Earlier this month, Birmingham-based Lakeshore Lakers defeated the Brooks Bullsharks 60-52 in the 2025 National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Varsity Division National Championship—the Lakers’ third national championship win in a row.

Lakeshore Lakers win 2025 NWBA Varsity Division National Championship

Held at the Henrico Sports & Event Center in Richmond, VA, the 2025 NWBA Varsity Division National Championship featured athletes from the top 32 ranked teams from across the country (16 from the Prep division and 16 from the Varsity division).

For the third consecutive year, the Lakeshore Lakers clinched a National Championship win—the perfect way to cap off their one-loss regular season.

“I am blessed and honored to be the coach of this team, this family. We have accomplished something truly remarkable and made history for Lakeshore sports teams, being only the second team in the NWBA junior division to secure a three-peat.

This was the perfect combination of discipline and consistency both when we wanted to and when we didn’t. That’s how champions are made. I knew we could do it, and they bought into that truth.”
Savannah Gardner, Head Coach, Lakeshore Lakers

The Lakeshore Lakers train at the Lakeshore Foundation, a world-class fitness, recreation, sport and research organization for people of all abilities—and the only official U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site in the state of Alabama.

Four players on the Lakeshore Lakers have already accepted offers to play at the collegiate level next season:

Jackson Horne: University of Wisconsin – Whitewater
Seth Tippins: University of Wisconsin – Whitewater
Jian Jackson: University of Alabama
Ja’Karius Kemp: University of Texas at Arlington

“We are very proud of our players, coaches and families for the commitment to a culture of success.  It takes sacrifice and dedication to achieve one, let alone three championships.  

I am proud that our four seniors have committed to continuing their basketball at the intercollegiate level next year. Sports are a great opportunity to build confidence that is reflected in all aspects of these players, and they are successful on and off the court.”
Kevin Orr, Director, Recreation & Athletics at Lakeshore Foundation

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