Photo courtesy of Adaptive Sports Iowa social media

This weekend at the Wellman Parkside YMCA, a specialized brand of basketball will take center-stage. Adaptive Sports Iowa is hosting their annual 3-on-3 wheelchair basketball fundraiser tournament. Local community members are invited to field a team to play in either the afternoon session from 12:30-3:30 p.m. or the evening session from 4-8 p.m. Each team is guaranteed three games, and the winning team in each session gets to take on the Adaptive Sports Iowa Grizzlies Wheelchair basketball team, featuring local stars, Mid-Prairie senior Jayden Stafford and Washington junior Josh Anderson. This week, Stafford and Anderson spoke about why Adaptive Sports Iowa has been an important part of their athletic careers and shared some tips they have for first-time wheelchair players.

Stafford said, “Adaptive Sports has done a lot, not just for our group but, for everybody else with a disability in Iowa. They’ve done a great job of including people that want to do something, and making sure they get to do what they want. They’ve gotten me to do track. They’ve gotten me to do basketball. Don’t underestimate how you feel playing, be ready for the next day. The second day is when things catch up to you. When you’re not doing stuff is when you get sore!”

Anderson continued, “(Adaptive Sports) provides people with their equipment needs, wheelchairs for basketball, wheelchairs for track, or all of the other clubs that they have. (For new players) don’t put all of your weight to the back, you might tip over!”

Cost is $25 per player to sign up or $100 for a team of five. Admission for spectators is free with a concession stand and raffle drawing during the day. For more information or to sign up call 319-863-3032 or email dixieconrad56@gmail.com. Hear more from Anderson and Stafford by checking out Thursday’s Jessica Yoder & Sarah Bigley with Kalona Realty Washington page, free, online at KCIIradio.com.