Special-needs basketball at Grayslake North draws packed house
With a theme of unity in diversity, about 900 fans packed Grayslake North High School's gymnasium for a spirited interscholastic basketball game between students who have significant disabilities.
Gurnee's Warren Township High School topped Grayslake North 35-34 in the coed game that went down to the wire Thursday morning. Students and teachers joined the athletes in what became a big postgame dance party on the court after Grayslake North player Kevin Washington, who's known for always being ready to bust a move, led the way.
Grayslake North's players are in a life-skills program is designed to help students with significant cognitive or physical disabilities, or both, develop practical abilities to be successful and as independent as possible beyond high school.
Warren's players, with similar disabilities, have graduated from high school and are in a transitional program there as they work toward independence before they turn 22.
Brigid Del Carmen, life-skills case manager at Grayslake North, helped organize the game. The greater meaning of the competition was reflected in "Unity in Diversity Life Skills Basketball" T-shirts worn by Del Carmen, the players and others.
"This is like their Friday night," Del Carmen said. "It promotes school spirit, inclusion, all those good things that we want."
Del Carmen said the life-skills basketball team played its first interscholastic game at Lake Forest High School last year. She said the successful day in Lake Forest led to Grayslake North scheduling Warren for Thursday's contest that had all of the typical high school spirit, including cheerleaders and dance teams.
Jenny Utinans, assistant to the principal at Grayslake North, said extracurricular activities are an important part of the life-skills program. The basketball game was a chance for the pupils to be in the spotlight.
"For many of our students with significant disabilities, it will be the first time they compete in front of a large audience and hear the roar of the crowd - all cheering for them," Utinans said.
Warren High special education teacher Mary Hill marveled at the high-energy atmosphere in the Grayslake North gymnasium before her school's transition program students hit the court.
"I mean, it definitely makes them feel just like anybody else, which is amazing," Hill said.
Although she didn't score any points, Grayslake North's Amanda Garcia said she'd enjoy another chance to play before 900 or so spectators. She said she liked the enthusiastic support.
"I feel like I had fun and I like to be a part of the team," Garcia said.