Bridgewater-Emery Kids Compete at Special Olympics
By Sydney Hoffman on February 25, 2019
Seventh-grader Zachary Tuschen, sixth grader Braxton Burnham and fifth-grader Luke Determan participated in a Special Olympics South Dakota basketball tournament Feb. 16 at the Yankton Summit Activities Center. To practice for these tournaments, these kids meet every Sunday from 4-5 p.m. in Parkston. Lydia Danningbring also comes to practice to work on basketball skills.
“The games went good,” Braxton Burnham said. “We lost a close one and tied the next game. Basketball is my favorite sport. My favorite part about the tournaments is staying at the hotel with my friends.”
The mission of Special Olympics South Dakota is to provide a year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children (8 years and older) and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them the continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with intellectual disabilities can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in individual and team sports. Through sports training and competition, people with intellectual disabilities benefit physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. The families are strengthened, and the community at large, both through participation and observation, is united in understanding people with intellectual disabilities in an environment of equality, respect and acceptance.
Special Olympics South Dakota, Inc. is an independent non-profit organization funded from caring individuals, businesses, organizations and corporations.
There are different teams throughout the state that meet at different places. Platte-Geddes, Parkston, Ethan, Hanson, Armor, Wagner, and Bridgewater-Emery make up Parkston Area. Parkston Area has two teams: a younger team called the Twisters and an older team called the Royals. The different teams can participate in different activities. Parkston Area participates in bowling in the fall, basketball in the winter and track in the spring. This time of the year marks basketball season, and the kids have been practicing hard with help from volunteers and coaches.
The Twisters are coached by B-E special education teacher, Nicole VanLeur. B-E seniors girls Abbi Arend and Tessa Burnham are certified volunteers, and they help with the Twisters team, too.
“I enjoy working with the kids,” Tessa Burnham said. “It is fun to teach them how the sports work. The kids are very humorous and positive, and it makes me smile.”
B-E senior girls McKayla Kirby and Joslyn Schrank play with the kids on the Royals team and sixth graders Hayden Hofer and Korbyn Kayser play with the Twisters.
“This is my first year helping out with Special Olympics,” Kirby said. “I was a little bit nervous at first because I am not very good at basketball, but after the first tournament, I realized that my skill doesn’t matter; it’s about the kids’ happiness. Many of the kids are just happy to have the chance to play. Helping to create that joy for them is something that brings joy to me.”
The next event is the Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament at the Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell March 23.
“The games went good,” Braxton Burnham said. “We lost a close one and tied the next game. Basketball is my favorite sport. My favorite part about the tournaments is staying at the hotel with my friends.”
The mission of Special Olympics South Dakota is to provide a year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children (8 years and older) and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them the continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with intellectual disabilities can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in individual and team sports. Through sports training and competition, people with intellectual disabilities benefit physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. The families are strengthened, and the community at large, both through participation and observation, is united in understanding people with intellectual disabilities in an environment of equality, respect and acceptance.
Special Olympics South Dakota, Inc. is an independent non-profit organization funded from caring individuals, businesses, organizations and corporations.
There are different teams throughout the state that meet at different places. Platte-Geddes, Parkston, Ethan, Hanson, Armor, Wagner, and Bridgewater-Emery make up Parkston Area. Parkston Area has two teams: a younger team called the Twisters and an older team called the Royals. The different teams can participate in different activities. Parkston Area participates in bowling in the fall, basketball in the winter and track in the spring. This time of the year marks basketball season, and the kids have been practicing hard with help from volunteers and coaches.
The Twisters are coached by B-E special education teacher, Nicole VanLeur. B-E seniors girls Abbi Arend and Tessa Burnham are certified volunteers, and they help with the Twisters team, too.
“I enjoy working with the kids,” Tessa Burnham said. “It is fun to teach them how the sports work. The kids are very humorous and positive, and it makes me smile.”
B-E senior girls McKayla Kirby and Joslyn Schrank play with the kids on the Royals team and sixth graders Hayden Hofer and Korbyn Kayser play with the Twisters.
“This is my first year helping out with Special Olympics,” Kirby said. “I was a little bit nervous at first because I am not very good at basketball, but after the first tournament, I realized that my skill doesn’t matter; it’s about the kids’ happiness. Many of the kids are just happy to have the chance to play. Helping to create that joy for them is something that brings joy to me.”
The next event is the Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament at the Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell March 23.
