Good friends Kelly Law (left) and Jenessa Maddelena are really looking forward to this coming weekend as they will be part of the Thompson Okanagan team competing in the wheelchair basketball competition at the B.C. Winter Games in Penticton, which kick off Thursday and run through Sunday. Law is the team’s head coach, while Maddelena will serve as team manager.(Richard McGuire photo)
Two young ladies from Osoyoos are thrilled to be part of the management team that will be competing in the wheelchair basketball competition at this weekend’s B.C. Winter Games in Penticton.
Kelly Law, 24, has been named the head coach of the Thompson Okanagan team that will compete at the prestigious event, while Jenessa Maddalena, 23, has been named team manager.
The Thompson Okanagan team will be competing against teams from seven other regions across the province in the bi-annual winter games, which will attract more than 1,200 athletes to Penticton starting Thursday night and continuing through Sunday.
These athletes will be supported by 333 coaches and 180 officials.
Law has been living in Osoyoos for only a few months after she accepted a job with the Town of Osoyoos recreation department to replace Sarah Dynneson, who left her position at the Sonora Community Centre to go on maternity leave for a year.
Maddelena teaches fitness training at the Sonora Centre and her and Law have become good friends over the past few months and that led to her becoming team manager of the regional wheelchair basketball team.
Law graduated with a degree in Sports and Fitness Leadership from Camosun College in Victoria two years ago.
“I’ve had a passion for sports and fitness for a long time and knew I wanted to work in this field for many years,” said Law.
Law played basketball for several years and became fascinated with wheelchair basketball after she had to do volunteer hours as part of her college studies.
“I eventually got involved with the Victoria Wheelchair Sports Association when I started college about four years ago,” she said. “It’s a very unique sport and eventually I wanted to try it and became hooked.
“Contrary to what many people think, you don’t have to be disabled to play it in B.C. because able-bodied athletes play alongside disabled. I loved it right away and I’ve probably played more wheelchair basketball than standup basketball the past couple of years.”
Law became so proficient at wheelchair basketball that she was named to the provincial team that competed at last year’s national championship tournament.
“I’m still on the provincial team,” she said. “Last year our team, which is called the B.C. Breakers, competed at nationals in Calgary. Our team didn’t do very well, but it was a very cool experience and great exposure for the sport.”
Law spends many of her weekends as a member of the provincial team attending development camps.
When asked to be the head coach for the Thompson Okanagan team, Law jumped at the chance.
“I was honoured,” she said. “I’ve taken coaching certification courses the past couple of years and it obviously paid off.”
The team will be made up of young players between ages 12 and 20 and most of them haven’t played as a team heading into the games in Penticton, she said.
“We’ll only have a couple of practices together as a team to get ready for the games,” she said. “But that’s the same for all of the other regions.
“It should be a great experience and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Law recommended Maddelena for the manager’s position as her good friend shares the same passion for sport and shares an interest in adaptive sports, said Law.
“We also coach the senior girls volleyball team at Osoyoos Secondary School,” she said. “When I recommended her for the job, the administration with the regional team checked her out and offered her the job.”
Law is hoping to eventually pursue a career working with disabled athletes at the highest level.
“I’ve had some amazing experiences working with these special athletes and it’s something I’m directing my career at,” she said. “The B.C. Wheelchair Sports Association has great programs for basketball, sledge hockey, rugby, athletics, bocce and other sports and I’m hoping to be able to work in this field very soon.”
Maddelena recently graduated with a Degree in Kinesiology from UBC Okanagan in Kelowna and works at the Osoyoos Physiotherapy and Active Wellness Centre.
Her friendship with Law has led to a serious interest in adaptive sports for the disabled and she’s very excited about being part of the regional team headed to the winter games this weekend, she said.
“It should be a fantastic experience,” she said. “It’s going to be a great way to promote the sport of wheelchair basketball.
“I’m playing a supportive role in making sure everything runs smoothly for all of our athletes, but I’ll also be at all the games and hopefully our team will do well.”
The 1,225 athletes competing this weekend are from every corner of the province. They will be competing in 17 different sports.
The athletes are an average of 14 years old and for most, this will be their first experience at a multi-sport games.
Special Olympians will compete in basketball and figure skating and athletes with a disability will compete in wheelchair basketball and para cross country skiing.
“Penticton is where the B..C Winter Games began in 1978, and we are so pleased to be back and benefiting from the history of sport and event hosting in this community,” said Kelly Mann, President and CEO of the BC Games Society. “The athletes, coaches, and officials coming to these B.C. Winter Games are taking their first step towards future national and international level competitions and the expertise of the volunteers will make a mark on their journey.”
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
