McLean’s Special Olympics team, which consists of athletes with intellectual disabilities, kicked off the March Madness season with its annual FanFest basketball game on Friday, March 13. The game was composed of teams of current McLean students as well as alumni.
FanFest took place during 7th period and featured an intense matchup between teams representing McLean’s school colors—silver and red—with the two teams staying neck-and-neck during the majority of the game.
“Today’s game was great,” said Ben Shue, a player on the silver team. “I had the ball and I got it in the hoop on the first try.”
Although the game generated buzz in the community, FanFest is more than just an entertaining event; it’s a way for the community to celebrate and embrace diversity.
“FanFest is an opportunity for our group of kids to play in front of the general population,” head coach Mark Thompson said. “It allows them to do what all the other kids get to do. The event proves that McLean is an amazing community of people that value inclusivity and diversity, and nobody is above anybody.”
The event was a success because of the work put in behind the scenes, with both the players and the staff playing a pivotal role in running the event. To manage the players, the coaches focused on creating a supportive and lively environment above all else.
“We have one goal: to have fun,” Thompson said. “I want them to hustle, run and play their best, but there’s not a lot of coaching that goes on.”
Unlike typical basketball games in which not everyone gets a turn on the court, FanFest made sure every student was given the chance to take a shot and make it into the basket at least once.
“The most memorable moment is having students that have never actually played before actually score a bucket,” Thompson said. “Watching that is amazing.”
Although the game ended in a close 35-30 in favor of the silver team, FanFest’s purpose went far beyond the results of the scoreboard.
“I will remember all the people I saw,” Shue said. “They were all cheering for me and my team. I will definitely play again next year.”
