Kenzie Haag, a recent graduate of New Tech Academy at Wayne High School, has signed to play college wheelchair basketball at the University of Arizona.
“I think playing at a collegiate level was something that I always strived to do ever since I got really passionate about playing,” Kenzie says. “After meeting with her, and learning more about the school and their basketball program, and even reaching out to some of the players, I think that’s what kind of set it in for me.”
When Kenzie discovered the game of wheelchair basketball at the age of 8, she knew she had found her sport.
“Turnstone offered a lot of opportunity,” said of the Flyers wheelchair basketball program. “Once you find something that you can wholeheartedly put your heart into and confidently play. I think it can break you out of that shell.”
Over time, Kenzie honed her craft on the court; and used the lessons she learned to build confidence through her teenage years.
“I think it was crucial for my confidence. I’ve become a much more confident person after learning about the sport, and after playing it,” she adds.
Kenzie was first inspired to play college wheelchair basketball by her first Turnstone Flyers coach, who played wheelchair basketball herself at the University of Texas-Arlington. Kenzie continued to practice with her Flyers team while starting the recruiting process.
“Colleges start scouting you as soon as they see potential at a young age. A lot of that came from not only scouting me, but I reached out to the head coach myself.”
Kenzie’s decision to go to Arizona places her in the largest college adaptive athletics program in the country. In addition to wheelchair basketball, the Wildcats field teams in golf, hand cycling, paraswimming, rugby, track & road racing and tennis.