The fifth-place finish is the highest the Warriors have ever finished in its brief four-year history. Its overall record was 26-9 while capturing third place with a 16-7 mark in the Midwestern Conference that includes teams from Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. Last season the team finished the year ranked tenth in the country.

Weber has been with the WDSRA for two years and the adapted sports program since last August. She offered her own opinion as to why the team has progressed so rapidly this year.

"A lot of them are at that freshman and sophomore range in high school," she said. "I think it's just their maturity level, their strength level, and their physical ability."

Of course, none of that just happens overnight. Coaches Len Ciarlette and Dan Humphreys have kept the team busy with a full slate of games and practice sessions to aid in that development.

"They're playing a lot more this season," Weber said. "The kids had some opportunities to play with the Wheelchair Bulls. We practice twice a week and then the third day the majority of them played with the Bulls. Playing at the next higher level brings your playing potential up."

All the practice and scrimmaging paid off handsomely for the Warriors as it defeated the Nebraska Red Dawgs, 51-27, in their opening game on Friday. Later that day the team suffered its only loss of the tournament, 41-34, to the fourth-seeded team from New Mexico.

On Saturday the Warriors defeated Arkansas, 45-41, in their most exciting game of the weekend. The Warriors trailed by 8 with less than 3 minutes to play, but rallied behind Ken Newcomer's 22 points as well as strong rebounding and defense.

Newcomer is a senior at Wheaton North, and played in his final game for the Warriors on Sunday. After college he plans to go into law.

Shawna Culp, 14, the youngest member of the Warriors, earned a berth on the Second All-Tournament Team thanks in part to her selfless play on offense.

The Wheaton resident was voted to the squad by the 16 teams at the tournament. Three members of the Warriors were named to the Academic All-American Team, which was also announced at Nationals. A selection committee comprised of officials from the NWBA (National Wheelchair Basketball Association) selected Joliet's Matt Ciarlette and Garrett French of Cortland. Mark Ciarlette received honorable mention.

With only Newcomer graduating this year the Warriors are anticipating bigger and better things from themselves next season. On the plane trip home the team was already talking about next season, and is eyeing the top prize, according to Weber.

"Next year we're going to win it all," she said.

Weber realizes a successful season would not be possible without the support of the community such as the exhibition game played at Glenbard West High School on Feb. 27. The Warriors played the Glenbard West students in the game sponsored by the school's Key Club with all proceeds from the game going to the Windy City Warriors. It was the second annual event of this nature at Glenbard West and served two purposes.

"The first is of course awareness," Weber said. "It's always good when you get other people in the chairs and they realize how hard it is. The second thing is that the Key Club sponsors the event so that we get all the proceeds to help alleviate our costs to go to the nationals.

"It was so much fun. It went really well."