The Shorthorn - Movin’ Mavs sends three to the Paralympics

HOME

Organizations

Movin’ Mavs sends three to the Paralympics

Written by Larissa M. Robinson

Tuesday, 24 June 2008 04:40 PM

Three Movin’ Mavs wheelchair basketball alumni are preparing to compete in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing this summer.

Mike Paye, Paul Schulte and Jason Nelms were selected to play for the U.S. Paralympic Team with current player public relations senior Danny Fik as first alternate, Doug Garner, Movin’ Mavs interim head coach, said.

Garner, who was also a selection committee member, said tryouts were held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Thirty players were selected to compete.

“This year was the most difficult tryout and selection ever,” he said. “Because the USA team placed seventh in Athens, there was increased pressure to select a team that could medal and represent the U.S. in Beijing.”

Paye said this would be his second time competing in the Paralympics. He currently plays professional wheelchair basketball in Germany.

“I was really proud and honored to be selected a second time around,” he said. “This gives me another chance to represent my family, country, UTA and my other club teams.”

Garner said former head coach Jim Hayes would have been proud and that it was a tribute to the university and the Movin’ Mavs program to have kinesiology senior Aaron Gouge and business management junior James Patin invited to tryout as well.

Hayes’ “philosophy for the Movin’ Mavs program and for higher education in general, was to provide support and programming so that each individual could develop the skills and cognitive assets necessary to achieve at the highest levels in their areas of academic and athletic interest,” Garner said. “And that is what Jay, Mike, Paul and Danny have done.”

Competition will begin in September.
Views: 2256 | E-mail

Be first to comment this article

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 24 September 2008 03:26 PM )

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

Housing Guide PDF