October 21, 2013
Potsdam Basketball and Women's Lacrosse Collaborate to Raise Funds for Wheelchair Benefit
Members of the SUNY Potsdam men's and women's basketball teams as well as the women's lacrosse team collaborated together to help raise funds in the Potsdam Rotary Wheelchair Challenge that took place at Maxcy Field House on Saturday morning.
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Proceeds benefitted needy people to help offset the cost of a wheelchair. A $75 registration fee allowed each set of teams to raise enough money to purchase four wheelchairs to donate.Â
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The four-person team elimination relay race instructed that each member race in a wheelchair a quarter of the way or 200 feet around the track. The winning team moved onto the next bracket.Â
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The men's hoops squad had enough players to field two separate teams while both women's' squads teamed to form one unit.
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"It's been done by the rotary club for four years I believe," said SUNY Potsdam men's basketball coach Sherry Dobbs.  "It's a good event and a good way to help people.  It was good for our guys to see how difficult it is to just go just a couple hundred feet. It was emphatic for them and make them understand this isn't easy to do. I think our athletes need to appreciate the opportunities that they have and realize that they have it pretty good."Â
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There were 12 teams from high schools, colleges and from the community who took part in the event. There were no restrictions on how the forming of a team could be assembled.Â
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The combination women's basketball and women's lacrosse team found success by reaching the semifinals of the event.Â
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First to third prizes were given in addition to the best costume and most spirited.Â
Bailey Weigel, who plays on both the basketball and lacrosse teams, won the most spirited overall with her banana outfit.Â
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