Utah Rush, state’s only competition-level wheelchair basketball team, going for gold
Apr 5, 2024, 7:00 AM
(Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio)
(Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio)
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s only competition-level wheelchair basketball team are heading east to fight for the national championship trophy.
The Utah Rush is made up of students ages 14 to 18. Using their passion for basketball as fuel, they worked tirelessly on their skills with the support of coaches at Neuroworx in Sandy. Neuroworx is a Utah rehabilitation non-profit.
Together, they fought their way into the National Wheelchair Basketball Championship Tournament in Virginia.
“These kids, when they go out, and they play like they’re at practice with their friends, they can beat anybody in this country,” said Assistant Coach Casey Black. He’s been coaching these players for eight seasons.
“It’s really true when they say that hard works pays off,” said Jackson Meier, a senior on the team.
“Let’s go win a national championship!”
While they practiced at the Sandy facility, Coach Black said that this opportunity is more than just a tournament to his players.
“All of them (are) hoping to get college paid for, some of these kids have paralympic aspirations.
The Utah Rush is competing in the Junior Varsity Championship. The tournament begins Friday April 5 and lasts through the weekend.
Other reading:
- Wheelchair Palooza 2023 offers community to disabled Utahns
- Heart of Utah: Extreme Motus including people of all abilities on the adventure
- Stretching studios are popping up everywhere. Are they worth it?
