A flurry of gold, blue and white took the upstairs SC gym by a storm in the opening game for the Special Education Basketball season. Cheers erupted from the large fan section as the Special Olympic Basketball players dribbled up and down the court, scored baskets and played with great intensity against Oak Park River Forest on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

“The highlight of my game tonight was shooting and scoring,” blue team player Cole Stomberg ’16 said.

Although having been defeated in their games, enthusiasm and happiness to be back on the court, and playing among friends, overcame any lingering disappointment in the results of the games.

“My favorite thing about being on this team is being with all my friends,” white team player Delaney Borzym ‘15 said.

Cheers, whistles, and feet stomping could be heard echoing in the hot, tightly-packed upper south campus gym throughout the evening from the huge fan base the three games generated.

“The best part is watching the players improve their basketball skills over the  as the year goes on,” white team coach Darwin DePina said. “The other special part is watching their parents in the bleachers and the smiles they have on their faces while they watch their sons or daughters playing on the court. Also the big cheers whenever one of them make a basket.”

The Special Olympics Basketball department is divided into three teams, each with about 12 or 13 players: gold, blue and white. Participants of the gold team are generally freshmen and sophomores, blue team members are mostly comprised of juniors and seniors, and white team is primarily transition program students with one or two players that get moved up from white team. Last year, in a season of triumph, white team placed second in the state after a close game against Hinsdale South.

“I would love to say that going to State is our goal every year,” DePina said. “But I think it’s most important that we play to the best of our abilities and state will take care of itself.”

On Tuesday, Dec. 1, the three teams played their rival Hinsdale South. Results from the game have been posted on the online story.

“It’s important to support the Special Olympic teams for the same reason that it’s important to support any LT team,” Best Buddies program advisor Jaclyn Boskovich said. “We are LT and LT students support one another.”