Jay Taft|Rockford Register Star
Cameron Poole, a former four-time state medalist in track and field forRockford Christian and a longtime Rockford Chariots' star, put all he had intoa three-day Team USA men's wheelchair basketball tryout this week in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
He learned late Tuesday night he did not make the squad.
But for a guy who says he wouldn't trade his life right now, "not for anything," that news will not hold Poole back for long. Poole intends to go back to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he was a starter for the men's wheelchair basketball squad as a freshman this past season, and just work harder to make the Paralympic national team in the future.
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"I've dreamed about this my whole life, and just to be here and trying out for this team, it's been amazing," said Poole, who graduated from Rockford Christian last summer and is now finishing up his freshman year at UW-W. "And what I learned is that this is the next level; this is fast. I just know I have to incorporate all of what I learned into my training from now on, and just get better."
Poole was born withSpina bifida, and hasn't walked since surgery when he was 2 years old. But he goes as far as to say "that was the best thing that ever happened to me," going on to explain that if he had a "magic pill" that would allow him to go back and change anything in his past, he wouldn't take it.
"I've made the best of my situation, and I'm good with where I'm at in my life," Poole said. "And these past three days have just been amazing. I mean, I got to train at the U.S. Paralympic Training Center inColorado Springs.
"And I'll be back."
How he got there
Poole was a star at the Illinois High School Associationstate track and field meet in 2019, providing a spark to the eventual fourth-place team at state with four medals. He placed second in the wheelchair shot put and discus events, third in the 800-meter race and fourth in the 400.
COVID-19 regulations took away his junior and senior seasons on the track, but he continued to work on his basketball game through the Rockford Chariots' organization. He earned a spot on Wisconsin-Whitewater's men's wheelchair basketball squad, and asfreshman earned a starting spot, playing all 40 minutes of every game.
When the season ended last month, he was selected to participate in the 30-man tryout sessions in Colorado Springs from April 16-20.
The tryout camp was the first step to being on the 2024 Team USA Paralympic team, andPoole is the first athlete from the Rockford Chariots to ever get an invite to try out for any of the men's national teams.
"Some athletes have a special combination of ability, determination and an unmatched drive to compete, excel and achieve," Rockford Junior Chariots coach J.R. Boyer said. "I can not say it often enough or loud enough: I am so proud of this young man Cameron Poole, his family, and to have a small part in his process."
How he intends on getting back
There is no date for the next Team USA tryout sessions, but there's still time with the next Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games not scheduled until 2024. And Poole believes he has a good shot at getting some more chances to make the team.
"There's a lot to take in, and it was fun, but intense," Poole said of the tryout. "It gave me a chance to see that I can compete at that level, and that I can do it."
He was the youngest in the tryout pool of 30 guys, and was the lone freshman in college on the court. He was told in a group who made the team Tuesday night, and then had an exit interview with coaches before leaving town.
He said the staff made it sound like he could earn his way back.
"They said they were impressed with my game, and impressed with my speed," Poole said. "But I guess I'm not quite ready. ... I'm absolutely going to be hungrier now, though. This is just the beginning of the road for me.
"It just made me want more."
Jay Taft is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at jtaft@rrstar.com and follow him on Twitter at @JayTaft. Sign up for the Rockford High School newsletter at rrstar.com.
