Elkins High School Senior, Fabian Romo is one of the team’s leaders and was part of the junior Hotwheels National Championship team in 2013. “I sort of have an older brother mentality now, I want to take care of everybody and lighten up the mood,” says Romo. “This is my family and winning another championship with my family would be amazing.”
At a recent practice the team was presented with some new warmups, bags and beanies for their trip to Louisville. “We’re very proud of our teams,” says Carl Josehart, Sr. Vice President and CEO, TIRR Memorial Hermann. “We want them to feel great and look great when they take the floor in Louisville. We want them to know the entire TIRR family is behind them.”
There’s a lot of truth to that statement. It’s not uncommon to find Jerry Ashworth, FACHE, director of hospital operations at TIRR Memorial Hermann, practicing with the team on Tuesday nights at the West Gray Metropolitan Multi-Service Center in Houston. “I grew up playing basketball and I am amazed at the level of skill in which they play the game,” says Ashworth. “When I play along at practice I am out of my league.”
Abraham Hausman-Weiss is a junior at The Emery/Weiner School in Houston. “I love the comradery of this team,” said Hausman-Weiss. “When we moved here from Alabama I was looking for a team and started reading about the Hotwheels and thought, wow, they’re a really good team. It’s exciting to contend for a National Championship.”
The Division III adult Hotwheels play their first game Thursday, April 15, at 8:45 a.m. CST against the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers. The junior Hotwheels play in the Varsity Division Thursday at 10:45 a.m. CST against the Chicago Skyhawks.
The championship games will be broadcast LIVE at www.youtube.com/prepspin. The Varsity Division championship will be broadcast Saturday, April 18 at 12:45 p.m. CST and the Division III championship game will be broadcast Sunday, April 19 at 8:00 a.m. CST.
Photo Caption: TIRR Memorial Hermann Junior Hotwheels on their way to Louisville, Ky., for National Wheelchair Basketball Association National Tournament; Front Row: (L to R) Angel Palomares, Dustin Stallberg, Aaron Berry, Peter Berry. Middle Row: (L to R) Fabian Romo, Victor Meza, Abraham Hausman-Weiss, Carrington Marendes, Daquan Minor. Back Row (L to R) Head Coach Trice Ham, Assistant Coach Ava Skrabanek