In our history, University of Arizona Adaptive Athletics has sent 55 athletes and alumni to the Paralympic Games. With its first competition in Rome, Italy in 1960, the Paralympic Games provide elite competition or the world's best, most accomplished disabled athletes.
Women's Wheelchair Basketball
Josie Aslakson: Current Head Coach, UA Women's Wheelchair Basketball; 2nd paralympic: Bronze medal winner 2020; Team USA.
Courtney Ryan: Current Assistant Head Coach, UA Women's Wheelchair Basketball; 2nd paralympic: Bronze medal winner 2020; Team USA.
Natalie Schneider: Community member of the women's wheelchair basketball team, 5X Paralympian, team captain for USA.
Melanie Hawtin: Community member of the women's wheelchair basketball team, 2x Paralympian, Team Canada.
Wheelchair Rugby
Josh Wheeler: 3rd paralympic, 2-time silver medalist 2016 & 2020; Team USA.
Lee Fredette: Community member of Wheelchair Rugby team, 3rd paralympic, 2-time silver medalist 2016 & 2020, Team USA.
Rio Kanda Kovac: Undergraduate student pursuing an interdisciplinary studies, 1st time Paralympian, Team Canada.
Chuck Aoki: UA Alumnus, 4th Paralympics, Team USA.
Josh O'Neal: UA Alumnus, 1st Paralympic, Team USA.
Chuck Melton: Community member of Men's Wheelchair Basketball, 3rd Paralympics, Team USA.
Men's Wheelchair Basketball
Blaise Mutware: Adaptive Athletics Wheelchair Basketball, 2nd Paralympic, Team Canada.
Phil Evans: UA Alumnus, 1st Paralympic, Team Australia.
Sitting Volleyball
Whitney Dosty: Sitting Volleyball, Team USA.
Wheelchair Tennis
Dana Mathewson: Attended UA, 3rd Paralympic, Team USA
Adaptive Track and Field
Chelsea Stein is an undergraduate student and member of the U of A wheelchair racing team competing in her first Paralympic Games, Team USA
News
2021 has an impressive presence of current and former University of Arizona athletes:
- Blaise Mutware, Arizona student-athlete; Wheelchair Basketball representing Canada
- Darlene Hunter, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Basketball, Co-Team Captain
- Natalie Schneider, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Basketball, Co-Team Captain
- Josie Aslakson, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Basketball
- Courtney Ryan, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Basketball
- Bryan Barten, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Tennis
- Dana Mathewson, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Tennis
- David Wagner, former Arizona athlete; Wheelchair Tennis
- Kaitlyn Verfuerth, Arizona alumnus; Rowing
- Chad Cohn, Arizona athlete; Wheelchair Rugby
- Josh Wheeler, Arizona student-athlete; Wheelchair Rugby
- Chuck Aoki, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Rugby
- Lee Fredette, Arizona athlete; Wheelchair Rugby
- Daisuke Ikezaki, Wheelchair Rugby representing Japan
- Shahrad Nasajpour, Arizona student-athlete; Field representing the Refugee Paralympic team
While this program has been well represented over the years at the Games, 2016 made for the second highest presence of current and former University of Arizona athletes.
Wildcats at Paralympics extend long history of competition.
- Jennifer Poist, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Basketball
- Darlene Hunter, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Basketball
- Bryan Barten, Arizona alumnus and head coach of Arizona Wheelchair Tennis; Wheelchair Tennis
- Dana Mathewson, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Tennis
- David Wagner, former Arizona athlete; Wheelchair Tennis
- Kaitlyn Verfuerth, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Tennis
- Adam Kellerman, former Arizona international athlete; Wheelchair Tennis representing Team Australia
- Shirley Reilly, Arizona senior; Wheelchair Track and Field
- Alana Nichols, Arizona alumnus; Paracanoe
- Chad Cohn, Arizona community member; Wheelchair Rugby
- Josh Wheeler, Arizona community member; Wheelchair Rugby
Seven athletes participated in the Games in 2012:
- Zach Abbott, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Track and Field
- Bryan Barten, Arizona alumnus and head coach of the Arizona wheelchair Tennis team; Wheelchair Tennis
- Jordan Bird, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Track and Field
- Tanner Gers, former Arizona student; Track and Field
- Adam Kellerman, former international student; Wheelchair Tennis representing Team Australia
- Jennifer Poist, Arizona alumnus; Women's Wheelchair Basketball
- Noah Yablong, Arizona alumnus; Wheelchair Tennis