On March 9, 10 wheelchair basketball teams will compete in a varsity and junior varsity tournament at the Peoria Exposition Center in their own version of March Madness. What makes this tournament unique is that the IHSA is lending its name to the tournament in the same building where the Illinois Class A basketball tournament is taking place.

"The IHSA thought it would be great to give us court time during the finals game on Saturday," Schmidt said. "So we have two courts reserved for the wheelchair basketball tournament."

The varsity division pits the Mad City Bombers from Madison, Wis., against the RIC/Spalding Bulldogs, representing the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Spalding High School. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Rolling Rams go up against the Junior Bulls of Addison.

The winners of those two games then face either the Indiana Rolling Rebels, representing Chicagoland Area Wheelchair Sports, or the Windy City Warriors from the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association. Both teams have byes in the first round.

The junior varsity tournament has the Chariots JV from Rockford going up against the Spokebenders from the North West Special Recreation Association. Also, the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Wave will face the Windy City Warriors JV squad.

In this first IHSA-sanctioned wheelchair basketball tournament, the goal is as much to give the teams and players exposure as to determine a state champion. Catching the eye of IHSA officials, as well as the general public, is a crucial element in long-term success, Schmidt said.

"This will bring about 100 athletes to Peoria. There are about 30 committee members with the IHSA present. We want them all to see it," Schmidt said. "It's kind of an opportunity for the IHSA to view it instead of seeing it through video and pictures and word of mouth.

"They will get an opportunity to come witness that wheelchair basketball is as competitive as regular high school basketball. These kids take it just as serious."

Just as in regular high school basketball, the stakes can be high as the athletes seek recognition and support while looking for college scholarships in a wheelchair basketball program.

"That's why it's so important to me for these kids to get some recognition from the sport that they've been working so hard at," Schmidt said. "Even if a player got a (varsity) letter it would make a difference, just to be acknowledged through the high schools that they're an athlete."

The wheelchair tournament games will begin at 11 a.m. and run through 8 p.m.

At 4 p.m., a presentation will be made to several IHSA representatives as a show of appreciation for their help and support in making wheelchair basketball a reality. Schmidt is hoping each of the wheelchair athletes will be on hand as well, dressed in school warm-up suits to identify the schools from which they come.

The next step will be to expand the program.

"I know there are more kids out there that could be playing right now, but they just don't know they're eligible," Schmidt said. "Or they don't even know that wheelchair basketball exists for juniors. Or maybe they don't have family or anybody looking for them. How parents find me is usually through referrals."

Schmidt sits with Mike Frogley on a committee that oversees this initiative. Frogley, the University of Illinois wheelchair basketball coach, has been instrumental in gaining IHSA support and will host a camp in June at U of I's Urbana-Champaign campus.

"Our goal is to have 200 kids there," Schmidt said.

Copyright 2002 Daily Herald