Physical therapy students from the George Washington University (GW) might not have made any layups or three-pointers, but they had a hand in a successful wheelchair basketball tournament hosted in January by the Division I team the MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital (MNRH) Punishers.
Each year, the Punishers of Washington, D.C., host an invitational tournament for other Division I teams from across the country. This year, six teams in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) attended the intensive two-day event where more than 15 games were played. The tournament concluded with a medal ceremony that saw the Punishers take second place.
The tournament couldn’t take place without assistance of many volunteers, and this year, GW students from the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (DPT) at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences did their part to help.
Gabbie Cook’s role included running the score table and keeping the official tournament score cards. “I had previously volunteered for a wheelchair rugby tournament and had a wonderful experience,” said DPT student Cook. “There’s so much to learn from the athletes, coaches, and other volunteers that can only be experienced at an event like this one.”
Marie Blasi, a Class of 2020 DPT student, found that her volunteer experience solidified what she has learned throughout her time in the GW program and will impact her role as a clinician. “The biggest takeaway from this experience, which resonates with what we are taught in school, is how much we can do as PTs to impact a person’s life,” Blasi said. “It’s easy to get lost in the weeds when thinking about specific treatments and exercises, but this tournament was a great reminder of what participation in life really looks like. It helped me to think about my role as a physical therapist in trying to get people back to all aspects of their life, including sports.”
Harsh Thacker, a team member, assistant coach, and current team manager of the MNRH Punishers, was excited about the tournament’s success. “The Punishers team is very engaged in community disability awareness and often travels to schools, churches, and other local events,” Thacker said. “We want the community to be aware that people with disabilities can still engage in life and not only survive, but thrive, at the highest level of society.”