Jr. T-Birds Undefeated!!

The Michigan Jr. Thunderbirds are 3-0 to start the 2004-05 season following victories over the Hammond Rollin' Hoosiers, GLASA Wave and Windy City Warriors in the season-opening conference tournament in Chicago. With balanced scoring and stingy defense, the T-Birds defeated the Hoosiers 20-2 in the first game the day. Rookie Valentino Page led the way with 8 points, while three additional starters scratched the score sheet.

The tournament's second game of the day featured more of the same stifling defense from the T-Birds, who held the Wave scoreless in the second half en route to a 14-0 victory. Kevin Konfara paced the T-Birds attack with 8 points. Wrapping up an already impressive day, Michigan came away with a 12-2 win over the Warriors. "Many compliments were given to the team regarding their incredible teamwork and selflessness on the court," Jr. T-Birds Coach Noelle Schlesselman said. "A true example was the final game where 6 of the 8 players scored."

Cheer on the T-Birds in their only home tournament of the season Saturday, December 11 at the Beech Woods Recreation Center (22200 Beech Road) in Southfield. The action takes place between 8am and 6pm. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Coach Schlesselman at (586) 457-4616 or nschlesselman@misd.net.

7/25/04 - Free Junior Wheelchair Basketball Clinic!

Learn the basics of basketball, ball handling, and shooting while making new friends. Anyone aged 18 or younger with a physical disability is encouraged to attend this free clinic. Coaching will be provided by the USA Junior National Wheelchair Basketball team and coaches from the Junior Thunderbirds.

The clinic will be held August 25 at the Beech Woods Recreation Center in Southfield. To register or for more information call 248-796-4670.

May 20, 2004 - Current Thunderbirds Matt Scott, Audie Kemp, and Glen Ashlock were invited to try out for the US Paralympic basketball team along with Jason Nelms and Mike Paye, who started with the Thunderbirds and are now playing at University of Texas Arlington, and Darryl Waller, another former Thunderbird player. Matt, Mike, Jason, and Darryl were all selected to the team and Glen was named an alternate.

April, 2004 - Matt Scott traveled to Australia as captain of the US Under 20 National Team. The team won the gold medal and went undefeated in the tournament. Matt was named MVP of the tournament. Noelle Schlesselman, head coach of the Junior Thunderbirds, was also the head coach of the national team.

April 3, 2004 - The Thunderbirds finished fourth in Division I of the NWBA National Tournament. This was the second year the team played in the top division. Matt Scott was awarded the Captain James S. Ure Sportsmanship Award.

June 10-15, 2003 - Matt Scott, Audie Kemp, Glen Ashlock and Jason Nelms attended the North America Cup tournament in Birmingham, AL as members of the USA men's national wheelchair basketball team. Pat Anderson and John Burns attended as members of the Canadian team. Mo Phillips, Darryl Waller, and Robin Ashlock also attended in their staff roles. This was the inaugural North America Cup, which is a competition between the US and Canada in men's and women's wheelchair basketball and Quad Rugby.

June 2-8, 2003 - Jason Nelms, Mike Paye, and Glen Ashlock attended the Roosevelt Cup tournament in Warm Springs, GA as members of the USA men's national wheelchair basketball team. Pat Anderson and John Burns, also Thunderbird players, attended as members of the Canadian team. Darryl Waller, the Thunderbirds coach, attended as an assistant coach for the US team. The Roosevelt Cup is an international competition that also included teams from Australia, Great Britain, Germany, and Mexico.

December 1, 2003 - Matt Scott and former Thunderbirds Mike Paye, Jason Nelms, and Darryl Waller were selected to the US National basketball team that will be traveling to Argentina to compete in the Americas division qualifiers for the Paralympics. Dave Kiley, one of the TBirds' coaches, is an assistant coach on the team and Robin Ashlock, our team manager, will be managing the national team. Mo Phillips, former Thunderbird coach and player, is the head coach of the national team.

October 31, 2003 - The Thunderbirds won the 2003 Boro Shootout at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania for the third consecutive year. Matt Scott was named MVP and Chuck Badger was selected to the all-tournament team.

October 18, 2003 - The Thunderbirds played an exhibition game against the Charlotte Wheelchair Hornets to raise funds for the athletic department at Lake Norman High School in North Carolina. The event included a free throw shooting contest for fans and an opportunity to try out basketball wheelchairs. The team also made a donation to the school.

10/3/03 - Thunderbirds Basketball Team Inducted into Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame

The Michigan Thunderbirds wheelchair basketball team was inducted into the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame as the 2003 Male Athletes of the Year. This honor was based on the on court success of the team last season as well as their continuing involvement in community programs. The Thunderbirds finished second in the top division at the 2003 National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona last March.

Other 2003 honorees include David Potter as the Rick Knas lifetime achievement award winner, Denver Branum, Bill Harding, Chet Kuskowski, and Rick Masi as Hall of Fame inductees, Cheryl Angelelli as the Female Athlete of the Year, and Sean Staniec as the Rising Star.

The induction ceremony was held at the Dearborn Ritz-Carlton on October 2, 2003. The ceremony was attended by 600 people and included former Michigan State head basketball coach Jud Heathcoat as the feature speaker.

The Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame is the first association of its kind in the state of Michigan. It includes a variety of state-wide groups representing people with disabilities who have joined forces to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of current and former athletes. The Hall of Fame's mission is to honor Michigan's athletes with disabilities who have demonstrated achievement in sports and are positive role models in the community, as well as to educate the public about sports for people with disabilities. For more information, visit the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame's website.