The 2019 Wheelchair Games and Spinal Cord Injury Sports and Vendor Expo will be held on Saturday, September 21. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Sarah Caro at scaro@burke.org or (914) 597-2846.
Special Events & Programs
Save the Date
Wheelchair Games and Spinal Cord Injury Expo
For decades wheelchair athletes of all ages from the tri-state area and beyond have headed to Burke Rehabilitation Hospital to participate in the annual Wheelchair Games. This year marks the 40th annual Wheelchair Games! Specially featured at this year's event will also be the Spinal Cord Injury Sports and Vendor Expo in honor of Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month.
The Wheelchair Games and Spinal Cord Injury Sports and Vendor Expo will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2019.
That day, Burke’s campus will transform into a unique forum for sportsmanship, camaraderie, and determination. The sporting event allows disabled persons to show their ability in a variety of track, field and table tennis events. Sports are known for their therapeutic benefits and the Wheelchair Games help athletes build strength, coordination, endurance and self-confidence, allowing those with physical impairments the ability to stay active and to enjoy the competition.
In addition to the athletic events, help us celebrate Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month by attending the SCI Sports and Vendor Expo! The expo will include vendor presentations on topics such as adaptive equipment, new technologies, services and products relevant to life after SCI. Join us in the afternoon for adaptive sports and interactive product demonstrations. Hope to see you there! For more information on the SCI expo, email Kaitlynn Hammerton at khammerton@burke.org.
The Wheelchair Games competitive categories include a Futures Division (six and under), a separate Junior Division, Adult and separate Masters levels at age 35 and older, age 50 and older, and the senior Masters division at age 60 and over. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. there will be field, table tennis, a slalom (obstacle) course. A basketball free throw competition will also take place in the morning. Track events start at 1:30 p.m. Morning event winners will be awarded during lunchtime, track event winners will be awarded after all track races have been completed.
The day will include lots of fun for families too! There will be musical entertainment all day as well as silent auctions and chance raffles. Volunteer opportunities are available; please click here to download the volunteer form.
DOWNLOAD A WHEELCHAIR GAMES REGISTRATION PACKET
Please call (914) 597-2850 if you have any questions about the Games. If you have questions about classification and/or the athletic events, please contact Ralph Armento, meet director, at ralph461@msn.com or at (732) 266-2634.
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for the Wheelchair Games and Spinal Cord Injury Sports and Vendor Expo, contact Sarah Caro at scaro@burke.org or (914) 597-2846. Click here to download the sponsorship and vendor packet.
Wheelchair Games Results
- Best Novice (male): William Zhumi
- Best Junior (male): Majiting "Kiko" Mina
- Best Junior (female): Katie Brennan
- Best Adult (male): Martin Reyna
- Best Adult (female): Caitlin Goerlich
- Best Master (female): Vernita Paige
- Best Senior Master (male): Jessie Phillips
- Best Field Athlete (male): Roger Mutter
- Best Field Athlete (female): Katie Brennan
- Best Table Tennis Athlete (male): Jessie Phillips
- Best Table Tennis Athlete (female): Caitlin Goerlich
- Best Slalom Athlete (male): Peter Rossiter
- Best Slalom Athlete (female): Helen Newman
The Maureen Ryan-Carr Spirit Award was given to Jonathan Lay.
