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Miles Macdonnell student aims for Sydney wheelchair basketball tournyBy Martin ZeiligFor the Free PressSINCE HE began playing wheelchair basketball six years ago, Travis Gaertner has impressed a lot of people with his abilities, including his current coach.“He’s an excellent player and all round person,” says Charlene Mash-Hadlow, head coach of the Rolling Thunder, Winnipeg’s team in the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball League,She believes Gaertner has the skills to play for the Canadian national wheelchair basketball team.“I’ve learned a lot from him. Travis brings a lot to the game with his speed,Born missing all of his left leg and half of his right leg, Gaertner walked with a prosthetic leg until the fifth grade.“Then, I switched to a wheelchair because it was easier to get around,” says Gaertner, a straight-A student in Grade 11 at Miles Macdonell Collegiate, who is also an avid saxophoneplayer,His passion for basketball began in Grade 6 when he made the ManitobaRamblers wheelchair team. The Ramblers are associated with the Manitoba Wheelchair Sports Association.“Prom there, 1 played with the junior team for two years until the team was abolished because of a lack of participants, “ says Gaertner.At age 14 he started practicing with the Manitoba senior {18 years and up) wheelchair basketball squad. The following year, Gaertner was added to the team’s roster as a starter for a tournament in Saskatoon. The coach of Canada’s national men’s wheelchair basketball team was in attendance at that tourney.After the tournament, the coach invited Gaertner to attend one of the national team’s camps, held to identify potential players for the squad.“After that I decided that I wanted to make a commitment to this sport,” says Gaertner, who has had to borrow over $3,000 dollars to cover his expenses associated with his sport, including a new wheelchair.Last July, he attended a week long wheelchair basketball camp at the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater, Wisconsin after receiving a scholarship from the school’s wheelchair basketball coach.“I just learned so much from being down there with the very experienced coach and the other players,” says Gaertner, who is looking for sponsorship to cover his expenses and to allow him to continue training.Gaertner attracted a lot of attention from U.S. college scouts at the camp. He says some universities sent letters inviting him to “check out their campus and offering scholarships to playwheelchair basketball after he finishes high school.Currently Gaertner's training schedule consists of four workouts per day, five days a week, including basketball drills, weight training and aerobic exercises,Gaertner, whose late father coached a high school basketball team in the River East School Division to the regional championships in 1990, says, “I love everything about this sport.’’Gaertner will try out for the Canadian team that will play in the 1998 Gold Cup tournament in Sydney, Australia.For information about sponsoring Gaertner, contact the Manitoba Wheelchair Sports Association.JODY MQROZ/WINNIPEQ FREE PRE5STravis Gaertner (left) tries to get the ball from Darren Bittner during at wheelchair basketball game at the YMCA.
Newspaper Details
Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA
Wed, Feb 12, 1997
Page 59
Full Page
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