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NWBA Athlete of the Week - Steve Serio

By NWBA, 12/30/15, 12:00AM CST

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Weekly Installment featuring men's and women's Team USA players

Two-time U.S. Paralympian Steve Serio was a member of the 2012 U.S. team that won bronze in London and finished fourth at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. He is co-captain of the U.S. men’s team along with Michael Paye and is the statistical bright spot for the team. At the Parapan American games in Toronto, Serio was instrumental in solidifying a presence in Rio and bringing home the gold by scoring a total of 68 points, capturing 49 rebounds and dishing out 36 assists throughout the entire tournament.  He hopes to make the team headed to Rio and win the gold.

Name – Steve Serio
Height – 5’4’’
Classification – 3.5
Date of Birth – September 8, 1987
Place of Birth – New York City, N.Y.
Hometown – Westbury, N.Y.
Residence – Giessen, Germany
High School – Carle Place High School, Carle Place, N.Y.
College: University of Illinois
Major: Bachelors in Exercise Science with a minor in Gerontology-2010

Career Highlights:  2015 Parapan American games- gold medal; 2014 IWBF World Championships- silver medal; 2013 Parapan American games- gold medal; 2012 Paralympics-bronze medal; 2011 Parapan American games- gold medal; 2010 IWBF World Championships- bronze medal; 2010 University of Illinois Collegiate Champion; 2009 Parapan American games- gold medal; U-23 National Team- gold medal; 2008 Paralympics-4th place; 2008 University of Illinois Collegiate Champion; 2007 Parapan American games –gold medal; 2006 IWBF World Championships- silver medal; 2005 U-23 National Team gold medal ; 2005 Junior Division National Champion; RSV Lahn Dill (8 German Championships and 2 European Club Championships).

Personal Background: Steve’s parents are Ed and Hilary Serio, and he has a younger brother, Luke.

Hobbies: Fitness/personal training, reading, traveling, and being with friends and family.

Competition Wheelchair: Per4max

Q&A with Steve:
NWBA: Who is your hero?
Steve: Personally, my heroes are my parents.  They are completely selfless when helping others and sacrificing time and money when it came to my basketball career.  They are my rock in an unpredictable athlete career.  Athletically, Paul Schulte.  He is the type of leader I hope to be.  He is driven and passionate when it comes to his game, while making other players around him better.  My heroes are all types of people I hope to be one day.

NWBA: When did you start playing Wheelchair Basketball?
Steve: I started playing a little later in my childhood at 15 years old.  

NWBA: What do you attribute to your accomplishments and being a major contributor to the United States’ success?
Steve: One thing Michael Frogley, my coach at University of Illinois, taught me was to never be complacent.  It’s always important to keep growing as a player, a person, and a leader no matter what accomplishments you attain.  You can always come back better than you were the previous day and it’s something I haven’t forgotten.  

NWBA: Did you play any other sports growing up?  Did you receive any awards from other sports?
Steve: I was a big baseball fan growing up and I love to play.  Before wheelchair basketball however, sport was just a way I could be with my able-bodied friends.  I was always a competitive person but didn’t play a lot competitive sports growing up.  

NWBA: Do you play on an overseas wheelchair basketball team?
Steve: Yes, I am currently playing on a club team in Germany called RSV Lahn Dill.  I have played overseas for 5 seasons now, all with the same club team. 

NWBA: Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?
Steve: After our team warmup, I always like to go to the bench and sit by myself for a minute.  I mentally walk through one or two things I need to do that day to be successful.  

NWBA: What is your favorite basketball moment?
Steve: It’s difficult to pick just one moment, but winning the Bronze Medal in London is for sure one that sticks out.  Bringing home the first medal our men’s team has won since Sydney, playing in front of my father, and Paul Schulte coming up to me after the game and telling me how proud he was of me is a moment I will never forget.  

NWBA: Why do you play wheelchair basketball?
Steve: One of the things I treasure most about this sport is being with people I love.  There is a strange bond between everyone who plays… maybe its disability, maybe its loved ones who have sacrificed… similar experiences, I’m not quite sure.  However I do know that there is nothing better than winning a game and seeing the other members of my team so excited and happy.  I think one of the reasons I still love to play is because I love being with the guys in our National Team Program.  It’s rare to feel such a connection with a group of players, through all of the training camps, the competitions, both amazing wins and devastating losses, all to come back and keep fighting together to try and win the gold medal in a Paralympics.

NWBA: Do you have pets?
Steve: Yes, I have two dogs that live with my parents, Spike and Monty.

NWBA: Do you follow any other professional or college teams?  If so, which ones?
Steve: I follow all of the New York sports team.  Knicks, Giants, Rangers and Yankees.   

NWBA: How do you plan on celebrating the New Year?
Steve: New Year’s Eve is one of the only holidays I get to be with my family.  I usually spend it with them.

NWBA: Do you make any New Year’s Resolutions?  If so, what are they?
Steve: Usually not, but this year, it will be to work as hard as I can to win the Gold in Rio.

NWBA: What is your short term goal?
Steve: My short term goal is to have a great tryout in Colorado Springs after the new year and make the national team going to Rio.

NWBA: What are your long term goals?
Steve: My long term goal is to win all three championships I play for with RSV Lahn Dill this year, followed by winning the Gold in Rio this summer.  

Cover Photo credit: Getty Images