SLIPPERY ROCK - Ron Lykins admitted it was the worst part of his job.

As the head coach of the U.S. Paralympic women's basketball team, Lykins put 38 players through their paces during a tryout for the squad Sunday at Slippery Rock University's Aebersold Recreation Center.

Then came the hard part.

Lykins, along with the help of two assistants, was forced to cut 20 players.

"This is the worst part of my job," he said. "These people have been working out and putting a lot of hard work into trying to make the team, and to have to tell them they didn't make it, it's a tough thing to do."

The players were judged during individual skill drills and on their play during games that started Thursday as part of the 30th National Women's Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.

Of the 38 players who participated in the tryouts, 12 were chosen to represent the United States in September at the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece. Six others were chosen as alternates.

Until then, those who made the cut will take part in training camps to be held every three weeks throughout the country. The first will be in Birmingham, Ala., later this month.

"We had to debate a little longer than we had planned," said Lykins. "There's more talent out there than there used to be. The players are getting better and there's more of them."

Slippery Rock resident and Steel City Starz player Norah Schneider was one of the 20 players let go.

"These are the best players in the country," Schneider said. "It was an excellent opportunity for me."

Lykins hopes all involved will treat the tryouts as a positive experience.

"I hope those who didn't make it this time will take what they can from the players who did make it," he said. "Then they can work on their skills and try to improve their game."

That's exactly what Schneider had in mind.

"To be able to play with and against these great players, I've gained a lot of experience from it," she said. "I learned a lot about the fundamentals of the game and what I need to improve in, mainly chair skills and passing."

The tryouts are held annually and Schneider didn't hesitate when asked if she'll give it another shot.

"Absolutely, I'll be back next year," she said. "And the tryouts might be here again next year. It's open right now, but we're putting in a bid for it."

Also present at the tryouts was Todd Hatfield, director of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association.

"I've been around (wheelchair basketball) so long that I don't even notice that the players are in wheelchairs," Hatfield said. "What I see are the players' personalities and the strengths and weaknesses in their game."

Hatfield would have no problem coming back to Slippery Rock.

"We couldn't have asked for a better environment," he said. "The hospitality extended to us from the university and the community, it's been great. I plan on recommending to our board that we continue to hold this event in small towns.

"And when you come to a town like Slippery Rock, chances are you're going to be the main event in town," added Hatfield. "Whereas going to a big city like Los Angeles, you wouldn't even make the radar screen."

MAKING THE GRADE

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Following are the players who made the cut for the 2004 U.S. Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team:

Teresa Lannon (Atlanta,), Patty Cisneros (Lake Station, Ind.), Carlee Hoffman (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Renee Tyree Gross (Tucson, Ariz.), Jennifer Warkins (Vernon Hills, Ill.), Jana Stump (Orlando, Fla.), Jennifer Howitt (Orinda, Calif.), Susan Katz (Silver Spring, Md.), Andrea Woodson (Waynesboro, Va.), Stephanie Wheeler (Norlina, N.C.), Janna Crawford (Auburn, Wash.), Christina Ripp (Dane Wis.)

Alternates:

Emily Hoskins (Mascoutah, Ill.), Shawna Culp (Wheaton, Ill.), Dana Meyer (St. Louis), Jennifer Chew (Antioch, Calif.) Alana Nichols (Farmington, N.M.)