ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington's Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has added men's and women's wheelchair basketball, University of Texas Arlington President Dr. Jennifer Cowley and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jon Fagg announced Tuesday. The men's team, known as the Movin' Mavs, and women's team, known as the Lady Movin' Mavs, will now be supported under the umbrella of the division of athletics on campus at UTA.
 
"For 50 years, our men's and women's wheelchair basketball teams have shown the nation what it means to compete with heart, discipline, and championship-level determination—earning a combined 13 national titles in the process," Dr. Cowley said. "Bringing these teams into our Athletics Department reflects our belief in their excellence and our excitement for what comes next. This move will strengthen both programs and amplify the championship culture they represent."
 
The teams compete during the winter season and host tournaments both at the Maverick Activities Center, the Physical Education Building and the College Park Center. The first tournament to take place under UTA athletics is the UTA College Tournament on Friday, Jan. 23 and Saturday, Jan. 24, which will take place in both the MAC and the PEB on campus.
 
UTA's men's team is set to play three times on Friday, taking on Arizona, Eastern Washington and Alabama, all inside the PEB, while the Lady Movin' Mavs host Alabama twice, as well as the Military Mavs, all inside the MAC. Saturday sees the men's team host Arizona in the morning before closing out with the Dallas Mavericks wheelchair basketball team at 2:15 p.m. CT. On the women's side, they close with games against Charlotte and Alabama.
 
"Officially bringing men's and women's wheelchair basketball into our UTA Athletics family is something we are very excited about," Fagg said. "The Movin' Mavs and Lady Movin' Mavs have such a rich history here at UTA and the chance to provide more student-athletes additional opportunities is something we are very passionate about."
 
The men's and women's programs will host another tournament from March 13-14 at the College Park Center before the teams head to Nationals on March 31-April 4 at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
 
"As a Movin' Mavs athlete from the '90s, this moment is mostly exciting for my coaches and athletes," Assistant Director of Adapted Sports Cezar Olivas said. "To be among like-minded leaders and performance driven individuals, is only going to lift our program to new heights and I look forward to what is to come."
 
Fans can now learn more about the Movin' Mavs and Lady Movin' Mavs on UTAMavs.com, with official rosters and schedules.
 
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