CHARLOTTESVILLE–The Charlottesville Cardinals wheelchair basketball team opens its 33rd season this weekend by heading to Atlanta to compete in the “Shepherd Shoot-out”.
The Cardinals will unfortunately open their season a bit short-handed, with leading scorers Mike Looney and Arthur Tracy unable to play this weekend. Charlottesville will also be missing veteran Cort Thomas at the tournament.
“We’ll be missing some important guys but we’ll also have some talented new players and veterans Brandon Rush, Chris Robinson,Gino Wilson, and Eddie Wimbish with us,” said coach Tom Vandever. “The tournament will allow us an opportunity to use newcomers Andrea Woodson-Smith, Derry Hill, Jeremy Smith, and India Sims in the lineup.”
The 15th-ranked Cardinals will tangle with the host 8th-ranked Shepherd Stealers Friday night. On Saturday the Cardinals will face the Orlando Magic, the University of Alabama-Men, and the finish the day against the University of Alabama-Women.
“It’s a very tough field,” said Vandever,”but a great opportunity for our team to meld our new players with our veterans. And, of course, we’re not conceding anything.”
Charlottesville will follow the Atlanta trip by trekking to the University of Pennsylvania-Edinboro the following weekend for the annual “Boro Shoot-out”.
“No rest for the weary,” said Vandever.