Local wheelchair basketball tournament has built a home going on 14 years
Rene Gomez
Wheelchair basketball is not new to the Valley of the Sun, but it is under the radar.
The weekend of Jan. 17-18 marked the 14th annual Phoenix Banner Wheelchair Suns Roundup Basketball Tournament.
The Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association sponsored the tournament and it was held at the Virginia G. Piper Sports and Fitness Center in Phoenix.
The Banner Wheelchair Suns and Mercury host the tournament, but there were teams from Tucson, Las Vegas, San Diego, San Antonio, and even the Ghana African National Team competed among others.
Gary Venjohn is the executive director and coach for the Banner Wheelchair Suns.
Promoting the event is necessary to help get exposure.
“We send out press releases to everybody and my partners because trying to get something in the paper and the news is pretty tough,” Venjohn said.
For the Phoenix program Venjohn runs, there are five teams in various age groups and skill level.
“We never charge any admission because we want people to be able to come out and see us,” Venjohn said.
There are other ways of fundraising for the even whether it is from generous contributions to concessions or online donations from supporters.
“People can make donations online through our website, or our Facebook account,” Venjohn said.
The San Diego Wolfpack is the only team in America with active duty and veteran military members.
Jorge Salazar has been with the Wolfpack for eight months, but in that time he has enjoyed the competition.
“This helps us continue with our lives and it let’s us know that just because we’re injured we can just continue playing,” Salazar said.
To find out more information go to www.bannerwheelchairsuns.org.
