Wildcats wheelchair basketball team celebrates national title win
The University of Arizona celebrated its men’s wheelchair basketball team for winning their first national title.
In a historic triumph that marks a new chapter in adaptive athletics, the University of Arizona’s men’s wheelchair basketball team celebrated their first national championship victory after three consecutive finals appearances. The achievement was commemorated during a special ceremony at the Student Recreation Center, where university leaders gathered to honor the team’s groundbreaking success in the National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Championship.
Historic victory celebrated with university leadership
U of A President Suresh Garimella, alongside Vice President and Director of Athletics Desireé Reed-Francois and Vice President for Student Affairs Amanda Kraus, led the celebrations for the team’s victory, which they secured on March 29 in Illinois. The win marks a significant milestone in the university’s 50-year tradition of excellence in adaptive athletics.
“What you did on the court that day was very special,” Garimella remarked during the ceremony, expressing his admiration for the team since witnessing their scrimmage at the annual Red and Blue Game. The president also highlighted the university’s impressive track record of producing 51 Paralympic athletes.
Program transformation and future prospects
A significant announcement was made during the celebration when Vice President Kraus revealed that Arizona Adaptive Athletics would be integrated into Campus Recreation, starting next fiscal year. This strategic move aims to mainstream adaptive sports within the university’s athletic programs.
“This isn’t a special program that’s tucked off to the side. This is offered at Campus Recreation, where, honestly, it truly belongs,” Kraus explained, emphasizing the university’s commitment to inclusive athletics.
Looking ahead to 2026
The program’s future looks even brighter as the University of Arizona prepares to host the 2026 National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Championships, featuring men’s and women’s tournaments, at McKale Memorial Center. Peter Hughes, the adaptive athletics director, expressed his vision for the event: “We want to pack McKale next spring. We want to set an attendance record for the finals.”
The championship team will receive additional recognition through a Tucson City Council proclamation on May 6, followed by a special ring ceremony during the Arizona-Oklahoma State football game this fall.
Head coach Mike Beardsley and team captain Ben Thornton both acknowledged the crucial support systems that contributed to their success. “To the University of Arizona (and) the Tucson community, to be able to give back to a university that has given me so much as a student-athlete, really means the world,” Thornton stated.
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