Warhawks wheelchair basketball team collects another national title
(Published Friday, April 6, 2007 11:07:31 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Todd Mishler Special to the Gazette
WHITEWATER-An unbeaten conference record, 28-2 overall mark and a fourth national championship in five years. Impressive doesn't seem to describe it well enough.
Coach Tracy Chynoweth and the UW-Whitewater wheelchair basketball team brought home the program's seventh title with a 70-57 victory over host Edinboro University (Pa.) on March 24.
The Warhawks tackled their favorite's role with gusto and finished with the No. 1 ranking. And they should be even better next year because they only lose one performer, role player Ian Lynch, from their talent-laden roster.
Chynoweth can't wait for his 10th season in charge, while opposing squads can only shudder to think about it.
Joe Chambers (55) and Jeremy Campbell clamp down on an opponent during UW-Whitewater's run to another national wheelchair basketball title. The Warhawks won their fourth national championship in five years with a 70-57 victory over Edinboro (Pa.) University two weekends ago.
UW-Whitewater photo
"We struggled early in the title game, but our championship experience helped us stay focused, not lose our composure and take control in the second half," Chynoweth said. "We had a great year, and to me this was my most talented team yet because we had more height, more shooters and more intelligent players than we've ever had.
"We were so deep and talented and knew how to play the game, so that separated us from everyone else."
Two players who hope to reach even greater heights next season are Joe Chambers and Jeremy Campbell.
Chambers, 24, found out during his senior season of high school basketball that he had cancer in his left knee. Several surgeries and chemotherapy didn't fix the problems, so he decided to have his leg amputated. He has been playing wheelchair basketball for three years and was a member of the United States contingent that captured a silver medal in Amsterdam last year.
UW-Whitewater coach Tracy Chynoweth says the future is bright for the Warhawk wheelchair basketball program.
UW-Whitewater photo
Chambers, a freshman from the San Francisco area, topped the Warhawks with 23 points in the title game.
"I'm happy with my performance, but it was the other guys feeding me the ball and finding me in the best positions," said Chambers, a social work major and post player. "We did so well during the regular season that it would have meant nothing if we hadn't won the championship. It was a matter of us clicking as a team. This feels good."
Campbell, 23, is one of the team's elder statesmen but still has one year of eligibility remaining. The Alabama native has seen the highs and lows, having rebounded with his teammates from losing last year's finale on a buzzer-beating shot by Texas-Arlington.
"I didn't have a bad taste in my mouth, but losing last year definitely carried over," said Campbell, who was born with spina bifida and has used a wheelchair since age 7. "You learn a lot of life lessons that way.
"This was my third title as an active player, so it was special for the people who hadn't won one yet. We were down by 10 points in the first half, but I love the team concept of this competition because we pulled together. It was amazing to win it again."
Campbell also said opponents need to watch out whenWhitewater defends its title next season.
"I might not have seen everybody over the years, but this is probably the most talented college team ever assembled," Campbell said. "Three of us-me, Matt Scott and Joe-were on the U.S. national team, and three other guys have played on national teams from Israel, Germany and Australia.
"Three or four other players have put themselves into position to possibly make the U.S. team."
Chynoweth has coached on the national and international scenes, so he knows just what he has every time his team takes the floor for practice and games.
"We talked about it since October, about working to become one unit," Chynoweth said. "We molded a bunch of all-stars into a solid team that wanted to take on all comers.
"Success breeds success, and that has made us the first choice for many recruits. And that's not just in Wisconsin, the Midwest or the U.S., but we're known and respected around the world as the place for student-athletes who want to compete at the highest level of wheelchair basketball and get a college education."
