The Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation has announced it will sponsor Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute’s four youth wheelchair basketball teams - the Rolling Rowdies 101, the Rolling Rowdies, the Jr. Rolling Gophers and the Jr. Rolling Timberwolves.
The Foundation has paired itself with winners on and off the court. The Jr. Rolling Timberwolves have won the National Championship six times, most recently in 2014, along with a second place finish in 2015.
Winning is great, but Kenny Rehabilitation main objective is to focus on each athlete’s ability, not their disability.
All teams are co-ed and all athletes have disabilities that impact their lower extremities who range in age from five to 18 years old.
“I look forward to practice each week,” said 14-year-old Jack Pierre, the youngest member of the Jr. Rolling Timberwolves. “My teammates have become really close friends. I have become more confident in my athletic abilities and basketball skills. I am excited to keep improving on this team, become a leader one day, and to continue my wheelchair basketball career in college.”
The Institute was named the Jr. NBA Program of the week in 2015, becoming the first wheelchair basketball league selected. It is nationally recognized for developing collegiate, national and paralympic athletes.
The overall goal of the wheelchair program is to promote teamwork, competition and sportsmanship. Teams are open to both male and female players and placement on a team is determined by age and skill level. There are no roster cuts.
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Below are highlights from the Jr. Timberwolves winning the National Championship in 2014: