By: Cathy Poston
Watching Brooke play soccer, basketball or run a 5k, you would never think about Special Olympics. She is a true athlete in every aspect of the word.
Brooke has been part of Special Olympics for the past six years, and in her words, ?loved every minute of it.? Basketball is her favorite, but she plays a mean game of soccer as well. When asked why she favored basketball, she said, ?because of the rush of the game and you know that if you mess up, you have teammates that can help you win back the basketball.? ?
We as a company cover all aspects of Special Olympics New Jersey and Unified Sports is a part of their programs. Brooke participates in Unified Basketball and Unified Soccer. When asked if she felt if there was a difference in Unified sports as opposed to the other Special Olympics sports Brooke said, ?There is a difference because you are given the opportunity not only to play your sport and meet new people but you?re given the opportunity to see your friends outside of the sport that you play. They plan events where you are able to see your teammates and friends in Unified as you watch an Eagles game, meet an author, or even in a race.?
What she would like people to know about Special Olympics is that it is not about special players playing with others like them; it is about people who have disabilities playing sports to be given the chance to play a sport they love and meet others who have the same love. Brooke continued to say, ?Before I started to play in Special Olympics, I played in other basketball teams but I wasn?t considered good because I wasn?t competitive or wasn?t skilled with the ball. Then I started to go to Bankbridge, and started to make new friends, and I signed up for basketball again. I practiced once a week with my team and also practiced everyday at home. I started to become better with dribbling and shooting.?
Brooke?s special message: ?Special Olympics has not only made me more competitive on the court but it has also helped me in life outside of sports. It has helped me to have more confidence, be more sociable and to believe in myself. Now, whenever I step onto a court for a game the players know to watch out for me.?
Deb Creighton, Brooke?s Mom also had a message: ?Brooke is our hero! I must first state that she comes from a very competitive family that values a win. We have always enjoyed ?gym time? and Brooke has been involved since she was in a rock a roo. It is no surprise that she loves the orange ball! She has heard everything there is to hear about the game in different venues, but never did she ?feel? it until becoming a member of Special Olympics. Brooke did attempt to join a recreation league team in the 5th grade only to have a whistle blown every time she touched the ball for one reason or another, so that became a very frustrating experience. However, when she had the opportunity to play at her new school with the Special Olympics, all the years of watching exploded with skill and confidence. Brooke views each practice and game with the level of intensity unmatched by most ?typical athletes.? This is something that unfortunately is often misunderstood by many. These special athletes live by their motto, ?Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.? When the game is over they move on to the next practice or game and don?t fret over what can?t be changed, but they do care! These athletes don?t want games to end in a tie and let all, ?be happy.? They know who played better and who deserved the victory. They don?t want a sympathy vote. They want to earn the ?W.? Typical athletes could learn a lot from watching these games. Brooke participated in the Rowan Unified League last year for basketball and soccer and words can?t express how awesome that was for my girl. The first thing on Brooke?s Christmas list was a Rowan Sweatshirt! The Unified Sports Program is an amazing program that is educating many people that never knew they needed education! Again?. we have a lot to learn from these special athletes.
Watch our Hero and you just may learn a little something about the game!?
Deb Creighton summed up the Unified program at Rowan University and other Universities and schools in New Jersey and elsewhere in the country.
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Source: http://tristatemediaonline.com/february-special-olympics-nj-spotlight-athlete/
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