Jake Williams from Wisconsin has taken on the unexpected role of coaching a wheelchair basketball team with an impressive history of 14 national championships, and he is gearing up for his third Paralympic Games. Williams acknowledges the significant support from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the local community, and the state, which he believes plays a crucial role in the team’s achievements.
Since its inception in 1982, the UW-Whitewater Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team has established a remarkable legacy with 14 national titles. This success story inspired Becca Murray to help establish the UW-Whitewater Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team, leading them to their first national championship in 2012. Murray, a two-time Paralympic medalist, expressed her pride in representing Team USA in wheelchair basketball, describing it as an incredible honor.
The women’s team has clinched gold medals at the 2008 Beijing and 2016 Rio Paralympics. Williams revealed that the men’s team aims to defend its consecutive championship titles after winning gold in Tokyo in 2020 and Rio in 2016.
Team USA’s Jeromie Meyer II, a former student at UW-Whitewater, emphasized the program’s strong culture of success, crediting the foundational work of its early coaches. He noted that the team aims not just for victories on the court but also for personal success in life.
The UW-Whitewater program also fosters young talent through summer camps, which Meyer attended. These camps allowed aspiring athletes to live on campus, learn basketball skills, and forge lasting connections with coaches, making UW-Whitewater a natural choice for their education.
As teams prepare for the upcoming matches at the Summer Games, including games against Spain and Germany, Williams anticipates fierce competition. He pointed out the physicality of the sport, where players often fall but continue the game without interruption. The specially designed wheelchairs enhance performance, allowing athletes to quickly recover after falls.
Williams encourages new players to demonstrate their ability to get back up on their own as a prerequisite for joining the team. Meyer noted the intensity of the games, enhanced by the sounds of competition and the camaraderie among players.
Murray shared an empowering message for youth, encouraging them to pursue their passions in sports, arts, or music, and to seek adaptive ways to engage in activities, reminding them that there’s always a way to participate.