
Rose’s Story
I am a 12-year-old girl living in southern Minnesota. In August of 2001 I was in car accident giving me a spinal cord injury.
In kindergarten I used to get mad when other kids wouldn’t play tag with me because I was too easy to tag. Then in third grade I tried to play basketball at my school. They wouldn’t throw the ball to me because I would fall over. But than I started swimming with Courage Center and found out there were other kids like me.
I loved swimming so much that I started doing other sports and soon was doing everything I could. I now do swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair softball, track & field, tennis, sled hockey, archery and table tennis. Because we live about 80 miles away from Courage Center, most of my free time is now being spent traveling between practices and home. I spend a lot of time sleeping and doing my homework in the car.
Sports have given me the confidence to do other things as well.
I have been asked to speak at different functions on behalf of Courage Center and found out I enjoy doing it. Some of the places I spoke at are the Federal Correctional Prison in Waseca, in front of about 300 people at a Rotary Club fund-raiser and other smaller groups. One time I even got a chance to travel to the Twin Cities and speak on live TV.
As a member of our varsity basketball team, the Junior Rolling Timberwolves, I get to do a lot of demonstrations in front of different groups. I have even gotten the opportunity to play at half time of the NBAs Minnesota Timberwolves and at a University of Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s college basketball game.
In school I belong on our sixth grade math team and am a peer mediator. I play the oboe in my band and I do crossing guard. So if I’m not doing sports I’m doing a school activity. I do the leadership academy through Courage Center and have completed their volunteer training class.
Since I have started competing in sports, I have met a lot of people and had a chance to do so many things I might not have done otherwise. My fellow teammates are my second family and I look forward to seeing them before each game or practice.
Being involved in sports has helped me accept my disability. It has given me the opportunity to compete with other kids and learn self- confidence. My goal is to compete at the Paralympics and eventually become a coach. One of my other goals is to get the Paralympics on television, so other can see that our disabilities don’t make a difference. Remember never let a disability hide your true ability.
Fast Forward to the Present Day

Rose is the youngest player on the USA U-25 women’s team roster.
Favorite Movie: Toy Story
Favorite Athlete: Shawn White
Favorite Color: Bright neon green
Favorite Quote: “Play for the name on the front of the jersey not the one on the back”
Hobbies outside of basketball: Music and friends
What do you love most about wheelchair basketball: Everything
One unique fact that nobody knows about you: I have a pet bunny named Bobbyoh
College Attended: I’m in 9th grade!
Junior Team Name: Courage Center Jr. Rolling Timber Wolves
Awards/Honors/Achievements: 3 national championships at the varsity level, 1 national championship in the prep division, Female MVP at the varsity level.
Most Memorable Wheelchair Basketball Experience: Being in the starting line up and winning the National Championship Game in the Varsity Division when I was 13 by 1 point after an over and back violation call. After that game I left right away to go play in a prep division semi-final game, where I showed up at half time. We we were down by 20 points and came back and won in triple overtime. We went on to win the prep national championship the next day.
FURTHER UPDATE:
Rose has been named to the US Women’s Paralympic team for London 2012.








