Marlene Alatorre, who was born with spina bifida, wants to compete in national wheelchair games.

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THE WISH: AIR FARE, HOTEL, REGISTRATION FOR SPORTS TOURNAMENTS

Athlete finds confidence on the basketball court

when she's dressed entirely in her favorite color -- bright orange, even down to her shoelaces -- Marlene Alatorre's school friends call her ``Opie.'' But the sweet nickname, which stands for ``orange power,'' veils the compliment to this young woman's inner strength.

Marlene was born in Mazatlan, Mexico, with spina bifida, a spinal cord defect that left her with limited use of her legs. That hasn't stopped the 17-year-old senior at Yerba Buena High School in San Jose, who is planning to attend a four-year college next year.

But first, she dreams of taking on the other teams at the 2003 National Junior Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Illinois and, individually in archery, at the Junior National Wheelchair Championships in Connecticut.

Marlene, who never thought she could participate in sports, became an athlete just one year ago when she joined the Wheels on Fire Junior Wheelchair Sports Team, which is affiliated with the city of San Jose's Office of Therapeutic Services. ``Now I have to move fast, to concentrate, to push myself,'' she says.

Recently, Marlene voluntarily extended her practice to play against the adult team. ``She's determined to always do her best and she never puts anybody down,'' says teammate Ania Flatau. ``She always has something positive to say.''

Marlene's single mother, who works cleaning houses, cannot afford to send her daughter to the tournaments, though she supports Marlene in other ways -- shooting baskets with her at the local park and beaming with a mother's pride that ``basketball makes Marlene really happy.''

For the basketball tourney, air fare is $350 (17A), hotel $200 (17B) and registration and meals, $100 (17C). For the individual event at the Junior Nationals, air fare is $450 (17D), hotel $600 (17E) and registration and meals, $300 (17F). A new all-court sports wheelchair ($1,800) (17G) would put her at her competitive best next spring.

Put on your sunglasses -- this orange-clad dynamo is one rising star.