CHENEY-Caitlin Shaffer, an 8th-grade para-athlete at Westwood Middle School, had an experience of a lifetime playing in the Women's Nationals Wheel chair Basketball Tournament in Akron, Ohio, in late April.

"We played five games against paraolympians. One of our teammates tried out for the team earlier this year-she didn't make it but she's going to tryout again next year," Caitlin said. "We were there for two days. It was really special for me. I learned new ways to play (basketball)."

Caitlin plays for ParaSport Spokane.

"I'm the youngest player on the women's' team," Caitlin said. "The...