Sitrin Celebrity Classic Wheelchair Basketball game returns after 2-year hiatus

After taking two years off due to COVID, the Sitrin Celebrity Classic Wheelchair Basketball game returned Thursday evening at Utica University.

“After two long years, we are very excited to bring back one of the area’s premier events,” said Marc DePerno, director of the STARS program in a news release before the game. “The Sitrin STARS are anxious to showcase their abilities and are incredibly appreciative of the support they receive from the community.”

The game featured recognizable faces from the area such as Boilermaker wheelchair division winner Hermin Garic, U.S. Olympian Erin Hamlin, Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri, state Sen. Joseph Griffo, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr., Assemblywomen Marianne Buttenschon, Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol and many more.

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Also joining in on the fun this year were Syracuse University men's basketball stars Buddy and Jimmy Boeheim.

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"Getting some of these athletes like a Buddy (Boeheim) out there and playing you just to kind of notice, 'wow he's used to playing, obviously standing up and the hoop being so much closer to his head than ours and being able to shoot buckets like no tomorrow,'" Garic said. "But once you sit down, it humbles them."

Proceeds from the 18th edition of the event will fund the purchase of new sports wheelchairs and equipment and help offset training and competition expenses for Sitrin STARS athletes.

Kenny Lacy is a sports reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Kenny Lacy at klacy@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Sitrin celebrity wheelchair basketball game returns with Hamlin, SU stars