Mahomet Family Dentistry Athlete of the Week: Makenna Barnes

It was a dream come true for Makenna Barnes.

On March 11, the 10-year-old played in her first IHSA Wheelchair Basketball State Tournament with the Peoria Wildcats. Barnes was ready to play in 2022, but a late-scheduled surgery kept her from the court.

Coordinator of the Adaptive Athletics Program at the University of Illinois Maureen Gilbert called Barnes tenacious. “She works hard and plays hard. She is not intimidated by players who are bigger or older than she is. She has a lot of confidence and big dreams to become a great wheelchair athlete.”

Barnes’ willingness to push herself isn’t just limited to the court, though. In 2022, she completed her first 5K in the Illinois Marathon.