- Outstanding Novice Male
Donohue Fields - Outstanding Novice Female
Lisa Rivera - Outstanding Junior Male
Kiko Mina - Outstanding Junior Female
Helen Newman - Outstanding Adult Male
Tyrell Eddy - Outstanding Adult Female
Caitlin Goerlich - Outstanding Master Male
Adihambo Mitcell - Outstanding Master Female
Verrita Paige - Outstanding Grand Master Male
Roger Mutter - Outstanding Grand Master Female
Gloria Murray - Outstanding Male Slalom
Malkee Singh - Outstanding Female Slalom
Katy Brenan - Outstanding Male Table Tennis
Jessie Phillips - Outstanding Female Table Tennis
Caitlin Georlich - Outstanding Male in Field
Debrandson (DJ) Davidson - Outstanding Female in Field
Helen Newman
The 2017 Maureen Ryan-Carr Award, given in memory of the late Burke senior administrator Maureen Ryan-Carr and presented to the athlete who best represented the Games’ spirit, was bestowed upon Nakia Carter. The John Lombardi Sportsmanship Award, given in memory of the late wheelchair athlete John Lombardi and presented to the athlete who showed the most determination, was awarded to Gerald Herring. The 25-Year Achievement Award was presented to Roger Mutter.
Burke is grateful for all the athletes who took part in the Games, as well as our many volunteers and supporters who made the Games a great success. We also would like to thank our sponsors for their generosity: Apple Bank, Audiology Associates of Westchester, The Bristal Assisted Living, ISE Office Plus, Keating Electric, Montefiore, NYCONN Security Systems, PepsiCo EnAble, Phoenix Contracting Corporation, Premiere Flooring Systems, R. Argento & Sons, The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Sodexo, Vitolite Electric Sales.
- Outstanding Novice Male
Aiden Nunes - Outstanding Novice Female
Ava McEntire - Outstanding Junior Male
Trent Clayton - Outstanding Junior Female
Stephanie Marque - Outstanding Adult Male
Ramon Rivera - Outstanding Adult Female
Caitlin Goerlich - Outstanding Master Male
Roger Mutter - Outstanding Master Female
Catherine Evins - Outstanding Field Male
DeBrandston Davidson - Outstanding Field Female
Stephanie Marquez - Best Slalom Male
Anthony Felix - Best Slalom Female
Catherine Evins
The 2016 Maureen Ryan-Carr Award, given in memory of the late Burke senior administrator Maureen Ryan-Carr and presented to the athlete who best represented the Games’ spirit, was bestowed upon Nicholas Daponte. The John Lombardi Sportsmanship Award, given in memory of the late wheelchair athlete John Lombardi and presented to the athlete who showed the most determination, was awarded to Joel Tapia.
Burke is grateful for all the athletes who took part in the Games, as well as our many supporters who made the event a great success. We also would like to thank our sponsors for their generosity: PepsiCo, Enable, The Bristal Assisted Living, Sodexo, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick’s of Westchester, Xerox Business Solutions, R. Argento & Sons, Inc, Vitolite Electric Sales Co, Inc., Arthur Gallagher & CO, Bioness, Eagle Capital Mgmt, Keating Electric & Technology.
- John Lombardi Sportsmanship Award
Hillary Barber - Maureen Ryan-Carr Award
Joseph Johnston - Outstanding Novice Male
Ekow Opuko Dakwa - Outstanding Novice Female
Anastasia Nelson - Outstanding Junior Male
Martin Reyna - Outstanding Junior Female
Sarah Maher - Outstanding Adult Male
Paul Tudisco - Outstanding Adult Female
Markia Carter - Outstanding Master Male
Ramon Rivera - Outstanding Master Female
Gloria Murray - Outstanding Senior Male
William Braun - Outstanding Senior Female
Jerry Braun - Outstanding Field Male
Roger Mutter - Outstanding Field Female
Maggie Fusco - Best Slalom Male
Richard Dunn - Best Slalom Female
Jerry Braun - Outstanding Tennis Male
