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2018-19 Season Preview: Intercollegiate Division

By NWBA, 10/10/18, 5:00PM CDT

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The NWBA embarks on its 70th season and after a great offseason, it’s shaping up to be one of the best seasons yet. Several new teams have been established by grassroots organizations. Reigning champions have moved up to conquer new divisions. A number of talented players have taken their talents to new rosters, and a new batch of young stars prepare to rise at the dawn of the season.

We’ll cover all that news, division-by-division, in the next week in our 2018-2019 NWBA Season Previews. Today we’ll take a look at the budding talent in the Intercollegiate Division:

Bama sets season tape on repeat

The Bama men are looking to replicate last year after capturing their second title, for men in the Intercollegiate Division, against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 69-65.

Highliner players are returning players in Michael AuPrince of Sydney, Australia and Dequel Robinson of Mobile, Alabama. AuPrince is coming off a 31 point and 15 rebound game in the 2018 national championship game.

UTA Movin’ Lady Mavs and “Texas Big 3”

The University of Texas at Arlington won last year’s tournament, and with three members of the 2018 U.S. Women’s National Team, they’ll be the betting favorites this year. Rose Hollermann of Elysian, Minnesota established herself as the do-it-all offensive anchor for Team USA during the 2018 IWBF World Championships. Defenses will also have to keep an eye on the sweet-shooting Abby Dunkin of New Braunfels, Texas and savvy point guard Morgan Wood of Gordonsville, Tennessee. The “Texas Big 3” are explosive on offense and has an infectious chemistry when they're on the court.

Bama says “Roll Tide”

The University of Alabama looks to rebound after losing 65-55 to Movin’ Lady Mavs in 2018. The Crimson Tide returns a slew of international impact players in Arinn Young of Alberta, Canada, Rosalie Lalonde of Quebec, Canada, and Barbara Gross of Pohlheim, Germany. Gross’ Germany squad recently captured the bronze medal at the 2018 IWBF World Championships in her home country of Germany this past August.

March Madness stage set for Champaign, IL

The 2019 National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament returns to the University of Illinois-Champaign campus this spring. The 2019 NIWBT will be held on March 14-16. More details will be provided on NWBA.org when available.

Warhawks want the top spot

The UW-Whitewater Warhawk Women have finished in third place the last two seasons. Most teams would take that, but bronze isn’t the goal for this hungry squad under the leadership and director of head coach Christina Schwab. Schwab, a three-time gold medalist and six time member of the U.S. Paralympic Team, enters her second year as the head coach for this ball club. They’ve made strides with Schwab at the helm and will push for a spot in the big game and a chance at the title. 

Similar to their female counterparts, the Warhawk Men have lost in the national championship game the past two NIWBTs at the hands of two different opponents. The Warhawks bring back a veteran roster, including 2018 Intercollegiate Division Male Player of Year in Dylan Fischbach of Vermillion, South Dakota. Fischbach was selected as an alternate on the 2018 U.S. Men’s National Team and spent the summer at Team USA’s Training camp holding his own alongside a star-studded roster of players like Matt Scott and Steve Serio.

Coming soon to a campus near you

Eastern Washington University are new team to the Intercollegiate Division for the 2018-19 NWBA season. The NWBA welcomes the EWU Eagles and is excited at the prospect of another opportunity for NWBA members to attend college and compete in our great sport.

The Intercollegiate Division looks to grow even more in the near future, meeting with colleges and exploring the potential for new programs to emerge.

 

That’s all we’ve got for today. Make sure to check back tomorrow as we will provide a previews for Adult Division II and III. Good luck and have fun to all of the Intercollegiate Division athletes and teams this season!