UWG News Archive

Wheelchair basketball classic

January 9, 2003

CARROLLTON, GA - Wheelchair basketball is coming back to Carrollton this month for the 2nd Annual Wheelchair Basketball Classic. The Dallas Mavericks will be matched against the University of Wisconsin Whitewater Warhawks on Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the University of West Georgia’s HPE Building. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for UWG students with I.D.

According to Dr. Brent Hardin, assistant professor of adapted physical education, more than 1,000 spectators came to last year’s inaugural wheelchair game which offered the community a chance to experience a unique sporting event on campus.

When Hardin came to UWG from the University of Florida to teach therapeutic recreation and adapted physical education, he had a secondary goal—to start a wheelchair sports program. While in Florida he coached a collegiate wheelchair basketball team and supervised a therapeutic recreation clinic for people with disabilities. Now Harden is working to bring a similar program to UWG.

“Last year’s event was the first step in our plan. This year we have added an on campus sports clinic for children with disabilities and the Junior Classic. The long term goal is to have a multi-faceted disability sports program here at West Georgia,” said Hardin.

This year’s teams are both members of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. The Dallas Mavericks, who are ranked number two in division one, will be returning to the UWG campus for the second time, while fans will get their first look at the Division II Champions for 2002, the Wisconsin Whitewater Warhawks. They are one of only a few college wheelchair basketball teams in the nation.

During pre-game and halftime festivities there will be drawings for signed jerseys from Atlanta Falcon Michael Vick and UWG’s basketball and football players. There will also be a shooting contest and a performance by UWG’s marching band.

On Jan. 24-26, UWG will also host the Junior Classic where youth teams with children ages 12-17 from Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina will compete against each other in a wheelchair basketball tournament. It will also be held on the UWG campus in the main gymnasium and admission is free.

The Wheelchair Basketball Classic and Junior Classic are being hosted by the UWG Department of Physical Education & Recreation and managed by West Georgia Sport Marketing. For more information about the event, contact Hardin at 770-836-4726 or email at bhardin@westga.edu.

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