Saturday morning, all students are invited to Johnson Gym. An Albuquerque community team of professional basketball players will provide inspiration to students with lower-limb disabilities. Starting this weekend, the Albuquerque Kings will coach disabled men and women students in wheelchair basketball. Through the fall semester, the group will offer students with disabilities an outlet from everyday life through wheelchair basketball.
The Albuquerque Kings' community wheelchair basketball team plays with the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. The NWBA is the governing body for this sport in the U.S.
The Kings are one of 185 teams in the country that compete in the wheelchair basketball league. They got third place in this year's competition. More than 20 years ago, the team began as a student recreational league at UNM. They soon became a community league.
Jake Schmalzriedt, the 35-year-old captain of the Kings, is very passionate about playing basketball. Almost 11 years ago, Schmalzriedt was left in a wheelchair after a serious accident. He was depressed until he began playing wheelchair basketball. He said it gave him a reason for living again.
Finding a sport that gets people with disabilities involved in a community of like individuals is a life-changing event. Schmalzriedt said wheelchair basketball brings about remarkable attitude changes in those who have been seriously injured, and it brings hope for many.
The quality of life improves greatly for a person in a wheelchair who takes up the sport. Wheelchair basketball also helps promote better health through exercise. The sport can make getting around and daily living much easier. Schmalzriedt said it's a way to give people with lower limb disabilities freedom again.
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Schmalzriedt has much to be proud of despite the obstacles that have been placed in his way. In a few weeks, he will be flying to Giulianova, Italy, to play on a professional league. Excited and nervous, Schmalzriedt hopes this opportunity will be motivation for others like him.
Before he leaves for Italy, Jake and other Kings team members will begin to recruit student players for a UNM wheelchair basketball team. The group wants to show people with disabilities the possibilities
available to them.
Jake, along with the other Kings, has joined up with UNM's Associated Students for Empowerment, the students with disabilities group on campus. In a quest to gain more involvement with UNM students, both groups are working together to promote athleticism in a fun and competitive environment for the campus disabled community.
During the fall semester, the Kings, sponsored by ASE, will offer once-a-month clinics to recruit players for a recreation league in Johnson Gym. In the long run, the two groups hope to see a competitive team form that represents UNM against other colleges. Anyone with a lower limb disability can participate. You don't need to be a wheelchair user to participate on the team.
The first clinic will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, followed by the Kings' practice. Other dates forˇtheˇclinicsˇthisˇsemesterˇare Oct.ˇ25,ˇNov.ˇ15ˇandˇDec.ˇ13,ˇallˇonˇSaturdayˇatˇnoon.
This event is open to all. Everyone is welcome to play or just watch and cheer on the players. Wheelchairs will be provided.
Sheila Campos is ASE Vice President and a UNM student.
