This is the NWBA’s Northern Conference Tournament, and the winner of each division will receive an automatic bid to Nationals in West Monroe, Louisiana next month.
“We are so proud of our wheelchair basketball teams. Wheelchair basketball is an incredibly technical and physical sport. Many of the athletes who participate in the Courage Kenny Adaptive Sports and Recreation leagues earn athletic scholarships to college,” said Ryan Trench, supervisor, adaptive sports and recreation at Allina Health Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute.
All teams participating in the NWBA’s Northern Conference Tournament are guaranteed a minimum of four games. Three Courage Kenny teams will participate. The Rolling Rowdies will participate in the Prep Division for ages five to 12.
“Our Rowdies are on a hot streak,” explained Trench. “They started the season ranked eighth and moved up to second in the NWBA Power Rankings.”
The Junior Gophers and Junior Timberwolves will represent Courage Kenny in the Varsity Division. Two members of the Junior Timberwolves have surpassed 1,000 career points; high school sophomore Lucas Dean and high school senior Kenzie Goth. Goth has committed to play wheelchair basketball at the University of Alabama next year. Two other Junior Timberwolves – seniors Aidan Falcon and Daniel Herrera-Ortega – have committed to play at Southwest Minnesota State University next season.
“This NWBA Northern Conference Tournament is an incredible opportunity to see elite athleticism, while supporting local athletes,” said Trench.
Click here for more event information
Wheelchair basketball through Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute begins for children at six years old and continues through adulthood. All teams are coed. Players must have a disability that affects their lower extremities which can include, but is not limited to, amputation, spinal cord injury, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and leg length discrepancy among other conditions. Players do not need to use a wheelchair full time in order to play wheelchair basketball. Many players are ambulatory and choose to play wheelchair sports. All players must meet minimum disability criteria and be classifiable under the sport classification rules, governed by the NWBA.
Click here for more information about the Courage Kenny Wheelchair Basketball program.
Allina Health is a nonprofit health care system serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin, dedicated to preventing and treating illness and improving the health of individuals, families and communities. Through a network of more than 90 clinics, 12 hospital campuses, 13 retail pharmacies, specialty care centers, home care and emergency medical transportation, Allina Health provides high-quality care from birth through end-of-life.
Allina Health Institutes are at the forefront of the mission, which offer nationally recognized experts and advanced care in key specialties:
Together, these institutes exemplify Allina Health’s commitment to clinical excellence, innovation and compassionate care. Learn more at allinahealth.org and join us on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.