Proving what’s possible: Elliott Murphy’s road to a title

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) – Many standout athletes have not only competed in the area but have also called St. Joseph home, etching their names into history by lifting that signature state championship trophy. However, only a select few have gone on to capture a championship at the collegiate or professional level. 

For one Bishop LeBlond alum, that dream has become a reality, as he now holds the title of national champion.

Back in November 2023, Bishop LeBlond two-sport athlete Elliott Murphy signed his name across the dotted line, setting his future in motion. He committed to playing wheelchair basketball at the University of Arizona, chasing a dream that had been years in the making.

Introduced to the sport in seventh grade after surgery, Murphy quickly found success, refining his skills and pushing himself to new heights on and off the court. That journey reached its pinnacle in March when he became a 2025 NWBA national champion, winning the National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, the first in the Arizona Wildcats’ history.

“It feels amazing. I mean, I didn’t play a lot this season. I knew that going in as a freshman, it was going to be a growing season for me, but came back at the right time, came back in March, got to play a little bit,” Murphy said. “Just to be around a great group of guys, great coaches, great support, it’s amazing.”

Murphy’s season wasn’t without its challenges. A pressure sore injury near his tailbone kept him sidelined for a stretch. As the youngest player on the team, adjusting to an older, more experienced group was already an uphill battle. Arizona’s mix of leadership and depth helped propel the Wildcats to the No. 1 seed and ultimately to a 75-65 victory over No.2-seeded UT Arlington.

“It’s great, not just for the University of Arizona winning the championship, but I think it’s also great for the popularity of the sport,” Murphy said.

His success on the court is only part of the story. Before Arizona, he competed with the Kansas City Kings, a team affiliated with Midwest Adaptive Sports. He also excelled in track and field at LeBlond, earning more than a dozen state medals.

Those experiences, along with the support of his teams and community, helped shape him into the athlete he is today.

“I feel like sometimes people in wheelchairs are overlooked because of what they can’t do versus what they can do,” Murphy said. “I feel like that just proves me being a part of sports, and anybody that’s disabled in the sports world, that just shows you they’re able to do something that people might not have thought they could do.”

Murphy’s perseverance, confidence, and energy helped lift the Wildcats to a national championship, but more than that, his journey is proof of what’s possible. Now, he hopes his story inspires others who may feel limited by their circumstances to discover their talents.

“Even if you don’t feel like it’s in your comfort zone, go out of your comfort zone,” Murphy said. “Try something else, and then also, anything’s possible. Go out and try something, even if you don’t think you can.”