Rochester Wheels Celebrate 40 Years of Competitive Wheelchair Basketball

July 02, 2012 Rochester_Whels_2012_email

The Rochester Wheels is the only competitive wheelchair basketball team in western New York and it’s still going strong after 40 years.

"It offers hope," said Jack Smith, former wheelchair basketball athlete and retired RIT vice president who helped establish The Rochester Wheels.

"It's not about your disability. It's about what you can do," said the late Steve Barbato, beloved player and coach of The Rochester Wheels whose legacy continues to influence players on and off the court.

The Wheels have given many young people with disabilities the opportunity to play, learn, and compete in the sport of wheelchair basketball.

To read the entire story of The Rochester Wheels on sportsnetny.org, please click here.

For more information about SportsNet or The Rochester Wheels, please contact Anita O’Brien, SportsNet Supervisor at 585.271.1894 ext. 1742 or aobrien@rochesterrehab.org.

About SportsNet

Founded in 1998, SportsNet provides adaptive sports and inclusive recreation opportunities for people with disabilities. In honor of its 13 years of promoting healthy, active lifestyles, SportsNet launched a 13-story campaign in April, 2011 on sportsnetny.org . Each story features families and individuals who lead active lives of inspiration and courage. Interested individuals can visit SportsNetNY.org to read the stories and sign up for delivery of monthly stories and e-news.

SportsNetNY.org was selected as the “Marketing Over Coffee” Inspirational Stories winner for 2012. Marketing Over Coffee is an internationally renowned Internet radio program (podcast) that has more than 1,000 daily listeners who are primarily marketing professionals.