Wheelchair Sports Day: High Schoolers Try Something New

Swapping your regular basketball game for a wheelchair basketball match. That's exactly what happened at New Vision High. The students tried out adaptive sports with the help of ParaSport Spokane and Paralympic stars Isaiah Rigo and Chelsea McClammer. It wasn’t as easy as they thought, but they had a blast! "This is way harder than regular basketball, " said Scarlet Haines, a sophomore. She and her classmates zoomed around in specialized wheelchairs, trying to dribble and sprint. They cheered each other on when someone had trouble. Zabre Terrell-Williams, a senior, had been in a regular wheelchair before, but the basketball ones were new. "Nothing stops you, not even disabilities, " she said.The students rolled through the Post Falls Boys and Girls Club court, learning to move forward and backward, turn quickly, and play friendly games. Chris Benboe, a senior, said it was different from the basketball he usually plays, but fun. "We’re like a family, all in wheelchairs together, " he said. Chelsea McClammer, a Paralympic medalist, was impressed. "I wish my high school did this, " she said. Isaiah Rigo, another Paralympic athlete, hoped the day would help the students connect more with people who have disabilities. Theresa Skinner, the founder of ParaSport Spokane, was amazed by the students' bravery. "It says a lot about the school and the culture here, " she said. The students dribbled, spun, and shot hoops, learning new skills and having a great time.