Natalie's Everyday Heroes: UW-Whitewater sending 8 to Paris for Paralympic Games

 

WHITEWATER, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has a storied history when it comes to wheelchair basketball. Its men's team has won 14 national championships, and that's including one this past March. The school is adding another major accolade to the list. This summer it's sending eight current or former Warhawks to Paris for the Paralympic Games.

"Hey, lets go!" Jake Williams yells to the players on the court.

The action here happens fast. Players speed from end to end.

"Oh, good D," Williams calls.

Making quick turns, and there's even the occasional collision.

For these players, ball is life.

"Wheelchair basketball has given me everything that I have," Williams said.

Williams is UW-Whitewater men's head coach and a three-time Paralympian.

"Humble. All around nice guy. Two-time gold medalist," he said with a smile.

He played at Whitewater and came back to coach the team to a national championship this year.

"Jobs like this, Whitewater being like a blueblood of wheelchair basketball, they don't open up that often," he said.

Williams knows what it takes to succeed on the court.

"We recruit guys that really want to get to that next level and really love the game," he said of his team.

That includes Talen Jourdan, who is a graduating senior.

"I've been dreaming of playing in the Paralympics since I was injured," Jourdan said.

And rising junior AJ Fitzpatrick, who's only 19.

"When my mom found out, she started to cry," Fitzpatrick smiled. 

They'll both be joining Williams on Team USA this summer for the Paralympic Games.

"There's 12 guys on the team total, six guys are either currently or alumni of Whitewater," Williams explained.

A remarkable accomplishment.

"I always wanted to play a sport as a kid, but because of my disability, it was kind of hard to. So, when I did find wheelchair basketball, it kind of made me feel like ah, normal, I guess," Fitzpatrick said. "It kind of let me live my life how I am."

It's even more impressive when you consider they didn't start playing until they were teenagers.

"So, I got hurt when I was 16, going into my senior year of high school. I actually got hit by a car," Williams said. 

"I guess it was an interesting experience coming from a four-sport, able-bodied athlete to not having many sports available as a - I guess - disabled athlete," Jourdan added. 

Here, they've found their team.

"It was a really cool way I could end my college career playing. Couldn't have asked for anything better," Jourdan said of making Team USA.

These players manage to make the difficult look easy.

"I mean, the same stuff that goes into being any great athlete. Takes a lot of time, dedication," Fitzpatrick said.

And it's not just the men. Two women from the school will also be playing in Paris. The games start Aug. 28.

The commitment to athletic excellence can be seen all over campus.

There's also an emphasis on accessibility that makes UW-Whitewater a great place for these athletes to live and learn.

Wheelchair basketball has taken these athletes all over the world.

Aw man, I've been everywhere. I played in Europe for seven years. In Germany and Spain. Been to almost every country in South America, Canada. I've been to Asia once," Williams said.

Between now and August, when the games start, they'll be training in Colorado and maybe even Spain. But always returning to Whitewater, preparing for all this hard work to pay off in Paris.

"I mean, obviously winning gold would be amazing," Fitzpatrick said.

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].