Opponent: Charlotte Independence (1-0-1)
Date/Time: Saturday, April 1st, 6:00 PM
Last Result: Kickers 1 – Greenville 0

Weather Forecast from Weatherbug

It’s looking to be a windy affair but the rain should only be in the morning, early afternoon.

Three Things to Kickabout

1. No Bolanos – Jonathan Bolanos was the lynchpin to Richmond’s success last year. Scoring goals with 6 on the season, and setting up others for a total of 11 assists. The next closest on assists was Ethan Bryant with 6. Both these players have moved on to different leagues/teams. This means the Kickers primary goal scorer (USL1 MVP and Golden Boot Winner) Emiliano Terzaghi is looking for some partners. Who that will be with these new team is hard to say. In the first two road games the Kicker only managed 4 shots so they’re struggling to find the answer as well.
2. Crowds – Towards the end of last season the Kickers were drawing close to 5,000. During the Covid year in an abbreviated season attendance was capped at 1,000. The Kickers have hosted two viewing parties for the road games and unlike previous years these were packed. What switch has been flipped in the Richmond area we’re not sure. The easy and I think too easy is that local fans like a winner and the Kickers did a ton of that last year. It will be interesting to see if the Kickers keep the numbers up after the home opener because the home opener is always well attended.
3. Emiliano – Emiliano Terzaghi scored an astonishing 17 goals in 29 games. This won him the USL1 MVP and Golden Boot for an unprecedented third time in a row. So far he’s off to a cool start. In two games only getting off one shot and that wasn’t on target. As mentioned above the team is missing some crucial playmakers in Bolanos and Bryant but the Kickers will need to have Terzaghi find his stride quickly.

Prediction

As we’ve repeated throughout the years I’m not unbiased. My passion for the team taints my ability to adequately analyze this team. If I’m being honest my analytical skill also taint my ability to adequately analyze this team. That doesn’t prevent from doing such so with that out of the way here we go. In the two games I’ve seen the offense is not there and it’s the defense that is keeping the Kickers in the game. This is to be expected. Coach Sawatsky is integrating new players into the system and it will take time. A game at home is a perfect time for it all to click. There is a problem though the Kickers played Charlotte for the season opener to a 0-0 draw. Charlotte’s second game saw them score 3 goals from three different players #12 Brad Dunwell, #5 Shalom Dutey and #90 Khori Bennett. In the off season Charlotte added some offensive power in Dane Kelly who is the all-time USL Championship goal scorer with 100 league goals but has scored yet. If the Kickers are going to win they’ll need to be ready for a much more attacking team than they saw 2 weeks ago. I think the defense is up to the task I’m just not sure the Kickers offense is ready.  Ultimately home field advantage and predicted wind gusts of up to 50 mph are giving the home town a slight advantage.

Kickers 1 
Independence 0

Amid widespread reports that Pennsylvania native Mike Rhoades is set to accept an offer in excess of $3 million annually from Penn State, Utah State coach and former Hampden-Sydney captain and Virginia Tech assistant Ryan Odom has emerged as his likely replacement.

College basketball fans around the state may remember Odom well.

The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA), Sportable, Central Virginia’s premier adaptive sports club, Richmond Region Tourism, and Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority are proud to host the 2024 Adult and Junior Division Wheelchair Basketball National Tournaments. To be held over the first two weekends in April, the Championships will be held at the state-of-the-art Henrico Sports & Event Center in Henrico, Virginia.

“We are thrilled to announce that Junior & Adult Wheelchair Basketball Championships will be held in Richmond, VA in 2024,” commented Matt Pierre, NWBA Board of Directors, and National Tournaments Evaluation Team member. “The team in Richmond – Richmond Region Tourism, Sportable, and the Henrico Sports Authority – put together an impressive bid, and are committed to elevating our championship events to the next level. We are excited for this opportunity, and believe our members will love the experience that will be offered.”

“We are grateful for the support of the NWBA, Richmond Region Tourism, and Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority to bring the 2024 Wheelchair Basketball National Championships to Richmond,” commented Hunter Leemon, Sportable Executive Director. “We have the infrastructure in place to execute a world class event, and we are confident that our community will embrace the NWBA – athletes, families, staff, volunteers, and supporters – and create the best championship experience possible.”

The top 16 ranked wheelchair basketball teams for each Adult Division (I, II, III) will earn an invitation to their respective divisions’ national tournament April 12-14, 2024. The top 32 ranked teams for Varsity level and the top 16 ranked teams from Prep level will earn an invitation to participate in the NWBA Varsity and Prep Wheelchair Basketball National Championships one week prior, April 5-7, 2024. In total, 96 teams and over 1,100 wheelchair basketball players will compete for a coveted national title during the two events.

“It is an honor to be selected by the NWBA leadership team to host the NWBA National Championship Series,” said Jerrine Lee, Vice President of Sales for Richmond Region Tourism. “This a great opportunity for our region to showcase our outstanding facilities and attractions, and showcase our pride and commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive destination where everyone can play. We are honored to partner with Sportable and the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority to provide a world-class experience for the athletes, coaches and fans.”

The host venue, Henrico Sports & Event Center, is set to open in September 2023 and features more than 115,000-square feet of adaptable event space with 12 basketball courts.

“We’re very excited to welcome the NWBA and its athletes to our new indoor sports and events center,” said Dennis Bickmeier, Executive Director of the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority. “This tournament will be a signature event in the early history of the facility. We look forward to working with our partners to deliver this showcase event to our community and witnessing the athleticism and teamwork that will happen over the two weeks of competition.”

Founded in 1981, the Rim Riders wheelchair basketball team has been a mainstay in Richmond for more than 40 years. The team merged with Sportable in 2017 and is a Division II member of the NWBA. The Rim Riders are currently ranked 14th in the country, and will compete in the 2023 NWBA National Championships in Wichita, Kansas March 31-April 2.

About Sportable
For nearly 18 years, Sportable has created opportunities and transformed lives through sport for individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments. The non-profit organization provides sporting opportunities to more than 400 athletes of all ages by offering competitive and recreational adaptive sports programs year-round. By fostering a fun, inclusive, competitive, and accessible environment, Sportable transforms the lives of athletes and frees them to see beyond their disabilities, enhances their peer relationships and helps them to reach their personal finish line. To make an impact today, visit Sportable.com/donate.

About the National Wheelchair Basketball Association
The National Wheelchair Basketball Association is the recognized National Organization for Wheelchair Basketball by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation and the High Performance Management Organization by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. The NWBA trains and selects teams for participation in the Paralympic Games, World Championships, and other international competitions. The NWBA was founded in 1949, and today consists of seven divisions including: Adult Division (I, II and III), Women’s Division, Intercollegiate Men’s Division, Intercollegiate Women’s Division and Junior Division. For more information, visit: www.nwba.org.