Gary Woodring began his playing career in Virginia Beach where he learned the game from legendary coach and NWBA Hall of Famer, Ed Owen. Gary became a student of the Owen’s meticulous instruction especially playing the position of a Power forward.

As a ‘tall class II” Gary would earn his position into the USA men’s wheelchair basketball development program.

In 1987, Gary joined Hall of Fame Coach Harry Vines of Arkansas on team USA and won the World Championship at the Stoke Mandeville Games. His international experience earned him a roster sport on the USA’s 1988 Seoul Paralympic Gold Medal Basketball Team. The 1988 team was the last USA team to win a gold medal and Gary now becomes the 10th member of that team enshrined in the NWBA Hall of Fame. Woodring joins former coach and mentor Ed Owen, David Kiley, Curtis Bell, Al Campos, Joe Manni, Darryl Waller, David Efferson, Mike Schlappi, and coaches Paul Jackson and Frank Burns on what was truly wheelchair basketball’s, “Dream Team”.

Following his gold medal experience in Seoul, Gary would move to Little Rock to play for Coach Harry Vines and his Rollin Razorbacks. The addition of Woodring immediately made the Rollin Razorbacks one of the NWBA’s greatest teams. From 1988 through 1998 the Razorbacks participated in nine straight NWBTs winning the national championship in 1991, 1993-94, and 1996. Playing with Hall of Fame guards Darren Scheneback and Tim Kazee, Gary would anchor the Razorbacks innovative ‘triangle and two’ defense and set the standard for rebounding as the teams power forward.

Gary had two more tour of duties with Team USA in 1990 winning a gold medal again at the World Championships in England, and as a member of the 1992 Men’s Paralympic Basketball Team. He played out his career in Philadelphia as a member of the Magee Spokesman and the Bayada Penquins.