After a pause driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Hall of Fame Committee announces its newest inductees, the NWBA Hall of Fame class of 2022. The class of 2022 is comprised of two inductees, both of whom have had compelling playing careers and an impact on the sport of wheelchair basketball off the court. The 2022 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is presented by DK3.
 

Paul Schulte

In Paul Schulte’s first four years on Team USA, his star shined bright helping his team capture two International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) World Championship gold medals (1998 and 2002), and a Paralympic bronze medal at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. In his Paralympic debut, Schulte hit a 30-foot buzzer beater to propel a young American squad past Great Britain.  In the 2002 World Championship, Schulte had such a prolific offensive performance that it netted him Most Outstanding Player honors. Schulte accomplished all of these accolades at the international level of the sport at the young age of 23.

Schulte was also a student-athlete at University of Texas Arlington, where he and the Movin’ Mavs won a NWBA Intercollegiate Division National Championship in 2002. He later graduated from UTA with bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, which he put to use as a designer of high performance basketball wheelchairs for TopEnd Wheelchairs. After graduating, he would compete in the Adult Division of the NWBA, where he won five NWBA Championships while being named NWBT MVP 3 times.

Paul and his wife of 22 years, Megan, live in Bradenton, Florida and are the proud parents of their son, Brady.
 

Sarah Castle

Sarah Castle is a four-time Paralympian, twice in the sport of wheelchair basketball and was a member of the gold medal winning USA Women’s Team at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. Castle and Team USA would follow that golden performance with another gold medal victory at the 2010 IWBF World Championships in Birmingham, England. She was also a member of gold medal winning teams at two Parapan American Games (2007 and 2011) and the 2005 America’s Cup.

Castle’s winning ways also helped produce championships at her alma mater, University of Illinois, with Castle and the Fighting Illini amassing five Championships during her six years on campus. Castle earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Political Science and Government laying a foundation for a career in civil service. While pursuing a career as an Assistant District Attorney and eventually as a Judge, Castle also served on the NWBA Board of Directors (2009-2019).

Sarah is an active resident in the Kansas City community and continues in a volunteer role with the NWBA as a member of the Ethics Committee.
 

Ceremony Details:

The 2022 NWBA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will also honor the 2020 inductees, Jeff Glasbrenner and Bill Greene. The 2022 NWBA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Friday, April 1, in the Kansas Grand Ballroom at the Wichita Marriott. Doors open at 6:00 and the ceremony begins at 7:00 p.m. Newly appointed NWBA Hall of Fame Chairman, David Kiley (HOF Class of 2000), will serve as master of ceremonies for this special celebration. 

Those in attendance at the national tournaments for the Adult and Junior Divisions are invited and encouraged to attend the ceremony. For those unable to attend in person, a livestream of the event will be presented by PER4MAX. Details of the livestream will be announced at a later date.

The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the 2022 NWBA Toyota Adult and Junior Wheelchair Basketball National Championships presented by ABC Medical, and this year celebrates the 73rd season of the NWBA.