Page 39 - BWA Annual Report 2020 W

WHEELCHAIR DEVELOPMENT
HIGH PERFORMANCE PATHWAY
2020 was a differtent and like most sports the Wheelchair program was affected by the COVID pandemic. There was no national competitive games completed with the Kevin Coombs Cup for the Junior Black Ducks cancelled as well as the National League for our Perth Wheelcats in the men and women.
2020 did see some growth in our pathway with Basketball WA athlete Ben Moncrieff receiving a full time scholarship in the WAIS Wheelchair Basketball Program through his application and attendance in the daily training environment.
The National Teams in the Gliders and the Rollers didn’t manage any international games in 2020 but there were several camps in which Basketball WA athletes continue to attended and put their name forward for selection in Tokyo 2021.
Basketball WA continues to work closely with the WAIS Wheelchair Basketball program. The Black Ducks and Wheelcats had 12 athletes selected in the Wheelchair Basketball program on full scholarships and or train-on agreements for 2019. This offered athletes numerous benefits including access to the Daily Training Environment and the opportunity to work with multiple specialists to assist with their own player progression.
Reflecting on 2019, the following athletes represented
In 2019 the Black Ducks program competed in the Kevin Coombs Cup and were successful in winning the event. BWA would like to congratulate all athletes, coaches and support staff who made this fantastic achievement possible.
The Kevin Coombs Cup has been at the forefront of producing the country’s best wheelchair talent for a number of years, with many players later going on to represent Australia.
From the Black Ducks Team of 2019 /2020 there is again the potential to provide a number of athletes to be selected to represent Australia in the Under 23 for Men and Under 25 for Women.
Frank Pinder Ben Moncrief Ben Sainsbury
Thomas McHugh Lauren Hardbottle
Australia at different levels:
GLIDERS
Amber Merrit
Sarah Vinci
Mary Friday
Natalie Alexander
Craig Friday (Head Coach)
DEVILS
(UNDER 25 WOMEN) Lauren Hardbottle Mary Friday
ROLLERS
Shaun Norris (Captain) Michael Auprince
Kim Robins
Craig Friday (Coach)
EMERGING ROLLERS
Frank Pinder Thomas McHugh Ben Moncrieff
Craig Friday (Coach)
SPINNERS (UNDER 23 MEN) Frank Pinder
Ben Moncrief Thomas McHugh Ben Sainsbury
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