WHEELCHAIR ATHLETICS

A tradition of success and support

The UW-Whitewater men have won 14 national titles, most recently topping the field at the National Wheelchair Basketball Association intercollegiate national championship in 2024. Six of the 12 members of the Team USA men’s wheelchair basketball team at the Paris 2024 Paralympics were current or former Warhawks.

The Warhawk women own three national championships of their own — a three-peat in 2012, 2013, and 2014. UW-Whitewater alum Mariska Beijer — widely regarded as one of the top players in the world — is a two-time gold medalist for Team Netherlands, including in 2024. Five other Warhawks — including former student-athletes Becca Murray and Lindsey Zurbrugg, coaches Christina Schwab and Desiree Miller, and support staff member Kearstin (Gehlhausen) Bisnett — claimed silver as part of the Team USA women in Paris.

The programs are backed by a supportive community. Each November, the teams host a two-day tournament in the Williams Center, drawing visitors of all ages — from toddlers at the university’s Children’s Center to residents at neighboring Fairhaven Senior Services — from all over the area. Our wheelchair basketball history is woven into the story of the university, and people in our area recognize and celebrate it.

A campus of access

Our welcoming campus community allows students to access all facilities, including a practice gym and weight room in the Roseman Building dedicated to wheelchair basketball student-athletes. Support of wheelchair sports are part of the university’s commitment to inclusion and serving students with disabilities.

A unique classroom experience

Students at UW-Whitewater develop 1:1 relationships with talented, experienced faculty members through hands-on learning opportunities in undergraduate research, community-based projects, and more. More than 98 percent of the university’s graduates are employed or attending graduate school one year after earning their degrees.