By Cassidy Grom | Echo
Squeak, squeak, swish. The sounds of vigorous games of basketball reverberated off the walls of the KSAC on Saturday. Flashes of red, black and blue jerseys wove around stationary volunteers clad in neon orange t-shirts.
It was the day of the Take it to the Hoop, a basketball Special Olympics tournament, and the participants' energy was tangible.
Several teams from Grant County and surrounding counties played on the courts while family and friends observed.
Kay Caroll sat on the sidelines of the Grant County Lightning team. She watched her son, Mitch, who has cerebral palsy, pass a ball with his left hand. His neurological disorder prevented him from using his right arm, but the casual onlooker would hardly notice-Mitch has been playing basketball for over 15 years, and the experience showed. Mitch and his two teammates smiled as they dodged defenders.
When a ball swished through the net, a cheer went up from the crowded bleachers.
"Special Olympics has certainly taught many people about what real sportsmanship is," Caroll said. "When I have attended high school basketball games, sometimes I want to turn my head. For these (special) athletes, they cheer on each other."
Senior David Wright, co-organizer of the event, said the Special Olympics gives opportunities for athletes in every walk of life. Participants range from individuals who are married with children and have only a slight disability to people who are nonverbal or have a physical ailment confining them to a wheelchair.
Athletes practiced for several weeks in preparation for the tournament. If they won two games at Taylor, they could move on to regionals and, eventually, state. Early in the season, volunteers divided athletes into teams based on ability. The levels of play include everything from "skills," where the athletes practice basic passing and shooting techniques, to full-court five-on-five games.
According to Wright, about 150 Taylor students volunteered to host teams, run scoreboards and referee. Throughout the KSAC, Taylor students chatted, laughed and, in one case, played Mad Gab with athletes as they waited for the next game.
According to Wright, they spent intentional downtime together. Approximately seven Taylor students volunteer on a weekly basis to work with special Grant County athletes in basketball, track and swimming. Wright's hope is that the Special Olympic basketball event will give college students a taste of what a long-term volunteer commitment looks like.
On the other end of the gymnasium, the Grant County Mayhem team relaxed after a 40-18 win over the Kosciusko County Panthers. The coach, Stacey Stevens, has a brother with down syndrome. She volunteered to coach basketball 10 years ago and has never stopped. Last season her team went undefeated-and this season looks promising too.
"We have to work on defense a lot," said Mayhem assistant coach Brooke Neyeart. "We would like to move up and learn zone . . . but we do more man-on-man because of the capability and having them retain (the concepts). I know the team so well after four years, that I know who can do what . . . . I just play off everybody's strengths."
Although they were tired and sweaty from their latest victory, the Panthers exchanged smiles and high fives. When asked who their biggest rival was, athlete Bradley Turner answered immediately: "Jay County-I've had a rival for those guys for a long time."
