Andy, a native of Arizona, is moving to Coronada, CA this summer, was an "any and every sport" athlete until he suffered a broken neck and spinal cord injury as a passenger in a car on his way home from school at age 16. Andy struggled with the adjustments and depression from the resulting incomplete quadriplegia until he discovered Quad Rugby. "Murderball" proved to be the perfect competitive outlet that was missing in Andy's life. Having played for nearly ten seasons for the Phoenix Heat and the last four seasons for Team USA, Andy has excelled in the sport he loves even earning the Athlete of the Year award in 2002.
Off the court Andy enjoys volunteering at local hospitals and rehabs as a peer mentor to new patients with spinal cord injuries.
Outside of "Murderball", Andy is obsessed with X-Box and Texas Hold 'Em poker and can always be found listening to music in warm ups - especially Linkin Park and Jack Johnson.
Scott Hogsett
Scott Hogsett was born in Spokane, WA where he studied sports and partying. At the early age of 19, Scott was involved in an accident that rendered him a C-5/ C-6 quadriplegic. After the accident, Scott wanted to further his education and better himself, so he chose to move to Phoenix, AZ and attend Arizona State University. There he majored in recreational therapy, completing his bachelor's degree in 2000.
Scott now focuses his time playing wheelchair rugby for Team USA and the Phoenix Heat. When he's not playing rugby, he works as a peer-mentor visiting various Phoenix hospitals. He recently married the woman of his dreams in Maui, HI. Scott's hobbies include training (hand-cycling, lifting weights, swimming), playing Texas Hold-em, traveling, and spending as much free-time with his wife as possible.
Although Scott still resides in AZ, he spends the summers training in the beautiful Northwest at Couer d'Alene lake. Scott looks forward to the future and hopes for the chance at winning the Gold in Beijing, China in 2008.
Bob Lujano
Bob was born in Wichita, Kansas and graduated from University of Texas at Arlington (B.A. in Pre-Law). He holds a M.S. in Sports Management from University of Tennessee. He's also a quadruple amputee. On January 7, 1979, he lost limbs below the elbow and above the knee, due to a rare blood disease called Meningococcemia, which is a rare form of meningitis. On October 4, 1979, he met and was blessed by Pope John Paul II.
In the 10 years of playing quad ruby he has won 5 US Quad Rugby National Championships with the Lakeshore Demolition of Birmingham, Al and won 3 medals playing rugby for team USA. One Gold Medal ('99 World Wheelchair Games in Christchurch New Zealand), One Silver Medal (Wolrd Championships of rugby in Gotenburg, Sweden) and One Bronze Medal (2004 Paralympic Games Athens, Greece).
For 7 years he has worked at the Lakeshore Foundation, an official US Olympic & Paralympic Training Site, as the Coordinator of Athletics. Bob's two mottos in life:
"Seek first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness will be added unto you" (Matt 6:33)
"No arms, no legs, no problem!"