PERHAM – The West Regional Special Olympics Basketball Tournament was held on Apr. 21, in Fergus Falls for the first time in two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Perham Area Special Olympic Team participated in the basketball tournament against Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, Moorhead and Fergus Falls. Eighteen athletes from Perham competed in individual skills, 3-on-3 half-court and unified full court.
Parker Glynn placed fourth in the individual skills Division 2 competition, while Jennifer Wessels took third and Nadia Palubicki placed first. In Division 5, Jennifer Knopps and Gannon Huwe placed fourth, while Ryan Schattschneider took first.
In the 3-on-3 play, Perham beat Moorhead 20-9. The members of the Yellowjackets are Parker Glynn, Isaac Hendrickx, Gannon Huwe, Jennifer Knopps and Ryan Schattschneider. They also defeated the Mighty Otters from Fergus Falls 20-4 to take home first place.
The Golden Boys, the unified full court team, defeated both Fergus falls teams. The Golden Boys beat the Roosters 40-28 and the Otters 54-14.
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Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. The Golden Boys are made up of Clayton Anderson, Isaac Billings, Blaze Brady, Matt Bush, Mike Erlandson, Carson Hespe, Dalton Honer, Tyler Olsen, Blaine Richter, Jaxson Rohde, and Judd Soule.
Perham Area Special Olympics Team is a nonprofit organization that is funded through donations and volunteers' time as a member of Special Olympics Minnesota. Special Olympics Minnesota offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round sports training and competition.
Through Special Olympics' athletic, health and leadership programs, people withintellectual disabilities transform themselves, their communities and the world. Anyone interested in donating, volunteering, being a unified partner or joining Special Olympics contact Corinne Schattschneider at gschatts@eot.com, or call 218-758-3138.
