Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame Announces 2007 Inductees
Michigan-based organization continues to be the
forerunner celebrating sports for the disabled

ROCHESTER HILLS – The ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES HALL OF FAME has announced the five individuals who will be honored at the 9th annual Induction & Awards ceremony to be held Thursday, November 1, at the Troy Marriott.

James Lagerstrom (Dearborn), Jerry Sarasin (Sterling Heights) and Darryl Waller (Detroit) will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves as disabled athletes and are positive role models within the community. Kevin Konfara (Dearborn) will be presented with the Mark "Doc" Andrews Rising Star Award, and Leonard Paul Sawsich (Lansing) will receive the Rick Knas Lifetime Achievement Award.

Hockey Hall of Famer and Detroit Red Wing great Ted Lindsay will serve as this year's Honorary Chairperson, and WOMC 104.3 personality "Big Al" Muskavito returns to emcee the event. This year's keynote speaker is Dave Kiley, the "King of Wheelchair Basketball". A six-time member of the U.S. Paralympic basketball team, Kiley is also a five-time member of the U.S. Gold Cup team, and a three-time member of the U.S. Pan-American Team.

The awards ceremony will be held Thursday, November 1st at the Marriott Hotel in Troy. Tickets can be purchased for $125, and sponsorships are also available. For tickets or more information, contact Jessica Filippis, ADHOF Special Projects Coordinator, at (248) 841-6566, or visit the Hall of Fame's web site, www.adhof.org.

The Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame was created in 1999 by Tony Filippis, Sr., founder of Wright & Filippis, Inc. Through the recognition of athletic excellence, the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame creates opportunities for people with disabilities to reach their full potential.

Currently in its ninth year of existence, the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame includes 40 inductees representing over 20 different sports.

James Lagerstrom's list of accomplishments includes earning a spot on the U.S. Disabled Ski Team in 1988, competing in five Paralympic events, and earning four Paralympic medals with two silver and two bronze. He was also named the SOAR Athlete of the Year and has recently been appointed to the U.S. Olympic Committee advisory council.

Jerry Sarasin plays a very active role on the Michigan Thunderbirds Wheelchair Basketball Team and has helped lead the squad to multiple national tournaments and one national championship appearance. He is a noted leader in the the disability community, mentoring young people with disabilities throughout Michigan. Sarasin is also a competitive racer and has been a regular participant in the handcycle division of the Detroit Free Press Marathon.

Darryl Waller's accomplishments include competing on seven United States national teams for wheelchair basketball. He has also played on four World Cup teams, capturing three gold and one silver medal. Waller was inducted into the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Hall of Fame in 2002.

Kevin Konfara is this year's recipient of the Mark "Doc" Andrews Rising Star Award, which recognizes an up-and-coming athlete under the age of 25 who exemplifies determination and achievement. Konfara has been a member of the Junior Michigan Thunderbirds wheelchair basketball team since 2004 and helped lead the team to a conference final win in 2006 and a national championship game in 2007. He was named MVP in 2005 and 2007, and he has earned all-academic honors for three straight years. He is a member of the student council and assists in coordinating fundraisers and awareness at Divine Child High School.

Leonard Paul Sawsich, the Rick Knas Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, is known as the "father of organized dwarf athletics." He is actively involved in the community as the co-founder of over seven significant organizations, including the Dwarf Athletic Association of America in 1985. Sawsich has been a member of the Board of Directors for the U.S. Organization of Disabled Athletes since 1985. He was also a member of the gold medal bocce ball team in 1993 and has also medaled in volleyball, basketball and swimming.

NOTE TO THE MEDIA: For interviews with athletes or for more biographical information, please contact Jessica Filippis, ADHOF Special Projects Coordinator, at (248/841-6566).

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