MONROE - After a lottery win helped the Green County Rockets get to the state tournament last year, the team earned its spot in the upcoming competition with a 3-point win over the team that nearly denied them a spot in 2017.
Pete Condon has been head coach of the team for five years.
"We are playing teams right at our skill level," Condon said. "It makes me feel good as a coach. They all try to do their best."
In the rivalry of Rockets, Green County beat the Neenah Red by 23-20 during the sectional basketball tournament March 18 at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. In 2017, the team was not as successful, nearly knocked out of the Wisconsin Special Olympics State Indoor Sports Tournament in the sectional only to be defeated by 2 points against Neenah at state.
Now the nine players are looking to win all three state matches, which would garner them a first-place finish at the tournament. The state tournament set to begin Saturday at Albee Gymnasium on the UW-Oshkosh campus will be a round-robin competition. If the team were to win two games, they would go home with second place. If they achieved one win, it would be a third-place finish.
Players for the team can range in age from 8 to 80. Condon said he was glad to see the sport provide a social activity for his players, who continue to improve.
"It's a tremendous program," Condon said. "I wish I had more players. Special Olympics gives them something to do."
According to the Special Olympics Wisconsin website, "basketball 'bounced' its way into competition at the 1968 Special Olympics World Games" and grew to 40 countries, with nearly 70,000 athletes in the U.S. program. Team basketball will host its 42nd annual state tournament this year.
During the tournament, the Healthy Athletes group will be providing exams to evaluate fitness, hearing, eye and teeth health.
Players can be both children and adults with various disabilities. On the Rockets, Condon said Jamie Anderson, in his 30s, tends to be the team's top scorer but deals with traveling penalties. Teenager Sam Miles also contributes a number of shots for the team, Condon noted, though has worked to improve a tendency to double-dribble.
The team practices on Saturdays at Monroe Middle School. Though the season began in February, Condon started practice in the first week of January and has seen his players noticeably improve this year.
"We always try our best, and we're playing teams we haven't played before," Condon said. "That's pretty cool. They all try to do their best. They love the competition."
Pete Condon has been head coach of the team for five years.
"We are playing teams right at our skill level," Condon said. "It makes me feel good as a coach. They all try to do their best."
In the rivalry of Rockets, Green County beat the Neenah Red by 23-20 during the sectional basketball tournament March 18 at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. In 2017, the team was not as successful, nearly knocked out of the Wisconsin Special Olympics State Indoor Sports Tournament in the sectional only to be defeated by 2 points against Neenah at state.
Now the nine players are looking to win all three state matches, which would garner them a first-place finish at the tournament. The state tournament set to begin Saturday at Albee Gymnasium on the UW-Oshkosh campus will be a round-robin competition. If the team were to win two games, they would go home with second place. If they achieved one win, it would be a third-place finish.
Players for the team can range in age from 8 to 80. Condon said he was glad to see the sport provide a social activity for his players, who continue to improve.
"It's a tremendous program," Condon said. "I wish I had more players. Special Olympics gives them something to do."
According to the Special Olympics Wisconsin website, "basketball 'bounced' its way into competition at the 1968 Special Olympics World Games" and grew to 40 countries, with nearly 70,000 athletes in the U.S. program. Team basketball will host its 42nd annual state tournament this year.
During the tournament, the Healthy Athletes group will be providing exams to evaluate fitness, hearing, eye and teeth health.
Players can be both children and adults with various disabilities. On the Rockets, Condon said Jamie Anderson, in his 30s, tends to be the team's top scorer but deals with traveling penalties. Teenager Sam Miles also contributes a number of shots for the team, Condon noted, though has worked to improve a tendency to double-dribble.
The team practices on Saturdays at Monroe Middle School. Though the season began in February, Condon started practice in the first week of January and has seen his players noticeably improve this year.
"We always try our best, and we're playing teams we haven't played before," Condon said. "That's pretty cool. They all try to do their best. They love the competition."
