MONROE - For the first time in six years, the Green County Rockets are headed to sectional play.
The area Special Olympics basketball team heads to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Sunday to take a shot at advancing to the state championships. The last time the team made it to state was six years ago when it won the title. The state tournament is April 8-9 at UW-Oshkosh.
First-year co-coach Joe Clocek expressed happiness at the team of eight players advancing to sectionals. Region 6 regionals took place in Verona on March 5. The Rockets won both of their games. Clocek said that toward the end of the final game, with Green County in the lead, the excitement of the team was palpable.
"I just had to keep reminding the players to keep it together and finish out the game," Clocek said. "After we won there was a lot of excitement. To get some success has been really exciting for the team. To make it this far; that was a big sense of pride."
In the regional final, West Madison was a tough opponent. The Rockets had just lost to their rival "a few weeks prior," Clocek said. Winning under those conditions caused even more euphoria than a typical victory. Last year the team fell out of tournament play when they lost in a regional match.
The Green County Rockets team is made up of co-ed athletes, ranging in ages 11 to 47. They practice each Saturday at the Monroe Middle School. The hard work has brought returns for co-coach Pete Condon, who has been overseeing the Special Olympics team for about five years, initially as manager and then as head coach over four years.
"The players get competitive and play as hard they can," Condon said. "It's really fun to watch. They work hard, and they serve all the credit."
Condon added that he is especially grateful to have Clocek as a fellow coach due to his experience and knowledge in the sport.
Players with conditions ranging from Down syndrome to autism contribute to the team, playing as part of a league first established at the 1968 Special Olympics World Games. According to the Wisconsin Special Olympics website, the United States basketball program is one of 40 globally and includes more than 69,000 athletes. Basketball is noted as a sport that teaches teamwork and game skills.
If the Rockets can defeat two teams relatively unknown to them Sunday, one being Neenah, they will play in the 41st State Indoor Sports Tournament hosted at Albee Gymnasium and the Kolf Sports Center on UW-Oshkosh's campus in April.
Clocek and Condon are excited to see that day, though they know the sectional battle must be won first and against teams they have not faced before because they play outside of the Rockets' region.
"It's against a couple of teams we know nothing about," Condon said. "If we did that, and moved on, our athletes would be very excited about that."
The tournament also offers athletes a free cursory medical exam, from eyes to teeth to hearing.
The area Special Olympics basketball team heads to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Sunday to take a shot at advancing to the state championships. The last time the team made it to state was six years ago when it won the title. The state tournament is April 8-9 at UW-Oshkosh.
First-year co-coach Joe Clocek expressed happiness at the team of eight players advancing to sectionals. Region 6 regionals took place in Verona on March 5. The Rockets won both of their games. Clocek said that toward the end of the final game, with Green County in the lead, the excitement of the team was palpable.
"I just had to keep reminding the players to keep it together and finish out the game," Clocek said. "After we won there was a lot of excitement. To get some success has been really exciting for the team. To make it this far; that was a big sense of pride."
In the regional final, West Madison was a tough opponent. The Rockets had just lost to their rival "a few weeks prior," Clocek said. Winning under those conditions caused even more euphoria than a typical victory. Last year the team fell out of tournament play when they lost in a regional match.
The Green County Rockets team is made up of co-ed athletes, ranging in ages 11 to 47. They practice each Saturday at the Monroe Middle School. The hard work has brought returns for co-coach Pete Condon, who has been overseeing the Special Olympics team for about five years, initially as manager and then as head coach over four years.
"The players get competitive and play as hard they can," Condon said. "It's really fun to watch. They work hard, and they serve all the credit."
Condon added that he is especially grateful to have Clocek as a fellow coach due to his experience and knowledge in the sport.
Players with conditions ranging from Down syndrome to autism contribute to the team, playing as part of a league first established at the 1968 Special Olympics World Games. According to the Wisconsin Special Olympics website, the United States basketball program is one of 40 globally and includes more than 69,000 athletes. Basketball is noted as a sport that teaches teamwork and game skills.
If the Rockets can defeat two teams relatively unknown to them Sunday, one being Neenah, they will play in the 41st State Indoor Sports Tournament hosted at Albee Gymnasium and the Kolf Sports Center on UW-Oshkosh's campus in April.
Clocek and Condon are excited to see that day, though they know the sectional battle must be won first and against teams they have not faced before because they play outside of the Rockets' region.
"It's against a couple of teams we know nothing about," Condon said. "If we did that, and moved on, our athletes would be very excited about that."
The tournament also offers athletes a free cursory medical exam, from eyes to teeth to hearing.