Team Name: Refugees
City/State: Miami Florida
Coaches: Kurt Dahlenberg
Players:
0–Steve Fisher, 5’ 8’’
88–Tico Corredor, 5’ 11’
2–Erik Peterson, 5’ 9’
3–Dave Kelly, 6’ 5’’
4–David Dewitt, 6’ 1’’
5–Kevin Bogusky, 6’ 0’’
6–Todd Demetriades, 5’ 8’’
7–Cesar Serrano Jr. 5’ 10’’
8–Pablo Saade, 5’ 9’’
9–Monte Adler, 6’ 4’’
10–Woody Brown, 6’ 8’’
11–Steve Fowler, 6’ 0’’
13–Parker Gillum, 5’ 10’’
15–Oscar Detoffoli Jr., 5’ 10’’
17–Darius Khonsary, 6’ 0’’
18–Steve Mericle, 5’ 9’’
22–Kurt Dahlenburg, 5’ 9’’
23–Doug Schick, 5’ 9’’
24–Camillo Salazar, 6’ 0’’
26–Rich Powers, 6’ 0’’
33–Luis Casteleiro, 5’ 7’’
35–Garrett Crosbie, 6’ 2’’
36–Rick Opton, 5’ 10’’
37–Gary Saltzman, 5’ 7’’
55–Orlando Levia, 5’ 10’
66–Daryl Fefee, 6’ 1’
69–Milan Hooper, 6’ 0’’
96–Butch Brown, 6’ 0’’
99–Rob Cotleur, 5’ 11’’

Team History:

2003 marks the 20th anniversary of the Miami Refugees. Their storied history includes a semi-final finish at Worlds (’97), twelve nationals bids finishing as high as fifth, and countless bombers and bottles of Heineken in the Moore Park parking lot after practice.

The Refugees have maintained their unique style of play throughout. Although it is now fashionable for teams to run “plays” and throw to blazing longs making comeback cuts, the refugees still use the Turtle-O. While other teams give "disc space" the Refugees have "good hard marks." West coast teams may go out for a smoothie after practice and enjoy the ocean view. In Miami, it is Heinekens in the parking lot and a view of the I95 overpass and bums sleeping on the field. And if a few of those Heiney's happen to miss the garbage can and sail over the fence (ideally with a satisfying noise of glass breaking on a pile of bottles), well that's just more needed employment for the Miami's Parks and Rec Dept. Yes, the Refugees provide public service as well.

The Refugees are not a young team. Many players still play by the “third edition” and recall a time before new-fangled “plastic” when cleats were made of dinosaur teeth. This year the Refugees are playing Masters. The young teams in the Southeast will claim the Refugees finally realized their age. But the Refugees have been on top for so long, it was time to move on to new challenges and give the kids a chance. The ‘Gees won the Southeast Regional and have their eye on the Championship. We would also like to honor our friend and fellow Refugee AJ Bown, who passed away this year. This one’s for you AJ.