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PITTSBURG —
The Pittsburg High School Special Olympics basketball team placed fourth at the Special Olympics Southeast Region Basketball Tournament, held Wednesday on Whetzel Court/ John Lance Arena, Weede Physical Education Building.
“The kids were having so much fun that I don’t think they even know what the score was,” said Monica Maus, PHS paraeducator and coach.
She said this was the first year for the coed PHS Special Olympics basketball team.
“It’s actually Pittsburg and Frontenac High School combined,” she said. “I had to recruit some boys.”
Maus said that the students go to all the high school games, and one of them, Bryce Commons, has served as the PHS dragon mascot.
“Now, instead of being on the sidelines, they’re able to participate,” she said.
The PHS students played against a team from Chanute and against the powerhouse New Hope Bulldogs.
“The Bulldogs are a good team,” Maus said, noting that those athletes are past school age and have ample practice time.
That’s not the case with the PHS students.
“If we were to practice, it would have to be after school, and all these kids ride the bus,” Maus said. “School has to come first for them. We just play for fun.”
And there’s nothing the matter with that, said Loretta Audley, Frontenac High School teacher. She’s very happy the FHS students have this opportunity to take part in the combined team, since there weren’t enough FHS students to make up a team.
“This is a place for these students to come and be successful, be the stars that they are,” Audley said. “Just look around and see how many faces are shining.”
PHS team members are Kayla Foster, Hannah Nichols, Morgan Rewerts, Bryce Commons, Paul Walden, Matthew Murphy and Clifford Harris. Frontenac team members are Rhett Huncovsky and Davis Carroll.
The Pittsburg High School Special Olympics basketball team placed fourth at the Special Olympics Southeast Region Basketball Tournament, held Wednesday on Whetzel Court/ John Lance Arena, Weede Physical Education Building.
“The kids were having so much fun that I don’t think they even know what the score was,” said Monica Maus, PHS paraeducator and coach.
She said this was the first year for the coed PHS Special Olympics basketball team.
“It’s actually Pittsburg and Frontenac High School combined,” she said. “I had to recruit some boys.”
Maus said that the students go to all the high school games, and one of them, Bryce Commons, has served as the PHS dragon mascot.
“Now, instead of being on the sidelines, they’re able to participate,” she said.
The PHS students played against a team from Chanute and against the powerhouse New Hope Bulldogs.
“The Bulldogs are a good team,” Maus said, noting that those athletes are past school age and have ample practice time.
That’s not the case with the PHS students.
“If we were to practice, it would have to be after school, and all these kids ride the bus,” Maus said. “School has to come first for them. We just play for fun.”
And there’s nothing the matter with that, said Loretta Audley, Frontenac High School teacher. She’s very happy the FHS students have this opportunity to take part in the combined team, since there weren’t enough FHS students to make up a team.
“This is a place for these students to come and be successful, be the stars that they are,” Audley said. “Just look around and see how many faces are shining.”
PHS team members are Kayla Foster, Hannah Nichols, Morgan Rewerts, Bryce Commons, Paul Walden, Matthew Murphy and Clifford Harris. Frontenac team members are Rhett Huncovsky and Davis Carroll.
