Defending champion wheelchair basketball teams host national tournament

November 08, 2012

The practice gyms at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are filled with the dribble, swish and crash of Warhawk wheelchair basketball teams as they prepare for the new season.

The men's and women's teams both won national championships last season, and they'll face tough competition at a home tournament Nov. 16 and 17 at Kachel Fieldhouse.

Six women from last year's team are returning for the program's fifth season, including three 2012 Paralympians. UW-Whitewater senior Mareike Adermann, whose German team took home Paralympic gold, said the team has a lot of talent.

"I think we're one of the best teams again, and we're fighting for back-to-back national championships," Adermann said.

Freshmen Laura Fuerst and Yarden Hershko bring even more international experience to the women's team. Fuerst played in the first-ever World Championships for the German national team last year, and Hershko played on her Israeli team in the 2011 European championship as well as the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation's Challenge Cup.

Meantime, the men's team will work for an eleventh national title.

"We do have 10 freshmen on our team which is a huge rebuilding year," said Jeremy Lade, head coach of the men's team. While the team's two top scorers graduated, Lade is confident the new recruits and the five returning athletes will fill in the gaps.

The first tournament will be played in the David L. Kachel Fieldhouse. The series of games begin at noon on Nov. 16 and 10 a.m. on Nov. 17. All games are free to attend. Visit the Wheelchair Athletics website for more information.