On March 7, Team Force played an intense basketball game against the Nederland Dynamo Dogs. The students came out only two points short with the score being 48-47. Besides the loss, defeat cannot stop these athletes. 

“We follow the Special Olympics Athlete Oath: ‘Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt’,” Team Force sponsor Terrie Parker said. “We remind the athletes how brave they are just for getting on the court and trying. They like to show others how brave they are as well!” 

According to athlete Danny Placette, his favorite part of playing basketball is hearing everyone cheer. 

“The students feel excited,” Parker said. “The energy that was felt during that game from both the audience and our Special Olympics was incredible. It proves how wonderful our school does in including all students. Our Special Olympics athletes are part of our school, so in other words, they felt ‘awesome’ while hearing the crowd cheer them on.”  

The athletes practice every day during PE and plan to come back even stronger and defeat Nederland next year.