WASA + Marquette TryIt Recap
Play has no limits for all inclusive sports clinic at Marquette - by Sean Brynda of WTMJ Sports Radio
Athletes of all abilities met at Marquette’s Wellness + Helfaer Recreation Center on Saturday, November 1 to take part in the WASA-Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association Sports Try-It Clinic. Wheelchair athletes and recently impaired athletes had the opportunity to learn four sports ranging from basketball, pickleball, rugby and lacrosse.
Michael Zvara is a member of the Milwaukee Eagles Wheelchair Lacrosse team and says the clinic is a chance for impaired people to try something new. “You have no idea how much a sport can impact someone,” said Zvara. “If you find that one sport that you really like, it changes everything. It changes your schedule, your outlook on life. Personally, it has given me a lot of confidence. I know it has helped a lot of my teammates out. I know it has helped veterans and other people tremendously.”
Peggy Huhn had her leg amputated back in January and has been trying to get back into sports with pickleball. “It’s the one sport that’s become so popular anyone can play it,” said Huhn. “I think it’s great that pickleball is on the list of adaptive sports. My family plays all the time so it is one thing that I really want to get back into the swing of so I can play with them. We are super active and I am trying to find that one sport that will keep me active and what other opportunities are out there for me.” Huhn says she only just heard recently about WASA and says she’s grateful that the organization exists to help keep all people active in some form of physical activity.
Emily Oberst is the community outreach director for WASA and says the clinic being held has already had success due to athletes and clinic participants having a fun time. “We serve a small portion of the population where we need large universities and community organizations to back us and support us for what we do,” said Oberst. “So for Marquette to give us this opportunity to host this event in their new facility is amazing and we partnered with Marquette for about five years now. Our wheelchair basketball team wears the Marquette jersey and wheelchair lacrosse wears the Marquette jersey as well so it an awesome partnership.”
Oberst says the Try-It Clinic evens the playing field not only for disabled body people but abled bodied people as well. “This clinic provides an opportunity for someone to live the day-in-the-life of a someone else’s shoes. It gives somebody who doesn’t have a disability and opportunity to feel what it’s like to be in a wheelchair and ultimately learn a little bit more about inclusion and disability awareness, teamwork, empathy and vice-versa- people who are in a wheelchair get to be immersed fully on the same playing field as their friends and community members.” Oberst believes that if one person can really get attached to a sport, it brings forth a new outlook on life and a new opportunity to have fun beyond one’s own limits.
TryIt photos by Doug Sundin
