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Shirley Ryan AbilityLab hosts adaptive sports programming throughout the year, offering participants the opportunity to connect with other adaptive athletes, stay active and engaged, and play and compete in team sports.
Here is a look back at the action from Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s 2024-25 winter season — with highlights from wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and sled hockey.
Chicago SkyHawks Youth Wheelchair Basketball Program
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The Chicago Skyhawks Youth Wheelchair Basketball program, part of the Tengelsen Family Foundation Sports for Kids program, is a collaboration between Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and the Chicago Park District. This program is comprised of two youth teams, a prep team for kids age 6-12 and a varsity team for kids age 13 and up.
Both the prep and varsity teams improved in the 2024-25 season. The prep team had 11 players who showed growth throughout practices and games all season long, and for the first time since 2019, the prep team traveled to overnight tournaments to play against regional teams. Kids and families enjoyed the experiences and contributed to a lot of growth throughout the season. A consistent group of prep players plan to return next season, allowing the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab team to build off this season’s success.
The varsity team had a core group of four returning players and were joined by a few new athletes who played on the prep team last season. The team showed improvement during the season in practices and tournaments, including five weekend tournaments. The varsity team finished third at the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state tournament, an improvement from last season, and for the first time since 2022, the team qualified for the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) National Tournament that will take place April 3-6 in Richmond, Va.
Chicago Bears Wheelchair Rugby Program
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Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s Chicago Bears team had a great season of wheelchair rugby, with games to be proud of and games that came with opportunities to get better.
The 2024-25 season began with the annual Chicago Bear Brawl at Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA), against five teams from the Midwest. Over the course of the season, the Chicago Bears competed at tournaments in Grand Rapids, Mich., Columbus, Ohio, and St. Louis, Mo. They also attended a rugby tournament in Washington D.C., which provided different competition and an opportunity to improve as a team. With many new additions to the team this year, including an inaugural year of coaching for Kevin Moore. It made for a great mix of seasoned veterans and new players eager to get into the hard-hitting action!
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s rugby team will continue to practice twice a week at NEDSRA through the end of May, Wednesday evenings from 7:30-10 pm and Sunday mornings from 9 am-1 pm. The team also is preparing for its annual exhibition at the Abilities Expo Chicago from June 20-22 and making plans for next season’s Bear Brawl.
Blackhawks Sled Hockey Program
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Shirley Ryan AbilityLab fielded two sled hockey teams this year, Tier 1 and Tier 2, who played in the Midwest Sled Hockey League (MWSHL). The Tier 1 team traveled to St. Louis and Colorado Springs, Colo. for competitions, while the Tier 2 team played a set of games in Pekin, Ill. Both teams used wins and losses in February to build momentum to carry them into the Wirtz Cup, the MWSHL Championship weekend hosted by Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Fifth Third Arena in Chicago. While both teams skated hard and played every minute, they fell short of the championship.
Throughout the season, the sled hockey teams not only practiced twice a week and prepared for competition, but they also hosted a sled hockey clinic for youth on a day off of school for Chicago Public Schools. Fifteen energetic kids attended this fun, 2-hour clinic, proving that the future is strong for the program as sled hockey skills continue to develop and as the joy of the developing adaptive sports community carries on.
The sled hockey team takes to the ice April 11-13 for the Deep Dish Classic at the Scott R. Triphahn Ice Center in Hoffman Estates, Ill. Click here for a schedule of games. The team continues to practice two days per week, Sunday nights from 9–11 pm and Wednesday nights from 9:30– 10:45 pm. Practices are held at McFetridge Sports Center in Chicago.
Contact
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For adaptive sports programming inquiries, please contact Kelsey LeFevour at klefevour02@sralab.org.