The first Crab Pot Wheelchair Rugby Tournament
The University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institution held it’s inaugural Crab Pot wheelchair rugby tournament. The sport, also know as quad rugby (short for quadriplegic), is an international sport for players that have disability affecting at least three limbs.
- Jessie Groe of Parkville helps Scott Beemer of Maryland Mayhem as he secures himself to his rugby chair during the first Crab Pot Tournament. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Maryland Mayhem’s Mike Henley passes to a teammate over a Capitol Punishers player during the first Crab Pot Tournament. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Occupational therapy student Laura Karp helps place utility gloves on Maryland Mayhem player Louis Fortune during the first Crab Pot Tournament at University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- With Capitol Punishers players defending (left), Maryland Mayhem player Scott Beemer (center) manages to get the ball to teammate Mike Henley (right) during the first Crab Pot Tournament. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- The Maryland Mayhem team get loose before their game during the first Crab Pot Tournament at University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Maryland Mayhem head coach Mike Patria joins in for the pre-game rally cry during the first Crab Pot Tournament. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Maryland Mayhem players have ball possession as they play the Capitol Punishers during the first Crab Pot Tournament at University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Maria and Harold Hardinger of Baltimore cheer after Maryland Mayhem score against the Capitol Punishers during the Crab Pot Tournament. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Maryland Mayhem players Ryan Major (4) and Shaun Hardetster watch the game in front of spare sport wheels. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Volunteer Chris Clark pumps air into a rugby chair wheel during the Crab Pot Tournament at University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Maryland Mayhem player Shaun Hardester (11) waits for his team’s turn to take the court, watching two other teams play during the first Crab Pot Tournament at University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Maryland Mayhem assistant coach Billy Hardester helps player Louis Fortune prepare to compete during the first Crab Pot Tournament. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Maryland Mayhem player Scott Beemer charges up court on a breakaway during the annual Crab Pot Tournament. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Capitol Punishers player Pete Cotugno (12) hits Maryland Mayhem player Louis Fortune, who looks for an open teammate during the Crab Pot Tournament. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- A Maryland Mayhem player’s gloved hand rests on the sport wheel during the Crab Pot Tournament at University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Maryland Mayhem player Mike Henley (21) is cut off by Capitol Punishers player English Harper as he attempts to score during tCrab Pot Tournament. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
The four team event was hosted by the Baltimore-based Maryland Mayhem, a team sponsored by the institute that fields players who have had received treatment there. The Mayhem are playing their third season. The sport originated in Winnipeg, Canada in 1977.
There are no leagues; all games are played as tournaments, which each team is required to host. Teams are part of the United States Quad Rugby Association, which was founded in 1988 with six teams and how has 40 teams, officials said. The Crab Pot tournament featured teams from Washington and Philadelphia.