The Manly Wheel Eagles are set to compete in the National Wheelchair Basketball League (NWBL) finals in Shellharbour, NSW.
This is a unique opportunity to watch elite wheelchair basketball athletes, including many who will represent Australia at the Paris Paralympics and returned from professional contracts in Europe, to play in the national league.
Formed two years ago, the Manly Wheel Eagles have achieved remarkable success, advancing from local competitions to the national stage.
“We are incredibly proud of our journey from grassroots beginnings to competing on a national level,” player/coach and former Dutch Paralympian Koen Jansens said. “Reaching the NWBL finals in our first year is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players and supporters. Our focus isn’t just on elite competition, we are dedicated to offering opportunities for athletes of all levels of ability and ambition, from those aspiring to be Paralympians to those seeking the social and health benefits of sport.”
The team’s rapid rise can also be attributed to the dedication of local participants such Jansens and Lisa Edmonds, as well as Bill Latham, who will represent Australia in Paris.
Services provider LiveBig, which forms part of the Arriba Group, sponsors the team. “The Manly Wheel Eagles are more than just a team, they represent a movement towards greater inclusion and opportunity in sports,” LiveBig CEO Juliet Middleton said.
The NWBL season, which runs from June to August, features games divided between male and female competitions. The men’s league is gender-neutral, and the Wheel Eagles’ squad includes three female athletes, Annabelle Lindsay, Kylie Gauci and Victoria Simpson.
The WBA Finals Series will be held at the Shellharbour City Stadium, Croom NSW on August 10-11.