Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Scores Big For Special Olympics

East Texas A&M University raised funds for the Special Olympics with its first Roll ‘n’ Shoot 3-on-3 Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, held on May 1 inside the gym at the Nursing and Health Sciences Building.

Sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Performance and the Physical Education Teacher Education Program, the tournament consisted of eight three-person teams. Spectators were treated to 15-minute games, with winners moving on to the next round.

Three basketball players sitting in wheelchairs, one with a trophy in his lap.

Though the games were hard fought, two teams emerged as dominate contenders to win the tournament title–Rolling Thunder and Football. Ultimately, team Football came out on top.

Unsurprisingly, the winning squad included some stellar athletes from the East Texas A&M football team, Tanner Harrison and Tramar Gilbert, as well as ETAMU student Graham Lavender.

The winning wheelchair basketball team | Sandy Kimbrough

The tournament was organized by Dr. Sandy Kimbrough, with help from Dr. Kelly Featherston, both of whom teach in the Department of Health and Human Performance. They intend to make the wheelchair basketball tournament an annual event. Stay informed about upcoming campus happenings by following the East Texas A&M Events Calendar.

You can see more exciting pictures from the wheelchair basketball tournament on the university photo gallery!

Featured Photo: Three wheelchair basketball players competing | East Texas A&M Marketing and Communications