By Shandra Keesecker-Rivero
The Rolling Rockies Wheelchair Basketball recently wrapped up their first full season of play with the Sonoran Wheelchair Basketball League, bringing back a 2nd place overall trophy after coming in just behind the powerful HEAT crew of Nogales.
On October 29th, during a brief ceremony held at Puerto Peñasco’s Municipal Gym, the Rolling Rockies were joined by local DIF president Rafaela Félix de Figueroa, along with DIF Director Samuel Ortega, various City Council members and family members for the symbolic presentation of their recently acquired trophy.
The Rolling Rockies burst onto the local scene just over a year ago, and have been busy trekking across Sonora ever since. In June of this year they hosted their first tournament here in town, welcoming Liga Sonora teams from Nogales, Caborca, Hermosillo, Cd. Obregon, and Navojoa. Team spokesperson Francisco Bercovich reveals Puerto Peñasco will also be the site to kick off next year’s League games.
During the Rolling Rockies’ first full season, the team actively pursued fundraising in addition to baskets and were able to purchase a traveling van of their own just this past Fall. Looking beyond their own needs, the Rolling Rockies have spent the year distributing wheelchairs and other medical devices to members of the community with disabilities, while also actively supporting local paralympic athletes.
Now in the “off-season”, though the team continues to practice at least twice a week, the Rolling Rockies are back into fundraising efforts in anticipation of next year’s season and road trips. To close out the year they are raffling off a 1998 Jeep Cherokee to help raise funds for next year’s League opening tournament. Only 100 tickets are available, at a cost of $500 pesos, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 3rd with the final digits on the winning ticket coinciding with the National Lottery. Plus, December 3rd also marks the beginning of International Disability Awareness Week. For more information about the team, fundraising needs, and the raffle contact Francisco Bercovich (bilingual) at: 638 112 9964.
