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com Chillicothe Times-Bulletin Wednesday, January 26, 2011 A7

The basics
All of the sports — bas-
ketball, soccer, bowl-
ing and track and field
— are run just like any
other high school series
of competitions with a
regular season, Region-
als, Sectionals and a
final State tournament.
In basketball for
instance, a team has to
have three qualifying
games against fellow
“high-school rated”
teams — made up of
players between the ages Coach Chris O’Kane congratulates Nick Muller for
of eight and 21. his hustle on the court during the basketball game
Therein lies one of the against Princeton.
biggest problems with
finding competition.
“There are a lot of
senior teams to play, but
it’s hard to get Special
Olympic high-school
teams,” Taylor said.
Dunlap is only one of
three local communi-
ties that have a qualify-
ing Special Olympics
team — Princeton and
Morton are the others.
Oliver Smith looks to pass the ball into the lane against a longer-armed Princeton Mark Hoffman looks to pass the ball to Dante Miller
So, while they may be player in a game Dec. 13. as Courtney Carroll runs down the court to help.
able to play other teams
like those at HISRA, of the abilities,” Burns DHS plays host to support you, let you use athletes. the table and leaves the
they do not count as said. “If they’re not at another Special Olym- the facilities,’” Taylor She said when Drake room. Taylor continues
qualifying games toward a caliber to play on a pics basketball skills said. “Maybe there’s is too old for the pro- talking about the role
the State tournament. regular team, then they tournament Sunday, even a Peoria school dis- gram at 21, her hope is Special Olympics has
Another way Special have their events in the and Taylor trict to pull that someone will carry played in their lives.
Olympics allows as skills division.” said she together a on with the program, Drake returns from
many athletes to partici-
If you go
is looking few ath- and they will not have to his room, the sound of
pate as possible is hav- The future for volun- What: Area 6 Basket- letes, (start worry about money. metal clanking together
ing skills programs, for Last year’s Special teers. ball — Individual Skills a program) “I have a lot of hats I as he makes his way
those athletes that need Olympics basketball Taylor competition and grow it wear, so my hope and toward the table.
to work on the basics of Regional was hosted at said she Time: 11 a.m. … at a stu- dream is the next person He lays more than 30
a sport. DHS, and Taylor said wants Date: Sunday, Jan. 30 dent level, to step in doesn’t have medals on the table in
“It kind of breaks she could not have been school Place: Dunlap High so these to worry about where front of him and takes a
down different parts of more proud of the Dun- districts School, 5220 W. kids can feel they’re going to get seat, a big smile on his
the sport — shooting, lapians who came out to to see the Legion Hall Road like they’re money … and they can face.
dribbling, passing,” Tay- support the athletes. value of Contact: Beverly a part of still buy those great As much as Drake
lor said. “The goal is for “We had over 110 investing Taylor — 243-9604 an athletic looking jerseys for those loves winning over the
the skills to eventually volunteers just from the time in system.” kids,” Taylor said. years — which includes
come up to the team.” Dunlap community,” its special Taylor While just compet- gold medals at State for
Burns said athletes Taylor said. “They all athletes. said while they are ing and having fun with basketball skills and
are put in divisions and came back and said, “If you see these always looking for more their friends is impor- soccer skills — there is
compete against one ‘Thank you for the op- Dunlap and Princeton volunteers, the least tant, they are still ath- still one thing he said
another individually. portunity to let us help teams, these are two anyone can do is just letes and do care about he enjoys more than
“It’s designed that way out.’ It was really magi- school districts that show up to a game or winning — a lot. anything, “being with all
primarily to cover all cal to see.” said, ‘We’re going to event and cheer on the Drake gets up from of my kids.”

