Atlanta, March 8, 2023. The American Association of AdaptED Sports Programs (AAASP) and the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) will host the 2023 AAASP/GHSA Dr. Ralph Swearngin State Wheelchair Basketball Championship Varsity Game Saturday, March 11th at the Macon Coliseum at 3 PM, as part of the state championship slate that day. The Wheelchair Basketball Championship will feature the final two Varsity Wheelchair Basketball teams – the DeKalb Silver Streaks vs. the Houston Sharks– from across the state, as the American Association of AdaptED Sports Programs continues its 26th season.
Students representing over 40 varying physical disability groups competed this year. The top four (4) teams in the JV and Varsity divisions competed the last weekend for qualification. The Junior Varisty Championship Game was held Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, between the Houston Jr. Sharks and the Gwinnett Heat. The Gwinnett Heat beat the Houston County Junior Sharks (48-34) to earn the Junior Varsity State Title. The Varsity Semifinals were held this past weekend; the DeKalb Silver Streaks defeated the Clayton Eagles (30-24) to make it to the Varsity Finals; Houston Sharks beat out the West Georgia Wolverines/Troup County (34-13) to earn their spot.
Teams from the following school districts participated in the AAASP/GHSA adapted sport of wheelchair basketball this year, a dual governing alliance in the Varsity Division – the Clayton Eagles, the DeKalb Silver Streaks, the Houston County Sharks, and the West Georgia Wolverines. The Atlanta Wolfpack, the Houston Jr. Sharks, the Gwinnett Heat, and the Muscogee Lions competed in the Junior Varsity Division – Click here to view the AAASP #wheelchairbasketball schedule that led up to the finals.
New this year, the American Association of AdaptED Sports Programs named Junior Varsity and a Varsity All-Tournament Teams – Congratulations to this year’s honorees:
Junior Varsity AAASP Wheelchair Basketball All Tournament Team:
- Hadji Dye – Atlanta Wolfpack
- Dominque Epps – Muscogee Lions
- Madison Ryan – Houston County Jr. Sharks
- Jeremiah Hopson – Gwinnett Heat*
- Randall Montanez – Gwinnett Heat
*Jeremiah Hopson was the Junior Varsity AAASP Wheelchair Basketball Player of the Year!
Varsity AAASP Wheelchair Basketball All Tournament Team:
- Adonis Brown – Houston County Sharks*
- Jaquavious West – Houston County Sharks
- Cameron Smothers – DeKalb Silver Streaks
- Jasmine Boyce – Clayton County Eagles
- Taylor Nation – West GA Wolverines/Troup County
*Adonis Brown was named the Varsity AAASP Wheelchair Basketball Player of the Year!
The American Association of AdaptED Sports Programs, Inc. (AAASP) is celebrating its 26th season anniversary this season 2022-2023 of bringing interscholastic adaptive athletics to schools. GHSA formed the nation’s first dual governing alliance with AAASP in 2001 to pioneer these efforts for students with physical disabilities. Through this alliance, GHSA recognizes AAASP as the governing and sanctioning body for adapted sports programs for Georgia’s schools. For more information on Wheelchair Basketball, for a copy of the rules, or how to start a team in your area, please log on to: https://adaptedsports.org . Schools or districts can learn more about becoming a member of AAASP by contacting us 404-294-0070 or the Georgia High School Association.
The American Association of AdaptED Sports Programs (AAASP), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia since 1996, has developed one of the nation’s most comprehensive school-based athletic programs for children with physical disabilities attending grades 1-12. Many prominent individuals and national organizations in the industry have recognized AAASP as the model for the nation. For more information about AAASP, please visit our website at www.adaptedsports.org or join our conversations on Facebook (American Association of AdaptED Sports Programs), Twitter or Instagram at: @AdaptedSports.
###
Contacts: Terri Grunduski, Grunduski Group – terri@grunduskigroup.com 404-226-7497
Donna Feazell, Grunduski Group – donna@grunduskigroup.com 404-290-1929