The wheelchair basketball event was held at gym classes at Maple Grove high school throughout the day Friday. Students in gym classes throughout the day had the opportunity to use wheelchairs provided by BOCES to play wheelchair basketball. Wheelchair athletes from PennWest-Edinboro were also there to instruct the students on how to play the game using the wheelchairs, and students from BOCES attended as well.

Maple Grove Principal Adam Padd said the goal for the Friday event was to develop an engaging and instructive opportunity between the students throughout the three educational institutions and to teach understanding through hands-on skills using tools normally outside of students’ comfort zones.

“The comradery built together during this event helped eliminate stereotypes and created respect and bonds between all athletes,” Padd said. “This type of inclusive activity promotes teamwork while building confidence and self esteem across multiple districts and post secondary environments. All participants increased their exposure to the level of ability and success of disabled athletes.”

Additionally, Padd said the drills and challenges designed during the instruction and play increased students’ perseverance through another perspective, saying that seeing the talent and abilities of the PennWest-Edinboro’s team was “astounding” and taught the students another level of respect.

Maple Grove principal Adam Padd is pictured with some of the PennWest-Edinboro athletes and Science Teacher Rebecca Allen in the back. Submitted photo

The Edinboro wheelchair basketball team was led by Dwanye “DJ” Murray and Jeremy Evans. BOCES staff members involved with designing the program included Louise Buchman, Stacie Cummings, Tom Schmidt, Matt Moore, and Robin Brown. Bemus Point Central School district team members for the collaboration included Pete Pannes, Ardelle Rambacher, Eleanor Clarke, Padd, and Superintendent Joe Reyda.

“This event will also open doors to other athletic and relationship opportunities,” Padd said. “In addition to wheelchair basketball, students will now have a stronger willingness to interact and try some of the other adaptive sports such as rugby, softball, hockey, soccer, weightlifting, football and tennis.”

Padd addressed that lifelong physical activity is a key component for all students in order to have productive careers after high school, adding that adaptive sports are lesser known and even more so less experienced. This exposure for these students, Padd said, has fostered opportunities for future relationships.

Padd said the athletes from Edinboro shared with him how important these types of events are for all students, saying there was nothing like this for them growing up. The athletes said while they knew about wheelchair sports there was no one else like them at their school. Padd said the hope is that these types of opportunities are not special events but are consistently incorporated into schools in the area.

This was the first time an event such as this was developed and executed between multiple levels of educational institutions in the area. Padd said BOCES staff members are hoping to use what was learned by all three institutions through designing this event to continue the initiative for other student athletes and leaders at BOCES, PennWest-Edinboro, Maple Grove, and throughout the country.

Students in gym classes throughout the day had the opportunity to use the wheelchairs provided by BOCES to play wheelchair basketball. Submitted photo

Padd said it was an event that was well enjoyed by all students involved.

“Our students enjoyed meeting the college athletes and learning how to play wheelchair basketball,” Padd said. “Many said that it was much harder than it looks. We’re thankful to provide a new learning experience for our students.”

Students from Bemus Point Central School District, Erie 2 Chautauqua Cattaraugus BOCES and PennWest-Edinboro Wheelchair basketball program came together for a wheelchair basketball event on Friday. Submitted photo