Olympic spirit prevails at USU
One of the final activities of WOW week, Aggie basketball team joined with the USU Special Olympics team Friday to showcase all of the athletes’ talents for the student body.
Players were divided into yellow and blue teams, with the players on both teams comprising a mix of USU basketball team players and members of the Special Olympics team.
The first half was close, with the lead swapping between the two teams as fast as the players swapped jerseys between players coming in and out. During the first half, the game came to a halt when a USU player wedged a ball between the hoop and the backboard, but the ball was dislodged as a player from USU basketball tipped it out and sent the game back into action.
After a five minute half-time, the yellow team came back into the game and quickly pulled into the lead, maintaining it for the rest of the game.
When the announcer began the buzzer countdown, USU player Jaycee Carroll launched a shot about 10 feet from the opposite basket. The wildcard shot sailed through the air and went straight into the hoop, bringing the score from 32 to 35 for the yellow team.
The game was put on as a way to bring attention to the Special Olympics team, which is one of the few university sponsored teams in the state.
Jaycee Carroll said he has participated in this event for three years and says he enjoys the opportunity to share his talent with the school. Carroll said he enjoys service and considers the game a unique experience and a chance to show the school that he and his teammates are more than just athletes.
According to the coach, Lance Beckert, Carroll is not the only player who enjoys the yearly game.
“The players’ enthusiasm was apparent when every single player volunteered to participate in the event. It is great,” Beckert said. “Some players look forward to it all year.”
As head of the Special Olympics organization committee, Steve Mathis helped as an announcer for the game and said he has been getting calls for the event since May.
Joli Johanson, a volunteer for the USU Special Olympics team, described her
experiences as “a great opportunity to give services and to receive service.”
Johanson said the team would average playing anywhere from two to five games a tournament with at least three or four tournaments a year. She said many competing teams are privately sponsored, while others are high school teams or are funded by the individuals.
Mathis said in the Special Olympics, a year-round athlete can compete in at least one event a season and that all tournaments take place across the state of Utah.
USU will host one of the events later this year. Mathis said volunteers are always needed and make up a substantial part of the program.
-skjohnson@cc.usu.edu