Basketball players and cheerleaders from CCL participated in regional Special Olympics competitions held Feb. 27 at Campus High School in Haysville.
COWLEY COUNTY DRAGONS
Dane Plush and Andrew Goodnight were among the Dragons who competed in individual basketball skills. They received ribbons – Dane for third place and Andrew for fifth place.
Heather Driscoll and J.J. Posey were members of the Dragons’ “A” basketball team. They placed third and brought home bronze medals. Rodney Perry coached that team.
Angie Maggard and Katy Church played on the “B” team coached by Kathy Hall. They brought home fourth-place ribbons.
Cheerleaders from CCL were Angie Maggard, Katy Church, Dani Geist, Eowyn Crane, Amy Sandoval, Heather Driscoll and Charlotte Hendricks. They won silver medals. Paulette Schadegg was their assistant coach.
“We usually begin practices the first week of January in a school gym,” said Kathy Hall, a volunteer who has served as coordinator of Special Olympics for Cowley County for four years. “The basketball teams and skills participants all practice one evening a week. The cheerleaders practice twice a week. There were 16 people out for cheerleading this year.
“Usually in March the Dragons go to Hays for the state basketball tournament,” she said. “This year we didn’t have the money to go so we just went to the regional competition for Butler, Sedgwick, Cowley, Sumner and Reno counties.”
When the Dragons have gone to Hays, they’ve stayed overnight two nights because of the distance. The athletes didn’t stay overnight at the regional competitions since it was nearby.
Any Cowley County resident with developmental disabilities can be a member of the Dragons. Some participants live at home with their parents. Others receive services from a community provider such as CCL.
“Participation has dropped by 50 percent or more because the individuals can’t afford it,” said Kathy. “We are no longer funded by Cowley County Developmental Services. We’re working on fund-raising so we can hopefully go to the state tournament again. It’s really special for the individuals.”
“Those organizing the state tournament in Hays were expecting only 70 teams at the most this year,” Rodney Perry said. “Usually they have over 100.”
Special Olympics competitions in track and field and swimming will take place in April. Golf will be in June and July, and bowling will take place in the fall.
ARC OF BUTLER COUNTY
Jacob King and Tommy Kennedy, who receive services in El Dorado, participated in individual basketball skills at the regional Special Olympics. They were members of the Arc of Butler Blazers team. Tommy placed first, and Jacob was second.
Jacob planned to attend the state competition in Hays with his mother.