Kiko Mina - Outstanding Tennis Female
Catlin Goerlich
- John Lombardi Memorial Award
Isaac Sullivan - Outstanding Male, Field
Ernest Williams - Outstanding Female, Slalom
Outstanding Junior Female
Kari Craddock - Outstanding Female, Field
Jacqueline Abramson - Outstanding Grand Master
Outstanding Male, Slalom
Mario Ojeda - Outstanding Novice Male
Nicholas DaPonte - Outstanding Junior Male
Martin Reyna
- John Lombardi Memorial Award
Matt Tomaino - Maureen Ryan Carr Spirit Award
Dana Parrott - Best Novice (Male)
Christian Santos - Best Novice (Female)
Dana Parrott - Best Junior (Male)
Isaac Sullivan - Best Junior (Female)
Stephanie Marquez - Best Adult (Male)
Paul Tudisco - Best Adult (Female)
Shaleena Tomassini - Best Master (Female)
Vernita Paige - Best Senior Master (Male)
Joseph Dowling - Best Field Athlete
Stephanie Marquez - Best Table Tennis Athlete (Female)
Caitlin Goerlich - Best Slalom Athlete (Male)
Brian Cox - Best Slalom Athlete (Female)
Vernita Paige
- John Lombardi Memorial Award
Anthony Felix, Bronx, NY - Maureen Ryan Carr Award
Maggie Fusco, Plantsville, CT - Best Novice (Male)
Daniel Rosenfeld, Great Neck, NY - Best Novice (Female)
Karissa Craddock, Trumbull, CT - Best Junior (Male)
Isaac Sullivan, Forked River, NJ - Best Junior (Female)
Stephanie Marquez, New Britain, CT - Best Adult (Male)
Mandeep Singh, New York, NY - Best Adult (Female)
Shaleena Tomassini, Peapack, NY - Best Master (Male)
Joe Deweever, Beacon, NY - Best Master (Female)
Vernita Paige, New York, NY - Best Senior Master (Male)
Joseph Dowling, Old Greenwich, CT - Best Senior Master (Female)
Catherine Elvins, Mt. Kisco, NY - Best Field Athlete
Joe Deweever - Best Table Tennis Athlete (Male)
Stephan Bozydaj, Highland, NY - Best Table Tennis Athlete (Female)
Caitlin Goerlich, Union, NJ - Best Slalom Athlete (Male)
Anthony Felix - Best Slalom Athlete (Female)
Helen Newman, North Granby, CT
- John Lombardi Sportsmanship Award
Michael John Harnett - Maureen Ryan-Carr Award
Kari Craddock - Outstanding Novice Male
Tyquan Wright - Outstanding Novice Female
Lizzatte Rosario - Outstanding Junior Male
Linas Pagano - Outstanding Junior Female
Leighton Heisey - Outstanding Adult Male
Daniel Huang - Outstanding Adult Female
Theresa Feighery - Outstanding Master Male
Penton Johnson - Outstanding Master Female
Lourdes Flores - Outstanding Grand Master Male
Bill Braun - Outstanding Grand Master Female
Jerry Braun - Outstanding Male in Slalom
Pedro Garcia - Outstanding Female in Slalom
Stephanie Marquez - Outstanding Male in Table Tennis
Byran Hsio - Outstanding Female in Table Tennis
Kara Maloney - Outstanding Male in Field
Griffen Kingkiner - Outstanding Female in Field
Leighton Heisey
Save the Date!
The 2017 Wheelchair Games will be held on September 23, 2017. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Colleen Borrelli at cborrelli@burke.org or (914) 597-2849.
2018 Wheelchair Games Sponsors
Slalom Sponsors
The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick
Back on Track Sponsors
ACA Environmental Services, Inc.
Apple Bank
Audiology Associates of Westchester
Barnum Financial Group
The Hurlburt Foundation
Phoenix Contracting Corp.
Premiere Flooring Systems
R. Argento & Sons Inc.
Photo Gallery
Become a Wheelchair Games Volunteer
The annual Wheelchair Games is produced entirely by volunteers, including Burke employees and people from the community. These volunteers come from civic groups, schools, religious organizations and other associations. The success of the Wheelchair Games would not be possible without the help of volunteers.
All volunteers receive a free t-shirt and lunch. Children volunteers must be 12 years old or older.
For more information please call the Wheelchair Games hotline at (914) 597-2850.