Jan. 11 — Rolling closer to Beijing

Sumner’s Zachary Tapec makes the first cut for the 2008 U.S. Paralympics wheelchair rugby team that will compete in China

Andrew Hosford / Herald

Metal smashes metal as wheels spin and fine-tuned athletes fight for position on the court, and on the 2007 National Wheelchair Rugby Team.

For years, Zachary Tapec has “pushed and pushed and pushed” just for the chance to be there, competing against the best the nation has to offer.

On Sunday, Jan. 7, he, took the first step in representing the United States in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

“It is exciting, but it’s a challenge,” Tapec said. “To be handpicked to come out here is a privilege.

He made the cut for the 19-person roster after a three-day training camp at the Lakeshore Foundation U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site in Birmingham, Alabama.

He said “the pressure is on everyday at this level” and that his ultimate goal is to retain the gold medal that was earned in 2006.

Between now and the final cuts in June, he will fly back to Birmingham every month for week long training sessions and practice.

He is competing against the original 12 members of the gold medal team, some of whom were featured in the 2005 documentary, “Murderball.”

Up until eleven years ago, Tapec would have watched the film as an able-bodied athlete and student.

Plans were altered after he dove into his friend’s swimming pool and broke his neck, paralyzing his legs completely and giving him limited use of his arms and hands.

“Life changed after that,” he said.

Tapec lived in Sumner for 21 years, attending McAlder Elementary and both Sumner Middle School and High School.

After graduating from Sumner High in 1997, he moved to southern California for air traffic control school at Mt. San Antonio College.

“He was a freak athlete (before the accident),” said Jake Loran, a contractor in Sumner and long-time friend of Tapec.

Not surprised by his friend’s accomplishments, Loran said Tapec quickly put the accident behind him and focused on the future.

“He is my hero and inspires me to this day,” Loran said.

Knowing there is another key step in the process, Tapec had only told close friends and family about his recent accomplishment.

The game is derived from the basics of wheelchair basketball.

Played on a regulation-sized basketball court, four players from each team compete to cross the opponent’s goal line with ball in hand.

“You can kill the ball carrier, whatever it takes,” said Tapec.

Customized wheelchairs are built for speed, agility and absolutely smashing anyone, or anything, that gets in the way.

Players are ranked by the severity of their paralysis. Tapec, a 3.5, has the least impairment of all the players and is counted on for his offensive scoring abilities.

At the other end of the scale, a 0.5 rank means the player has little or no use of their limbs, the closest to a complete quadriplegic.

The four players on the court cannot exceed a total of 8 points.

“It is the closest thing to football I could find,” Tapec said. “I had to tap into something so I could keep going.”

His current status in rugby is a long way from the college kid who moved to California to work and play as many wheelchair sports and activities as possible.

Remaining humble, Tapec did not want to predict whether or not he will be playing in Beijing next year.

“I am taking it one step at a time,” he said. “No matter what it has been an honor.”