PHOTOPHILE- Roll bounce: Cardinals celebrate 25 years

The Charlottesville Cardinals Wheelchair Basketball Team celebrated their 25th anniversary Tuesday, October 11 by recreating a historic game.

In 1980, the Cardinals played their first game against members of the Charlottesville City Council and the General Assembly. Tuesday's game featured veterans of that first game: Mitch Van Yahres and John Conover joined current City Manager Gary O'Connell, Mayor David Brown, and Councilors Blake Caravati and Kevin Lynch.

The game at Herman Key Jr. Recreation Center ended Cardinals 21, Famous Guys 22– but only after the Cardinals gave 14 of their points to the Council/Assembly crew at halftime. Refreshments followed under a display of pictures of the 1980 game.

The Charlottesville Cardinals currently have 35 active players in two divisions, one of which is ranked sixth in the nation.

John Conover, Jeff McDaniel, and Kevin Lynch

City Councilor Kevin Lynch

India Sims with her eight-month-old son, Zarius

Mitch Van Yahres in front of a picture of the original game

Cardinal Jeff McDaniel

Cardinal Wannie Cook

Former mayors Blake Caravati and Tom Vandever