Thank you to the AzDS Year-Round Sponsors for their generous support

CHAMPION LEVEL - $10,000 and above
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Southwest Airlines
USOC—Olympic Opportunity Fund

CHALLENGER LEVEL - $5,000—$9,999
Boeing Employee Community Fund
The Jochum-Moll Foundation
Gregory J. Marsh
McCarthy Heart Hats
Mesa Hohokam Foundation
SPAC Enterprises / Peter Mizioch

COMPETITOR LEVEL - $2,500—$4,999
Arizona Sport & Tourism Authority
Cardinals Charities
Delta Diversified
Ford Motor Company

CHARGER LEVEL - $1,000—$2,499
Desert Club Foundation
E & K of Phoenix, Inc.
Shaw Industries
United Truck & Equipment

Thank you to the Table Sponsors at the 18th Annual Fall Fundraiser

PLATINUM - $3,000
JFK Electrical Contracting Enterprises, Inc.

GOLD - $2,000
Cummins Rocky Mountain
Simpson Strong-Tie

SILVER - $1,000
John and Sue Alig
Arizona Lighting Sales, Inc.
Boeing Company
Cawood and Gibson, PLLC
D.L. Withers Construction
John and Linda Hughes
Kohler Company
Lerner & Rowe Attorneys
Morrison & Associates CPAs
Progressive Roofing
Gloria Rusk and Beth Rusk
R.C. Lurie Co, Inc.
Schuff Steel Management Co. SW
Suntec Concrete
SW Services
The Mahoney Group
Jim Winterton / Johnson Bank

18th Annual Fall Fundraiser

On Saturday, October 1st, AzDS hosted the 18th Annual Fall Fundraiser at the Mesa Convention Center. The organization was very pleased to have 280 guests to bid on the 158 silent auction items and 7 live auction items. Joe Dana of 12 News entertained the crowd as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening with support from certified auctioneer, Letitia Frye who won over the crowd during the live auction. Special thank you to DJ Larry Indelicato, vocalist Laura Danielle Walsh and her band and Monsignor Nestor for their support at the 2011 event. Congratulations to the organizing committee for a successful 18th year - especially Linda Hughes and Deb Krecek who put in countless hours of volunteer work towards the event.

Annually at the Fall Fundraiser, AzDS presents the Jay Coyner Award to the most deserving athlete with a physical disability. The 2011 recipient is Rachel Kroener. Rachel has competed with the Junior Suns wheelchair basketball team since 2008 and recently began playing on both the junior and the adult women’s wheelchair basketball teams. In August of 2011, after only two seasons with the track and field team, Rachel was announced as a member of the US Paralympic Track & Field High School All-American Team. Rachel set the America’s record in both the discus and javelin at the 2011 National Junior Disability Championships. At the NJDC in Michigan, Rachel only competed for one day but she attended each day to cheer on her teammates. Rachel is an outstanding athlete and a dedicated teammate. Congratulations to Rachel Kroener for winning the 2011 Jay Coyner Award.

AZ Paralympic Experience - Wheelchair Basketball

On Saturday, August 27th, Arizona Disabled Sports, Banner Wheelchair Suns and University of Arizona hosted the Arizona Paralympic Experience - Wheelchair Basketball clinic. Eleven juniors joined the morning session and 17 adults joined the afternoon session. The clinics were led by University of Arizona men's head coach, Derek Brown and women's head coach, Peter Hughes. Supporting the instruction were adult wheelchair basketball athlete Robert Reed and junior Suns coach Tom Czarnecki.

AzDS Founder is a Triathlete

One of the founders of this organization has recently reached a personal goal of competing in a mini-triathlon. Gregg's post on Facebook on September 18th:

Back from the mini-triathlon and I accomplished both of my goals.....I finished and I didn't let Barbara Jacoboski pass me! The fact that she started 20 minutes later than me is irrelevant! My times were 5:14 for the 250 swim; 42:something for the 9.5 bike; and 19:20 for the 2 mile run. Overall time with transitions was 1:07:20. I managed to take the silver medal for my age group. I think there are more mini-tri's in my future!

Gregg has already signed up to compete in the Seville Mini-Triathlon in Gilbert on October 16th. You go Gregg!

AZ Heat juniors face fierce competition at NJDC

From July 16th-23rd, the Arizona Heat junior team of five athletes, 1 coach, 2 administrators and lots of family members traveled to Saginaw, Michigan for the National Junior Disability Championships. The long trip from Phoenix to Saginaw was no match for the junior archers.

All four archery competitors received a personal best performance. Chainey Cathemer, AR2 shot 459 for 1st place in Novice Cadet male, Autumn Taylor, AR3 shot 240 for 1st place in Novice Cadet female, Michael Baumgartner, AR3 shot 479 for 2nd place in the Novice Cadet male and Kevin Messner, AR3 shot 430 for 1st place in Cadet. The archery team set the tone for the week!

Autumn Taylor competed in 4 swim events and received 3rd and 4th place in all events with some fierce competition in her classification and age division.

After cheering on her teammates for most of the week, Rachel competed in wheelchair field and set a National junior's record in both discus and javelin receiving 1st place in both events.

Autumn Taylor, Michael Baumgartner, Chainey Cathemer and Kevin Messner competed in track events for three days. Even after a stumble at the beginning of both the 60m and 100m, Autumn finished hard and received 1st place in her age and class. Kevin received 3rd place in the 100m, 3rd place in the 200m and 1st place in the 400m. Michael and Chainey competed in the T54 class in the 100m and 200m and competed against the top junior athletes in their age division. Michael had a personal best in both the 100m and 200m.

The athletes enjoyed social outings with the Arizona Heat team including dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings, ice cream at Baskin' Robins and bowling next to the hotel. Everyone had a great time and can't wait to start up the 2012 season!

Arizona Disabled Sports has submitted a bid to host the National Junior Disability Championships in July 2012. The bid will be announced after the WASUSA delegate assembly from October 21-23. Committee members and volunteers will be in high demand if we win the bid!

AzDS Athletes receive high school letters for participation

Athletes that participate with Arizona Disabled Sports for two consecutive years will be eligible to receive a letter from their high school. At the 2011 End of Season Awards Celebration, Chandler Goetz was presented with a letter from Williamsfield High School for active participation on the wheelchair basketball team. Congratulations Chandler!

New wheelchair basketball athlete

AZDS has been a great experience for my son and our family so far. Gabriel has express interest in enrolling in athletics for a while even though he is only 6 years old. I found out about AZDS wheelchair basketball through the Spina Bifida Association of Arizona (SBAAZ) and their resources. The application process to get started was easy and the entry fee was minimal. Gabriel was even given a chair to practice with while we wait on his to come. The staff and team at AZDS have been exceptional to work with. Gabriel can’t wait for Monday’s practice to come. He asks me every day when I pick him up from school if it’s Monday so he can go to basketball practice. He loves wearing his Shaq Suns jersey to practice, to him every basketball player is Shaq and he can’t wait to grow up and be like him. Gabriel is definitely getting a good workout through this program as well. Every Monday during practice he says, “Dad, check out my muscles. They’re getting huge!”
Thank you AZDS for your program and support
Scanlan Family

First time cyclist and kayak participant

Before I had my stroke, I wasn’t able to ride a bike or ride in a kayak!! AZDS has helped me get my self stronger and it has given me the best sort of confidence. I am so excited and happy that I did that!
-Athlete, Michelle