The end of the NBA lockout means basketball is returning to cities all across America, but a unique style of basketball is coming to Capital. Sunday, Dec. 11, from 3-6 p.m., the Buckeye Wheelers will be in the Capital Fieldhouse playing wheelchair basketball against local Ohio celebrities.
The event is sponsored by the Health and Sports Sciences department. Dr. Jennifer Hodge is a professor in that department who teaches Organization and Administration of Physical Education and Sport.
“This event is the culminating assignment for [the] class. This event is true collaboration of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs,” Hodge said.
Senior John Hammons is one of the students running the event, and he got the idea for it from his internship, where, among other things, he ran the scoreboard for the Buckeye Wheelers.
“Dr. Hodge brought up the idea of the class putting together a program, and I’ve always enjoyed working with children with disabilities, and I thought this would be a great idea.
“People can stay active even if they are wheelchair bound. We want to raise awareness and fund for the Buckeye Wheelers. They travel all over the country playing, and they need money to keep up their season,” Hammons said.
According to their website, “The Buckeye Wheeler are members of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association and Mid-America Wheelchair Basketball conference which consists of teams from Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Indiana.
The Wheelers were started in conjunction with Ohio State University Dodd Hall physical rehabilitation department. Today the team is associated with the Therapeutic Recreation with the City of Columbus and adaptive recreation at The Ohio State University.
The Buckeye Wheelers are past champions of the Mid-America Wheelchair Basketball Conference, winning conference the title in 2006, the Buckeye PVA Cup state title in 2006, and finished 5th nationally.”
Wheelchair basketball does have some specific rules that NBA and college basketball do not.
“To make sure that the teams are even, each team has to have a certain number on the court. Every player is assigned a number from three to one.
“If you are mentally handicapped and wheelchair bound, that would be a 3. If you or I lost a leg in a car accident and became wheelchair bound, that would be a 1,” Hammons said.
The audience on Sunday will be able to do more than just watch. At halftime, the crowd will have the chance to go onto the court and attempt to shoot free throws from a wheelchair or do skills courses.
“We’re making it interactive. Professors will be playing, local Columbus celebrities will be playing. We’ll have raffles for autographed Columbus Bluejackets sticks, pucks, and photos, all that come with certificates of authenticity. We hope to raise awareness and let people know that if you get injured, your life as you know it is not over,” Hammons said.
Admission to the event is free with a Capital I.D., and $3 without one. All proceeds go to the Buckeye Wheelers and donations are accepted.
