USA Volleyball and the University of Central Oklahoma have reached an agreement for the university to be the official training site for the USA Men’s National Sitting Team during the 2005 to 2008 quadrennium.
UCO will supply three training courts, conditioning facilities, office space and room and board, as well as numerous support services for the team.
This agreement has set a new standard for the disabled program.
“The University, UCO Wellness Center director Mark Herrin and UCO Disabled Sports director Katrina Shaklee have been wonderful to work with and have put together a fantastic package for us,” stated Bill Hamiter, USA Men’s Sitting Team head coach since July 2001.
“This agreement is significant in helping the sitting team meet the challenge of creating more training opportunities for the team and broadening the pool of volleyball athletes in training,” he added. “Along with team training, UCO is working on creating a resident program in 2006.”
“The University of Central Oklahoma is pleased to have entered into agreement with USA Volleyball to serve as the official host site of the Men’s Sitting Volleyball team,” said Shaklee. “With our outstanding facilities, such as the state-of-the-art Wellness Center, we plan to support this team in whatever way possible in order for them to succeed internationally. We are confident this relationship will continue for many years to come.”
At the 2004 Paralympics in Athens Team USA earned their best-ever placing at the quadrennial event – sixth-place. The Americans posted a record of 2-4 and ended a streak of four-straight finishes of 10th or higher at the Paralympics.
The team has been training monthly at UCO since the beginning of the summer. The Americans are gearing up for next year’s zone qualifier to the 2006 Sitting Volleyball World Championships in the Netherlands