Members of the Arizona men’s wheelchair basketball team celebrate after capturing a national title recently in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo courtesy of Blaise Mutware)
PHOENIX – The third time was a charm for the University of Arizona men’s wheelchair basketball team.
After losing in the title game in 2023 and 2024, the Wildcats broke through with a 75-65 victory over the University of Texas-Arlington in Champaign, Illinois, recently to win the 2025 NWBA Intercollegiate Division Men’s Championship.
The moment was electrifying with emotions running high, a culmination of perseverance, resilience and an unwavering belief that this day would come.
“Oh yeah, I would definitely have to say it’s still crazy,” team captain Dylan Zander said. “I mean, I was on an adrenaline high for probably a good 36 hours after that game.”
Arizona has competed since 1974 in the championship division, one of the most stacked divisions in the sport. But this was the program’s first national title.
The team plays approximately 30 games each season, competing across the United States and internationally.
Over the years, the Arizona program has sent numerous athletes to the Paralympic Games. By 2024, the university had produced 55 Paralympians.
“We’re one of the biggest programs in the country,” assistant coach Jose Maravilla said. “We offer different sports like swimming and wheelchair track, basketball and rugby. So, it takes a lot of hard work to get to that level and with the support of (Tucson philanthropist) Jim Click and the university, we’ve been fortunate enough to be able to produce athletes not just in basketball, but in track and swimming.”
Maravilla, who played for the team from 2012 to 2014, promised his former coach, Derek Brown, he would deliver a championship. Even though he wasn’t able to deliver when he was a player, he delivered as a coach.
“We weren’t able to get over the hump back in my era,” Maravilla said. “I felt a lot of weight lifted off my shoulders after winning. When I had to leave and not accomplish that I felt bummed out. The fact I had the opportunity to come back and coach these young men and help them get over the hump was a surreal feeling. I feel like i did it for their era and all the eras that came before that”
Zander is set to be one of those Paralympians.
“For me, like there was a team that was for the under-23 tryout team and I unfortunately didn’t make the cut for that earlier this year, ” Zander said. “But to make the senior team tryout, I’m super excited to be able to talk with the guys that have been there, Paralympians from Paris and stuff like that to really pick their brains. And yeah, it’s been like a lot of hard work.”
Zander was born with a rare bone disease that became progressively worse over the years. He was introduced to wheelchair basketball when he was 10 and never looked back.
The Wildcats finished with the No. 1 seed and an overall record of 28-4.
After enduring countless setbacks, they finally broke through the barrier that had held them back for so long.
Zander was grateful he was able to enjoy the victory “with my teammates and then also celebrate it with my parents that, you know, support me this whole way.”
This was the third straight year the Wildcats had reached the finals. In 2023 they lost to Alabama 73-68. In 2024 they fell tp Wisconsin-Whitewater 74-67
In the championship game, the Wildcats were led by senior Justyn Newman, who finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. He was awarded the MVP after a stellar performance. Zander contributed 24 points to help win the title.
“It was just like that. They were leaving me open,” Zander said. “I had to shoot those shots for us to win that game and. Right. With our other people on the court like, they also give me the space to be able to have those moments.”
Following their championship win over UT Arlington, the Wildcats have announced they will host the 2026 championship at McKale Center from March 31 to April 4. Coach Mike Beardsley is excited to defend their title on their home floor.
“We’ve put in a lot of work trying to get make this happen,” Maravilla said.