Healthy Athletes Brings Wellness Courtside at the 2025 State Basketball Tournament

While the competition was heating up on the court at the 2025 State Basketball Tournament, something equally important was happening just steps away. Our Healthy Athletes program was hard at work, providing free, high-quality health screenings to athletes from across Montana.

Healthy Athletes offers exams for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in key areas including vision, dental, audiology, physical therapy, podiatry, nutrition and prevention, emotional and mental health, and general physical exams. These services are delivered by trained volunteers who are professionals in their fields. The result is care that is both accessible and expert-led, with a whole lot of heart mixed in.

This year’s tournament made a big impact:

Fun Fitness: 79 athletes screened

Special Smiles: 83 athletes screened

Fit Feet: 68 athletes screened

Strong Minds: 51 athletes screened

Health Promotion: 83 athletes screened

That adds up to 364 total screenings, with 70 referrals made for follow-up care. Translation: real needs identified, real next steps created, and real lives positively impacted.

Healthy Athletes is about more than numbers. It’s about making sure our athletes feel supported, empowered, and seen, both as competitors and as whole people. At this year’s State Basketball Tournament, the wins went far beyond the scoreboard, and that’s a stat we’ll celebrate every time.