Support Ixhelt's team USA dream

     Hello, my name is Ixhelt Gonzalez. 
I am 13 and I love to play wheelchair basketball!!
I started playing when I was 7, when I was diagnosed with a physical disability, Orthopedic-Femoral Anteversion.

     For the past six years, I have been a member of the Chicago Skyhawks youth wheelchair basketball  program that competes within the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA). During my first 5 years, I was a starter with our Prep team that was a national contender year after year and  in 2016 our team won the NWBA Junior Prep Division National Championship. 
     Last season was an important year, as I was promoted to our Junior 10` team where I'm the only female player. 
This challenge made me stronger as I worked my way into the starting lineup. One other big step occurred as I began  competing within the NWBA Women`s Division as I was invited to play with LWSRA Lady Hawks. I feel very fortunate to have my teammates and coaches as they have been supportive of my development by giving me feedback on what I need to work on to improve my game.

     Over the past few summers, I have had the opportunity to attend camps at universities that sponsor wheelchair basketball as a collegiate sport, which has helped me to understand that if I work hard enough I can be very good in this sport. I am considerate to be a top defensive player as I'm able to control my matchup  and help my teammates when a break down occurs.
Offensively, I have been developing my screen shot, which forces defenders to jump me. In those plays I am able to set my teammates up for easy scores. My coaches rely on my ability to be the best communicator on the court as I know it is the key to playing championship defense and the teamwork necessary to execute on offense. 

     I have been fortunate to have just received an invitation to the United States Women`s National Team Development Camp at the Coloroado Springs Olympic Training Center from November 9-13, 2017. By attending this camp, I have secured an opportunity to try out for the US  Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team and represent my country in Hamburg, Germany August 16-25, 2018, to compete in the 2018 International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) World Championships. My ultimate goal is to reach the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo! I am asking for your support to help me to reach my goal. 


Thank you,

  Ixhelt #54

My List of Awards

2012- Ability, Motivation, and Attitude (AMA) Award, Rockford Holiday Tournament 

2014- Female All-Tournament Team, 66th NWBT-Prep Division 

2015- Female MVP, 67th NWBT-Prep Division 

2017- Gatorde Hustle Award  University of Whitewater 

My Competition Budget:

November 2017 

  US Women's Development Camp 

   $500 Camp Registration 

   $375 Flight to Colorado Spring, CO. 

   $150 Unaccompanied Minor Fee ( from Colorado to Chicago)
   
   $25 Luggage Fee(from Chicago to Colorado Springs)

   $25 Luggage Fee(From Colorado Springs to Chicago) 

January 2018

  US Women's Selection Camp 

   $375 Flight to Colorado Sorings, CO. 

    $150   Unaccompany Minor (From Chicago to Colorado Springs)

   $150 Unaccompany Minor Fee (From Colorado   Springs to Chicago) 

    $25 Luggage Fee(from Chicago to Colorado Springs)

    $25 Luggage Fee(From Colorado Springs to Chicago)
   

June 2018 

 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Youth Wheelchair 

Basketball Camp

  $375 Camp Registration 

Univeristy Of Illinois Youth Individual Skills Wheelchair

Basketball Camp

   $400 Camp Registration 

July 2018 
 
University of Illinois Advanced Wheelchair Basketball

Camp 

   $500 Camp Registration 

University of Texas at Arlington All Girls and Youth

Wheelchair Basketball Camps

   $375 Camp Registration
 
   $450 Flight to Arlington, TX

  LWSRA   Lady Hawks  Lincolnway Special Recreation     Association 

$275 team registration

Equipment 

   $3,600 Per4Max Thunder Custom Sports Wheelchair 

TOTAL......$7,775