UPDATE: Windy City Warriors to Play WWS Coaches, Teachers Jan. 31

Coaches, teachers, and staff from (WWS) will face the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association's (WDSRA)  in an exhibition game at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31. 

The pick-up team from WWS will get into wheelchairs to play the six-time Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Wheelchair Basketball Championship team to raise awareness and funds for the Warriors.

Many of the WWS coaches, teachers, and staff have never played basketball in a wheelchair before; some played for the first time last year, according to a press release from WDSRA.

The Warriors (ages 13-18) lineup includes WWS senior Erik Todd. Todd has been a key member of the Warriors for several years, with several IHSA titles under his belt and a commitment to play for the University of Missouri.

WWS senior Carl Anderson, a friend of Todd's, has always heard Todd talk about his experience on the Warriors and wanted to lend his support. As a result of a class assignment last year, Anderson coordinated the match-up and worked again with the school, athletic department and the Warriors to again coordinate this event, according to the release.

Warriors coach Kevin Hosea is excited about the support Todd and the Warriors are getting form Anderson and Wheaton Warrenville South High School. He said in a statement, “We are hoping to raise awareness about the growing adapted sports field and have some fun.  Our teams travel all over the Midwest to compete throughout the season. Any donations collected will go to offset travel and tournament expenses.”

Donations will be accepted at the game which begins 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20 at Wheaton Warrenville South High School, 1993 Tiger Trail, Wheaton.

The Warriors ranked 8th out of 32 teams that competed in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Championship Tournament in Denver, CO April 7-10 after taking their sixth IHSA state title in Peoria in March. 

For more information on the Warriors, contact Kevin Hosea, WDSRA Adapted Sports Coordinator and Windy City Warriors head coach at 630-681-0962 ext 114, 513- 404-1754 cell, or kevinh@wdsra.com.

Carl Anderson can be reached at 630-815-3408 after 4:30pm weekdays.

Wheaton Warrenville South Athletics Director and Basketball coach Mike Healy can be reached at 630-784-7245 ormhealy@cusd200.org.

More Wheelchair Sports

Wheelchair basketball is available for anyone with a permanent lower extremity disability; it doesn't require a wheelchair to get around. Participants with hip, knee or any other lower body disability are eligible for wheelchair basketball. Some people don't even know they're eligible. 

WDSRA also offers:  boccia, basketball, bowling, handcycling, power soccer, softball, swimming, sit volleyball, tennis, track and field, adapted weight lifting, and goalball.

WDSRA provides recreation for people with physical disabilities from the grass roots level to the elite athletes preparing for college and the Paralympics.

Roster:

#13 Amy Chapman, Batavia

#32 Blake Harmet, Clarendon Hills

#10 Justin Harrison, Shorewood

#15 Matt Molenkamp, Itasca

#30 Chris Murphy, Naperville

#20 Jonathan Ruiz, Carol Stream

#43 Nick Umek, Joliet

#45 Douglas Davison, Wheaton

#14   Erik Todd, Wheaton

#23 Kyle Gribble, Hoffman Estates

#22 Mary Kate Callahan, Western Springs

#5  Jessica Lindsay, Inverness

#35 Kyle Picchetti, Roselle