Every year, 20 co-ed National Wheelchair Basketball Association Prep Division teams come together to vie for the national title. This year’s crown went to the Marquette-sponsored Marquette Eagles Prep Team, a Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association team of girls under age 13.
The victory in April was an empowering moment for the players and coaches, but also for the NWBA world, as this was the first time in the history of the Prep Division that an all-female team won the title.
“I think it was impressive to win,” says WASA Golden Eagle teammate Eleanor Schumacher, daughter of Mark Schumacher, vehicle and equipment mechanic at Marquette. “We all bring something to the game and put a lot of work into it. Going in as a sixth seed, I didn’t think we were going to win, but I thought were going somewhere.”
The 10-year-old, who has been playing for two years, says her favorite part of wheelchair basketball is learning new skills on the court and letting her competitive side come out to play.
The seven-member team is coached by Amber Inflat, Jim Zomchek and Jordan Wilkens. Inflat has been coaching for the past six years, and this is her 15th year volunteering.
“The experience of being able to coach this group of young kids has a special place in my heart,” Inflat says. “I have seen each of them grow both on and off the court and I couldn’t be prouder, it feels great to be able to show them that they can do amazing things in life, and a disability doesn’t change that.”
Much like the coaches and players, parents like Mark Schumacher share pride and inspiration taken from their Marquette Eagles and the values they’ve taught them this season.
“Learning more about wheelchair basketball and seeing all the people at the tournaments, it’s a life lesson,” Mark Schumacher says. “I have learned a lot of resiliencies to not give up on challenges and difficult situations that come your way. Every day I see Eleanor work hard, she doesn’t give up easily, and that is Inspirational.”
Mark and Eleanor say when it comes to wheelchair basketball, it’s the way the team modifies the sport they love to fit their needs that stands out the most.
“In general, people make a very publicized deal about us playing, as if this isn’t just like other sports,” Eleanor says. “In reality, we’re just playing sports like everybody else — this is how I play basketball.”
If you would like to get involved in adaptive sports, even if you’re not a wheelchair user, the Try-It events hosted by WASA provide opportunities to show support and participate in events.
