Peter Hughes took over as head coach of Arizona’s wheelchair rugby team, a group that had just won two USWRA National Championships in the sport. The director of Arizona’s adaptive athletics program, Hughes didn’t know much about wheelchair rugby, but he knew a change had to be made.
Hughes told the team that they had to recruit more students and everyday athletes to keep the program alive. He knew the change might mean fewer championships for Arizona, but it was something that had to be done.
Hughes didn’t know how his Arizona team would react. They were used to competing at the highest level against the best competition.
“Are you guys OK with that?” Hughes asked the team.
Decorated Paralympian Josh Wheeler was the first to step up and say he was OK with the change — excited, even, to bring in more novice players.
Although Wheeler supported the move, he still had some hesitation. Would he be working with athletes from other countries who may ultimately become his competitors?
But Hughes said Wheeler put the growth of the program and wheelchair rugby in general as his priority.