WAUPACA, Wis. — Jack Barbeau makes dribbling and shooting baskets from his wheelchair look easy, but it didn’t happen overnight.
“My first two years was a big struggle because I was just getting used to everything. In my third year playing, I finally made my first basket in a game,” said Barbeau.
Now at 15, he plays weekly for a wheelchair basketball team, the Mad City Badgers, in Madison. That’s about a two-hour drive from Waupaca.
Barbeau said it’s worth it. As an amputee, the opportunity to play sports opened doors for him.
“I didn’t know that I could do sports when I was younger or do anything besides sit inside and do nothing,” explained Barbeau. “When I first realized it, I was thinking to myself, this is going to be fun, and it was fun.”
Adam Nehring is just beginning to learn how to play the game, as well as the different styles of wheelchairs specifically designed for basketball.
“I haven’t had too much trouble moving the chair, but so far, dribbling and shooting have been the things I’ve had to work on,” said Nehring.
Barbeau’s father, Jim, worked with Nehring on his dribbling.
“The biggest thing is being around peers that have similar disabilities or just similar life experiences, and they can all lean on each other,” said Jim Barbeau. “He’s (Jack) gained a lot of valuable friendships and learned that he can do things that he thought he couldn’t.”
Nehring may be new to basketball, but he’s a huge sports fan. He attended last year’s Challenger Football Game in Appleton.
His mom pushed his wheelchair on the football field, but behind the scenes, she also secured a $5,000 SPARKS grant from the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities. The money kick-started the Waupaca Area All-Stars, a recreation program for youth ages 5-18 with disabilities.
“I’m just grateful that it’s here in Waupaca and grateful that my mom started this,” said Nehring.
Park & Recreation Director Laura Colbert oversees the new program. Colbert said 25 volunteers have already registered to help the athletes. She wants the athletes and the local community to take advantage.
“Right now, in Waupaca, the nearest place kids can go is Appleton or (Stevens) Point. When you’re a busy parent, and you have to travel an extra half hour, 45 minutes to get to a program, that can be a hindrance,” said Colbert.
They also offer swimming, gardening, sledding and baseball. They have plans for more sports and activities.
With an outpouring of volunteer and financial support, the All-Stars know the community is behind them.
“If you have a disability, don’t let that stop you. I suggest to come here and shoot hoops,” said Jack Barbeau. “I think it’s pretty cool because usually people in wheelchairs or who have disabilities don’t get to do sports. Or if they do sports, they have to drive far.”
It’s an opportunity for those in the Waupaca area to come together and play closer to home.