The 6th Annual Shootin' Hoops N Smilin event was held on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Thiel Gymnasium and was nothing short of a good time.
Members of the Galesburg Junior Senior High School staff were challenged by a very determined group of Special Olympics athletes to determine who would be the victorious team for the night.
Along with the basketball game, there was a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, half court shot contest (where all students in attendance were invited onto the court), and more! The event is also an opportunity for the school to host a transition fair for anyone in the community to gain a better understanding of the resources and organizations available to special education students after high school.
Special Olympics basketball coach, Craig Clary, kept the team inspired and motivated throughout the entire evening. The GHS basketball cheerleaders were joined by some Special Olympics athletes as well to cheer on their classmates.
According to Traci Sharp, Special Olympics Coordinator and coach, "Shootin' Hoops N Smilin is so much more than a basketball game. It’s a chance to positively impact school climate and culture by unifying our students through sports. This year is especially memorable as our school district has committed to being a Unified Sports school. This means athletes with and without intellectual disabilities will get to participate and compete in a variety of sports together. We strive for full inclusion and this night is an opportunity for our community to see how our staff and students in District #205 work together to reach this goal."
If smiles won games, this game would end in a tie. The smiles from both the students and staff members would be enough of a victory on anyone’s score sheet. The Special Olympics athletes pulled off the official victory by winning 75-22 over the staff.
