Blog

Like many teens Brady Cochrane loves playing basketball. He is a talented basketball player who aspires to represent Australia and is dedicated to his training regime to get there. After a full day of school in Year 8 at Tintern Grammar, he pushes himself to do what he needs to do to follow his dream.

Brady’s drive is an inspiration to students, staff and the entire Tintern Grammar Community as Brady was born with conditions that present physical challenges for him in everyday life. His diagnosis at birth of Bilateral Talipes (club feet) and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome mean he cannot walk very far, and his balance isn’t great, so he falls a lot and experiences pain all day, every day, which causes him fatigue. He has no movement in his ankles and is about to have his 15th surgery, that will slow him down for a while but with this unstoppable attitude he is bound to be back on court soon after.

Brady is following his dream of playing wheelchair basketball at the highest level. He trains for three hours every Sunday with the State Team as well as playing in an adult league on Thursday nights.

His achievements in his wheelchair basketball career so far have been:

• Invited to the Basketball Without Borders camp where he played against NBA players.
• Team member of the State Development Team
• Division 1 competition in NSW, being the only under 18 player. Playing against current and past Paralympians and Commonwealth games gold medalists, as well as the New Zealand National team. Brady was the highest scorer in his team!
• He will be playing at half time of the NBL game on 19 November 2022 in an exhibition game.
• Invited to the Under 23 Australian Camp at the AIS (unfortunately at 14 years old, he will have to wait a few more years until he is 16 to stay at the AIS)

Recently at Tintern Grammar we held a Teachers v Students wheelchair basketball game, where Brady showed us all how it is done, dominating the court.

Tintern Grammar provides support and assistance to Brady in his academic studies and basketball aspirations. He has a maturity beyond his 14 years with a resolve that, ‘Just because things aren’t going your way doesn’t mean it won’t happen’.  Brady holds so much talent, grit and attitude to achieve, we believe he will go far in his aspirations of elite sport and study. His goals for the future are:

• To make the Under 23 State Team for Nationals in April 2023
• Make the Australian Under 23 Team and play at the Worlds in 2026
• Be successful in applying for a USA college wheelchair basketball scholarship
• Compete at the Paralympics.

We are excited for what the future holds for Brady, Tintern student and talented basketball player.