The Mad City Badgers Wheelchair Basketball Team, based out of Madison, will be returning to Fennimore and hosting a Demonstration Day and Showcase Game at Fennimore High School on Sunday, May 3 from 2 until 5 p.m. (doors open at 1 p.m.).
This is a family friendly, and free of cost community event, and all are welcome to attend and learn more about, and possibly be future players for the Mad City Wheelchair Sports Program.
The Mad City Badgers previously held a similar event in April 2023, also at the high school.
According to the team’s website, “The Mad City Badgers is an organized Youth Wheelchair Basketball team, serving families and players from many parts of South-East Wisconsin.”
“The team has evolved from its humble beginnings in the 1950s, when disabled veterans returning from World War II formed the team as a form of recreation. Today, the Mad City Badgers serves school-aged boys and girls, ages eight to 18, with many different levels of disabilities and skill level.”
Two members of the Mad City Badgers team are current students at Fennimore Middle/High School, Traeson Klais, a 13 year old seventh grader, son of Natasha and Brett Klais, and Markus Gratz a soon to be 18 year old senior, son of Tim and Alison Gratz.
Traeson was born with Spina Bifida. He was introduced to the Mad City team after watching a demo they held in Cuba City. He joined the team in Spring 2019, and has been playing ever since.
He was on the team during the last demo day held in Fennimore back in 2023. He was the youngest overall on the team then, but now he’s the youngest varsity player.
That April 2023 demo day was also Markus’ introduction to wheelchair basketball. Markus, like Traeson, was also born with Spina Bifida.
“I was watching it (the demo) and thought it was really cool,” he explained. “I talked to some of the players that day and they let me play around and shoot hoops with them.”
Markus joined the team for that following season.
“I like being able to travel around to different places and meeting new people,” Markus went on to say.
“I enjoy being in that environment, meaning being with and seeing other people like us,” Traeson stated, when speaking for himself and Markus. “When we’re on the team, we’re able to relate to other people on what we’re experiencing or going through.”
Traeson and Markus were friends before being teammates, or as they put it, “right before, and friends after” before bumping fists. They both enjoy the outdoors, and also like playing video games together like Fortnite and Rocket League.
This past season, which runs September through March, Traeson and Markus’ team went 15-19, and played games in Wisconsin, and also traveled out of state to Missouri and Illinois before competing at nationals last month in Louisiana.
They entered nationals ranked 11th overall, but left with a ninth overall ranking after a few upset victories.
Markus is one of five graduating seniors on the Mad City Badgers team, and he and the other four will get a “senior recognition” during the May 3 demo.
Natasha and Alison, Traeson’s and Markus’ mothers, both said how much the experience of playing organized sports have meant to their boys, both pointing out how much it helped them “get out of their box,” while “increasing their independence.”
They also praised the peer to peer interaction they receive playing with and against others with like disabilities.
The May 3 event will hopefully serve two purposes, according to Natasha and Alison. First being as a team fundraiser with a basket raffle, a 50/50 drawing, and concessions stand with the proceeds going to support Mad City Badgers.
Supporting wheelchair athletics involves expenses paid by the Mad City Wheelchair Sports organization and individual families including tournament fees, equipment, facility fees, and transportation fees.
The second purpose is to raise awareness about wheelchair basketball and hopefully bring in some new recruits. As previously stated, the team will be losing five senior players, Markus included, who gave Traeson another fist bump when the comment was made about Traeson having to “step up and be a leader” next year on a young team.
A common misconception about wheelchair basketball is that the players have to be in a wheelchair to participate, which is not the truth.
Anyone with a lower body disability can be eligible to play and be part of the team. Those who can walk, but have issues with muscle mobility or lower limb usage can be part of the team.
Mad City Badgers is also open to players in all surrounding areas.
There will be extra wheelchairs available that day to those who want to “try it out,” much like Markus did back at the 2023 demonstration.
This year’s demo day will include wheelchair basketball demonstrations, community “try-it” opportunities, meet the players, and the “Showcase Game” featuring the Mad City Badgers vs. the Fennimore High School Basketball Teams.
Natasha also said they hold a “wheelchair basketball open gym” once a week at the Memorial Building here in Fennimore.
If interested or want to learn more please visit www.madcitywheelchairhoops.com.
