FRESNO, Calif. – To the uninitiated, the pace and physicality of wheelchair basketball can be a shock – but those traits of the game help build confidence, independence and relationships among its players.
“You take bumper cars, ramp up the speed, add a basketball and a hoop, and there you have wheelchair basketball,” said Gary Howery, a coach with the Fresno Wheelers and a wheelchair basketball player himself.
The Wheelers – the official team of the Valley Children’s Adaptive Sports Program – have provided a place for children with physical disabilities to play wheelchair basketball since 2012. During the 2024-2025 season, they took the next step: competitive play.
The team played host to more than a dozen teams during the West Coast Conference Championship Tournament held at Fresno State in February. Overall, the team finished in sixth place, with multiple players taking home awards for sportsmanship and academic excellence during their season.
During the tournament, several players on a team from Seattle became ill and couldn’t participate. Players from the Wheelers volunteered to play on their team so they could continue to take part in the tournament.
Many of the athletes began their journey with adaptive sports through clinics in other activities; currently, the program offers nine sports in total. For some, like Kylie Gail-Holsworth who started playing basketball recreationally in 2022, the sport quickly became a passion. “It’s inspiring to see how big the sport is – teams coming from all over the states and they’re all playing wheelchair basketball, I think it’s really great to see,” she said.
The learning curve can be steep. Players must master the shooting form while seated and build upper body strength to maneuver their chairs quickly enough to keep up.
“I started lifting weights and got a little stronger,” said Roberto Sandoval, whose favorite aspect of the game is the shooting.
Howery’s experience as a player himself played a big part in his excitement to coach. “When I was approached to coach, I jumped at the opportunity to instill my knowledge into this next generation,” he said.
The physicality of the sport was evident at the West Coast Tournament, with multiple players falling over after a collision.
“There’s going to be a lot of bumps, a lot of falls, a lot of getting up,” said Howery.
“Your parents can’t come and pick you up, your coach can’t come help you, you have to rely on your team. They’re not stopping – you have to get yourself back into the game,” said Gail-Holsworth.
That spirit of independence and inner strength is what Howery hopes all athletes take away, well after they’re done playing. “The thing I’m most proud of is our kids are becoming individuals who are independent,” said Howery. “Independence is key because no one is going to hold your hand forever. If you can advocate for yourself and what you need and what you want, the sky’s the limit.”
For those unsure about trying adaptive sports, the message is clear: give it a shot. “If basketball isn’t right for you, there’s rock climbing and so many other sports,” said Gail-Holsworth. “It could totally change your life.”
To learn more about the Adaptive Sports Program and other sports that are offered, click here.
