Local Paralympians compete this week on the court and in the water

Nate Hinze of Cedar Grove and Port Washington native Kaitlyn Verfuerth will get their Paralympic moments this week and next.

For Hinze, it will be his final Paralympics. The wheelchair basketball player helped the United States win gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and bronze in 2012 in London.

“It’s always an honor and a privilege to represent your country and play basketball,” he said.

Hinze, 33, the Port Washington High School athletic director, is married, has three children younger than 7 and looks forward to spending more time with his family after the games.

Verfuerth competed in tennis in three Paralympics and is now competing in canoe and kayak racing. She didn’t expect to qualify for these games, but two U.S. competitors at the Paralympic trials were disqualified, one for flipping her canoe and another for leaving her lane. Verfuerth was next in line.

The Tokyo games won’t be Verfuerth’s final Paralympics. She already had her mind set on the Paris games in 2024 with plans to earn her first piece of Paralympic hardware.

“I still want that medal,” she said.

Verfuerth lives in Gilbert, Ariz., and runs Ability360 where she teaches wheelchair tennis and works as a recreation therapist.

To see the Paralympic TV schedule, visit sports.nbcsports.com/2021/08/24/how-to-watch-the-tokyo-paralympics-schedule-tv-channels-live-stream.