District shows support dent body for embracing our Best Buddies has been
From the beginning, Bev- Special Olympics teams as instrumental in helping pro-
erly Taylor said the Dunlap anything they’ve done since mote the DSO teams.
school district has gone I’ve been here,” Peterson “We’re looking at ways to
above and beyond to make said. “It really speaks to the make the Special Olympics
their teams feel as welcome character of our students.” athletes feel like athletes
as possible. Peterson and Taylor both equal to the regular athletes,”
“Jeanne Williamson (the said the support has grown Curtin said.
previous district superin- over the years in large part One way they accom-
tendent) gave us the oppor- because of student volun- plished this was making and
tunity to just really identify teers like O’Kane and an- putting posters with their
ourselves with the district; other senior, Sullivan Curtin, names and numbers on their
although they don’t support who helps with DHS’s Best lockers leading up to a game
us in any way besides the Buddies program. — just like the cheerleaders
facilities,” Taylor said. Best Buddies is a student do for the football or basket-
“We get the identity of our organization that works with ball teams before a Mid-Illini
school with Dunlap, and the students with intellectual conference game.
kids love it. They have those disabilities and pairs them “It’s just one of those
official basketball uniforms with other students. The smaller things that incorpo-
Junior Paighten Day and sophomore Jaden Elsasser converse with club meets twice a month in rates them into the group,”
and warm-ups — they look Nick Muller and Oliver Smith during halftime of the game.
like a million bucks and they addition to group activities Curtin said.
feel like a million bucks.” was our crowning moment,” been especially effective on outside of school, such as go- He said the response from
DHS athletic director, Taylor said. “I was just so her son, Adam. ing to Wildlife Prairie Park, the student body has been
Duane Peterson, has also touched. It was just then you “My son is shy, and he re- bowling or the movies. remarkable. The club started
been instrumental in not just knew we were on the right ally gets excited when people Curtin said it is all about with 20 to 30 members a
allowing them to play games path and doing the right recognize him in the com- forming those friendships few years ago, and has since
at the high school, but taking thing. There was an accep- munity,” West said. “He likes and aiding the social process. increased to more than 80
that extra step to make sure tance there … We rely on that more than the athletic “I hope that through this this year.
the students feel like every people with big hearts.” competition.” they could not dread going “It’s been a group effort
other athlete at the high The support from the dis- The gym is packed for to school,” Curtin said. “They between our administration,”
school. trict has had a trickle-down home games, where the could have things to look Curtin said. “(The students)
“We have, as a school, em- effect on its students. general student body gets a forward to — they aren’t just have known about (the spe-
braced our special-needs kids “What has really been chance to see their special special kids —(they) have cial students) and seen them
and realized what they do is exciting — and I’ve seen a athletes in a realm where people to say ‘hi’ to and have around … now they have the
as important to them as it is huge change in — is just the they are just like everybody things to do outside of school opportunity to spend time
to us,” Peterson said. support of the student body,” else. — go to youth group, bowl- with them. (Students) have
The Dunlap district is also Taylor said. “I think it opens their eyes ing, a movie or anything with just jumped at that opportu-
one of only two in the state of At a game in early Decem- to realize that these are just their Best Buddy.” nity.”
Illinois to letter its athletes. ber, Taylor said there were kids having fun,” Taylor said.
“They were having prac- more than 120 people in at- “They like the same thing
tices, games and doing a lot tendance, a pep band and the and can do the same thing.
of things our regular teams cheerleaders all there doing Sports can be an equalizer
were doing,” Peterson said. their best to will the athletes … it kind of breaks down the
“We thought it would be to a victory. It was like any barriers — just for them to
nice to recognize our Special other Dunlap Eagles home see (the special athletes) in
Olympics team just like we basketball game. a different perspective and
do other athletes — to get “The parents were really maybe not as a weaker stu-
graduation numerals and a blown away … very touched,” dent at school.”
varsity letter.” Taylor said. “It was pretty Peterson said the support
Taylor said that is when magical. I think the parents from students is just one
she really felt acceptance are loving the idea of seeing example of how the commu-
from the district. the other students out there nity has supported its special
“Nobody prodded them cheering on their kids.” athletes. DHS cheerleaders support the DSO basketball team every game,
to letter our athletes … that Bobbie West said it has “I’m as proud of our stu- doing their best to make it like any other high-school game.