News - Adaptive Sports Iowa

Adaptive Sports Iowa’s Grizzlies Roll into Coralville: Youth Wheelchair Basketball Team Hosts Regional Tournament

February 9, 2024

The GreenState Family Fieldhouse in Coralville, Iowa is set to transform into a battleground for wheelchair basketball teams as the highly anticipated National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Northern Conference Tournament presented by GreenState Credit Union takes place February 17-18, 2024. Sixteen teams from across the Midwest will converge to showcase their skills and determination in this exciting event...

Four women working out next to each other. They are all seated and using a stationary bike with their arms.

Empowering Every Body: CrossFit 8035 and Adaptive Sports Iowa Transform Lives Through Adaptive Fitness Initiative, Bridging Gaps for Health Equity

December 21, 2023

Towards the end of the year, most people start reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the next year. Some people make resolutions, and gym memberships skyrocket. Not all gym memberships are created equal, however. For people with physical disabilities, it can be a challenge to find an accessible gym that has the equipment needed...

Ally sitting in a shot put chair, throwing the implement in her yellow team track jersey.

Access to Adaptive Equipment Fuels the Fire to Compete

December 19, 2023

Ally Darter, a junior at Dubuque Hempstead High School, loves to compete! She primarily uses crutches for mobility in her everyday life, and participates in wheelchair sports, including Adaptive Sports Iowa’s Track & Field program...

Josh pushing his racing wheelchair over the finish line on the blue track at Drake University

The Gift of Sports Given by Variety - the Children’s Charity

December 18, 2023

His freshman year at Washington High School, Josh Anderson decided he wanted to participate in track and field. Josh uses crutches as a mobility device in his everyday life, so his track coaches started talking to him about possibilities...

Athlete of the Year: Sam Spore

October 4, 2023

Sam was born in East Africa with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. He received spinal and brain surgeries as an infant in Uganda. By the time he turned seven years old, his biological family was unable to continue caring for him. Sam lived at a children's home near his village until his parents, Chad and Heidi Spore, adopted him at age twelve.

Drake Relays 2023

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May 10, 2023

On Friday, April 29th, 7 high school adaptive track and field participants competed in the prestigious Drake Relays! This group of the fastest wheelchair racers in the state completed a 400m wheelchair race and then got to stay and watch the college and Paralympic division immediately following their race. Here's what a few of them have to say about the experience...

Mary is lifting a weighted bar during the 8035 Adaptive Fitness program.

Athlete Spotlight: Mary Helen Biller

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April 7, 2023

Mary Helen Biller was born with spina bifida. Mary is currently retired, but for 25 years she spent her days as a preschool teacher and childcare provider. She is an active member and board member of the Spina Bifida Association of Iowa. In her free time, Mary enjoys spending time with family and working out so she can stay physically active.

One of the ASI sled hockey participants, Ava, is handling the puck as she turns in her sled. She is wearing a gray Iowa State sweatshirt, black pants, a helmet, and gloves.

Athlete Spotlight: Ava Cantelope

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March 6, 2023

Ava Cantelope, age 15, was born with a type of spina bifida called myelomeningocele. This is a neural tube defect that causes a gap between the bones in the spine that allows the meninges and the spinal cord to protrude from the back in infants. Ava currently attends Norwalk High School and wants to be an FBI profiler when she gets older. She loves sports and spending time with friends and family.

Grizzlies Invitational 2022 Presented by GreenState Credit Union

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October 20, 2022

This past weekend, October 15-16, 2022, Adaptive Sports Iowa hosted the first annual Grizzlies Invitational Presented by GreenState Credit Union. The tournament was held in the GreenState Family Fieldhouse in Coralville, Iowa and was a huge success! Five teams from across the Midwest were in attendance for this National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) sanctioned event, including Adaptive Sports Iowa’s very own youth wheelchair basketball team, the Grizzlies.

Mike holding his racquet and looking up as he tosses a tennis ball in the air to serve.

Athlete of the Year Candidate: Mike Hatfield

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July 7, 2022

Michael Hatfield is another outstanding candidate for the 2022…

Joel is tossing up a tennis ball and getting ready to serve it over the net.

Athlete of the Year Candidate: Joel Fini

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July 6, 2022

Coming up this fall, the director of Adaptive Sports Iowa will…

Drake Relays 2022

June 14, 2022

Five high school athletes competed in the 400m wheelchair event at Drake Relays on April 29. This was the second year that the Relays held a wheelchair event, and the students even had the chance to meet some Paralympic athletes, who competed following the high school race. Get to know the Drake Relays participants...