User:Alikashmir99/Movin' Mavs

ABOUT:               The Movin’ Mavs is the  University of Texas at Arlington’s (UTA) highly recognized adaptive sports disability program. The program leaves no stone unturned to provide facilities and programs for students with disabilities. Its wheelchair chair basketball program is the pinnacle of sports disabilities programs in the nation. The program provides competitive sports opportunities accompanied with scholarships to students with disabilities both locally as well as internationally.During the past two decades, the program has gained a lot of recognition as a prolific athletic program, encouraging sports and education among people with disabilities. The team has won seven U.S. Wheelchair Basketball National Championships and is recognized by the White House.

HISTORY:            The Movin’ Mavs Wheelchair Basketball Team was founded in 1976 as a recreational event for disabled students. At that time the team was known as the Freewheelers and was founded and headed by player-coach Jim Hayes. In 1988, the University of Texas at Arlington’s (UTA) student body and administration took steps to elevate the wheelchair basketball program from a recreation-based program to a recognized intercollegiate athletic program. This allowed the team to take on the same name as UTA’s men’s able-bodied team, have scholarships fully funded by the Student Body, and the ability to join the National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Division. The Movin’ Mavs played intercollegiate basketball during 1989-90 and made it to “The Final Four” in its first year. The team won the National Intercollegiate Championship in March 1990. This success was followed by many other championship victories.

AWARDS:            The Movin’ Mavs played intercollegiate basketball during 1989-90 and made it to “The Final Four” in its first year. The team won the National Intercollegiate Championship in March 1990. This success was followed by many other championship victories. To date, the team has won seven U.S. Wheelchair National Championships, and many of its players have participated in Paralympics. Also, more than 60 team members have received first and second Team All-American honors, and nine have been named Most Valuable Players.