PVAHCS News Release - Area Veterans Bring Home Gold from National Wheelchair Games
September 15, 2008

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Athletes to be honored at VA Medical Center Sept. 17 at 1 p.m.

PHOENIX - Four Valley veterans of military service, whose trips to the National Veterans Wheelchair Games were sponsored by the Phoenix Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, will be honored for their medal-winning performances on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

All four wheelchair athletes took first place in at least one event at the games, which were held at the end of July. A reception for the athletes will be held:

Wednesday, Sept. 17
1:00 p.m.
Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in the
Community Living Center (CLC), Sports Room
650 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix
Enter the CLC from the Seventh Street side of the Medical Center, near the Main Entrance

The veterans, who also are patients of the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, are:

Diane Brunswick, of Glendale/North Phoenix, who served with the U.S. Army from 1978-79. Competing in the Games for the first time, she took first place in:

• Air Gun, Paraplegic - No Assistance, Novice Division
   
• Weightlifting by Body Weight, Novice Division

Dan Koston, of Phoenix, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving from 1975-79. Koston took first place in:

He took third place in Power Soccer (Hand) at the Masters Level and also competed in Air Gun, Quadriplegic, Masters Level, and Motorized Slalom (Hand Controls), Masters.

Diego Suazo, of Surprise, who served in the Navy from 1990-94.  Also competing in the Games for the first time this year, he took first place in:

• Weightlifting by Body Weight, Novice

Suazo placed third in Softball, Novice, and also competed in the Novice divisions of Basketball and Trap Shooting.

John Tuzzolino, of Ahwatukee, who served in the Army from 1989-91. Tuzzolino, who was selected earlier this year to be one of a handful of previous veteran wheelchair champions to be featured on a special Cheerios box, placed first in:

• Weightlifting by Body Weight, Open Division 

During the Games, gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded in Olympic style to winning athletes. All competitors benefit by building their physical skills and conditioning, camaraderie with other disabled veterans, pride and increased self confidence.

For many injured veterans, the Wheelchair Games provide the first exposure to wheelchair athletics, and are an important step in rebuilding their lives after catastrophic injury. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a recognized leader in recreation therapy and rehabilitation, and sports are important in the therapy used to treat many disabilities.

The four attended the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Omaha, Neb., with support from the Phoenix Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System by providing service to fellow veterans and earning a minimum number of points related to their work. More than 500 athletes, all military veterans from across the United States, Puerto Rico and Great Britain, participated in the Games, which are the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world.

The Wheelchair Games, presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), are open to all U.S. military veterans who use wheelchairs because of spinal cord injuries, certain neurological conditions, amputations or other mobility impairments. 

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