The Nanaimo Special Olympics basketball team has made big strides in the last year, culminating in a first-place tournament finish on the Mainland earlier this month. (Submitted/Deborah Cooper)

By Jordan Davidson

tournament champions

Nanaimo Special Olympic basketball team wins mainland tournament with mentorship from VIU Mariners

Mar 15, 2025 | 9:19 AM

NANAIMO — The local Special Olympic basketball players are making their mark in B.C. sports, with their hard work and dedication paying off with an impressive tournament victory recently.

For the first time, ten players and four coaches from the Nanaimo Timberwolves participated in the North Shore March Madness tenth annual basketball tournament in West Vancouver on March 8 and 9, taking home first place in the ‘B’ division.

Point guard Alex Rogers was named the MVP of the entire tournament, and he told NanaimoNewsNOW it was an incredibly thrilling and “nerve-racking” experience.

“We played four games, and we actually swept the Island and won the championship game 20-15. I’m super proud of the guys working together and I’m glad we got to bring awareness to people with diverse abilities playing competitive sports and to have a chance to make a difference in inclusion.”

The 20-year-old VIU student has been playing on the Timberwolves squad for three years, with this past weekend’s tournament serving as a wrap-up for their season.

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MVP of the North Shore March Madness basketball tournament Alex Rogers of the Nanaimo Timberwolves.(Submitted)

Rogers said it was the biggest stage they’d ever played on, but they were able to keep their cool and come together as a team.

He credits his coaches and teammates for their success, and was taken aback when his name was announced as the most valuable player of the entire tournament.

“It was a surprise, I’m honoured to have won MVP; it feels incredible…I was really honoured, and I’m really excited to go back next season.”

Rogers and his fellow Timberwolves have been fortunate to have members of the VIU Mariners basketball teams provide some coaching and mentorship recently, including practicing at the VIU gym with the players last year.

Rogers said the VIU basketball players have provided a ton of support and help in developing their skills by participating in several practices in the past year, and they can’t thank them enough.

“They’re very welcoming and they have great guys to contribute, and it’s pretty well rounded. We played with the men’s basketball team and one of the basketball players, his name is Kai, and he actually helped out with our practices. Shout out to Kai.”

Alex Rogers in the arms of his brother Browenn at the 10th annual North Shore March Madness basketball tournament. (Submitted)

Head coach of the Timberwolves Deborah Cooper said their relationship with the Mariners has only expanded since their first practice together, with men’s basketball head coach Matt Kuzminski and members of the women’s team all lending a supportive hand.

“We have had three opportunities to practice at their gym with their team. That generates huge amount of excitement for our athletes to be able to play with some of the best basketball athletes in British Columbia. The athletes there are incredible role models for ours.”

Cooper said they’re excited for the future of Special Olympic basketball on the mid-Island, with the Timberwolves planning on developing training programs specific to each player’s level of ability, enabling each athlete to harness their potential.

They’re also trying to secure a larger gym for their 24 or so regular athletes, ranging in age from 12 to 30, to practice, with current practices taking place in the gym of École Quarterway Elementary School.

“It’s a really challenge to try and create meaningful practices for them, so we’d really like to divide the team up so that we’re able to focus on… their levels of ability individually, and we need the space in order to do that. That’s where we’re heading this coming year,” said Cooper.

The Special Olympic basketball team from Parksville was also at the March Madness tournament, winning their ‘C’ division, and Cooper said they might partner with their team to host a tournament on the mid-Island one day in the future.

The Timberwolves victory was made possible thanks to the philanthropic charity The Power to Give Foundation, which provided financial support so they could participate in the tournament.

More information on the Nanaimo Special Olympics can be found here at specialolympics.ca, or follow them on Facebook.

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