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4 | February 13, 2020 | the new lenox patriot news newlenoxpatriotdaily.com Wheelchair basketball gives athletes level playing field 2 LWSRA’s teams provide opportunity Sean Hastings, Editor For many of the athletes in wheelchair basketball, the family that is built on and off the court is what has made the sport special for so many. The sport allows everyone who may not have the same opportunities in ablebodied sports, a chance to play sports they still love. The Junior Midwest Conference Championships brought all those athletes together to Lincoln-Way North on Saturday, Feb. 8-9 for a tournament. New Lenox resident Austin Spalla, 14, does not use a wheelchair everyday, but has found it difficult to play able bodied sports and the wheelchair has helped him play. “He’s always loved sports,” Austin’s father, Jim, said. “When he’s with able bodied, he was always one of the lower end kids, getting picked last or sitting on the bench. But here, he can be the star here and he loves that.” His mother, Joyce, added that it’s great to see him be able to play on this level playing field and succeed on it. Spalla plays in the prep division, but also has played on the varsity level. He will officially move up to varsity next season. When he’s in prep, he is one of the tallest ones on the floor. “It helps a lot. You can block shots really well,” he said with a smile. “You can also get layups easier.” Austin plays at different camps all over, including ones at the University of Illinois, Wisconsin-Whitewater and an upcoming camp in Arizona. Austin said he loves going to the different camps and tournaments because he gets to see the same people each time. One of Austin’s LWSRA teammates on the prep team, 9-year-old Cameron Davis (Matteson), who has just one leg, also loves playing with his friends. Cameron also loves to shoot, he said. His parents, Tasia Haynes and Michael Davis, were all smiles after the game seeing the fun and the joy the game brings to Cameron. “I think it is a good opportunity that they get to be around people like themselves and get to be in an environment where it’s just focused on them,” Haynes said. “They get to showcase all their skills and it’s not just about their disabilities or what they have going on. They’re just here to play basketball.” Cameron has been playing wheelchair basketball for six seasons and his parents had little idea what it was or what was offered back then. But it has allowed Cameron to grow up in a massive family and in a judge-free zone. “It’s like a family here,” his father, Michael said. “He’s been growing up with these same kids and built a couple good relationships past basketball. It’s family oriented and that’s another good thing about it.” For many, the sport has been a life changer. That’s Austin Spalla, 14, of New Lenox looks to make a play during the LWSRA Prep team’s opening game on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Lincoln-Way North. Photos by Sean Hastings/22nd Century Media Cameron Davis, 9, of Matteson comes away with a loose ball during the LWSRA Prep team’s opening game on Saturday, Feb. 8. exactly what it has been for Frankfort resident, Cory Klene. Cory has Cerebral Palsy and the idea of being in the wheelchair was not something he and his family always planned on. Cory does not use a wheelchair on a daily basis. “It took us a while because he’s not in a wheelchair everyday,” his mother, Peggy, said. “It was a change of thought, because we’ve always told him to keep going to [physical therapy] and keep doing your exercises, you won’t end up in a wheelchair, but now the wheelchair is providing opportunities for him. It took us a while to get over that hump to say Rance Surratt, of Matteson, puts up a shot during the LWSRA Varsity team's opening round game on Saturday, Feb. 8. it’s OK and that it’s just making it a level playing field for everybody.” Cory, 19, has been playing on the varsity team for four years. “This gave him an opportunity to level the playing field and go as fast as he can in the chair and really compete,” Peggy said. “He loves it. It’s been fun to see him grow up with it. “It’s really cool to see the opportunities for them as they get older. Doors open for them and it’s just fun to see them improve.”
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