Posted on November 3, 2023
Rolling to the Hoop: Youth Wheelchair Basketball Glides into Grand Rapids
This weekend, young athletes will hit the courts for Mary Free Bed’s 24th annual Keep Up the Pace tournament. The junior wheelchair basketball tournament features over 50 athletes, ages 7 – 18 with various physical disabilities.
The tournament is hosted by the Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program. Six different teams are traveling to Grand Rapids from Ohio, Indiana and across Michigan to compete in varsity and prep divisions.
When:
Saturday, November 4, from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, November 5, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: (New Location!)
Unified Sports and Inclusion Center
160 68th St. SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49548
“It’s wonderful seeing our community come together to support these athletes at a hometown tournament,” said Molly McKinney, sports coordinator for Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports. “Competing in sports is fun, and it also teaches kids important skills for life – both on and off the court.”
In addition to the youth games, the Mary Free Bed Women will play three exhibition games against the Cincinnati Dragons. These games will help the newer women’s wheelchair basketball team prepare for their upcoming season. The exhibition games bring the total number of athletes competing this weekend to 70 players.
Wheelchair and adaptive sports, and tournaments like this, allow kids and adults with physical disabilities like spina bifida, mild cerebral palsy and lower limb differences to enjoy healthy sports competition, stay active and interact with their peers.
On Saturday afternoon, the youngest athletes will take to the courts. A special “Novice Game” will tip off at 3 p.m., giving players who are newer to the game an opportunity for more participation.
The presenting sponsor of the tournament this year is Dan Vos Construction. The event is free and open to the public, so come out and cheer on the athletes.
