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Lucas Erickson, right, helps teammate Dony Knight into his goalie gloves during practice at Sutherlin High School last week.
SUTHERLIN — For 16-year-old Dony Knight, qualifying for the Special Olympics National Games is a dream come true.
“We are very excited,” said Knight, the team captain. “We're good, and we work hard.”
Knight and the other eight members of Sutherlin High School's unified soccer team will make the journey July 17 to represent Team Oregon in Lincoln, Neb.
In April, the team got the opportunity to go to a Eugene soccer clinic to help prepare for the games, Coach Matt Parish said.
“It was just phenomenal, and it really set the pace,” he said. “We have some very competitive athletes.”
Since then, the team has been practicing twice a week.
“We work so hard for practice,” Knight said of his team's work ethic. “We plan to win.”
Knight said when they do win, he and his teammates are going to dump water on their coaches' heads.
“We're going to drench them!” he said.
Sutherlin's team is set up differently than traditional Special Olympics teams, Parrish said.
“Recently they started what they call a ‘unified team,' where half the team is made up of athletes and the other half are non-disabled partners,” he said.
The Bulldogs have five athletes and four partners. Only five players are allowed on the field, however.
“You have to have a certain ratio on the field at all times,” Parrish said, “ three athletes and two partners.”
Parrish explained that the field they use is smaller than a regulation soccer field.
“It's almost like a half-court game,” he said. “The action is quick and exciting, and everybody plays a lot.”
To qualify for the national games, the team had to place first at its regional and state tournaments. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they fell short at the state games, with a second-place finish.
Coach Jill Fummerton said the team that took the gold did not exemplify good sportsmanship, so its members were not offered a berth to Nebraska.
Opening ceremonies begin July 18 at the University of Nebraska's Bon Devaney Sports Center. The games conclude July 23.
In addition to the games, the Special Olympics will also be hosting its Healthy Athletes program, which provides seven different health screenings, including tests done on feet, hearing, teeth and eyes.
The goal to improve athletes' ability to train and compete, Fummerton said.
“If the athletes need things like glasses, they will be ready to pick up and take home by the end of the games,” she said, “and it's absolutely free.”
• You can reach reporter Anne Creighton at 541-957-4211 or by e-mail at acreighton@nrtoday.com.
“We are very excited,” said Knight, the team captain. “We're good, and we work hard.”
Knight and the other eight members of Sutherlin High School's unified soccer team will make the journey July 17 to represent Team Oregon in Lincoln, Neb.
In April, the team got the opportunity to go to a Eugene soccer clinic to help prepare for the games, Coach Matt Parish said.
“It was just phenomenal, and it really set the pace,” he said. “We have some very competitive athletes.”
Since then, the team has been practicing twice a week.
“We work so hard for practice,” Knight said of his team's work ethic. “We plan to win.”
Knight said when they do win, he and his teammates are going to dump water on their coaches' heads.
“We're going to drench them!” he said.
Sutherlin's team is set up differently than traditional Special Olympics teams, Parrish said.
“Recently they started what they call a ‘unified team,' where half the team is made up of athletes and the other half are non-disabled partners,” he said.
The Bulldogs have five athletes and four partners. Only five players are allowed on the field, however.
“You have to have a certain ratio on the field at all times,” Parrish said, “ three athletes and two partners.”
Parrish explained that the field they use is smaller than a regulation soccer field.
“It's almost like a half-court game,” he said. “The action is quick and exciting, and everybody plays a lot.”
To qualify for the national games, the team had to place first at its regional and state tournaments. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they fell short at the state games, with a second-place finish.
Coach Jill Fummerton said the team that took the gold did not exemplify good sportsmanship, so its members were not offered a berth to Nebraska.
Opening ceremonies begin July 18 at the University of Nebraska's Bon Devaney Sports Center. The games conclude July 23.
In addition to the games, the Special Olympics will also be hosting its Healthy Athletes program, which provides seven different health screenings, including tests done on feet, hearing, teeth and eyes.
The goal to improve athletes' ability to train and compete, Fummerton said.
“If the athletes need things like glasses, they will be ready to pick up and take home by the end of the games,” she said, “and it's absolutely free.”
• You can reach reporter Anne Creighton at 541-957-4211 or by e-mail at acreighton@nrtoday.com.
