By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The Storm is coming. And many other Special Olympics teams. For the first time, the West Regional basketball and cheerleading tournament is coming to Great Bend's Panther Activity Center on Feb. 25. The event will require approximately 85 volunteers, and Brent Kaiser, development and sports coordinator for Special Olympics Kansas, said that can be a very positive experience.
"Really, what we want our volunteers to do is to come, we want them to have a good time, we want them to cheer, we want them to give a lot of high-fives," he said. "I'm sure they'll get hugs. By the end of it, I think it's a really rewarding opportunity to experience for them."
Some 250 Special Olympics athletes and their coaches will converge on the PAC for the event, which will open with a special ceremony, followed by a cheerleading competition, then various levels of basketball and skills competitions.
"I'm really excited to host this event in Great Bend," Kaiser said. "I used to live there, and I know it's a great community. I know we'll be able to do something big in that community."
The various basketball divisions will allow athletes with different abilities to compete against one another. Divisions are limited to just four or five teams to maximize the potential for winning. For those unable to compete in a complete game, there will be skill competitions for dribbling, shooting, and passing.
"Basically, that's for athletes who are unable to do some of the general basketball stuff and get up and down the floor," said Kaiser. "Those folks are able to do shooting, passing, and dribbling in a competitive skills type of environment instead of a game."
Also for the first time, Fit Feet will be featured at the tournament. Up to 50 percent of Special Olympics athletes experience a treatable foot or ankle condition that can hamper performance. Dr. Joshua Boone will be on hand to provide evaluations for the athletes.
Volunteers are needed for various activities, from first aid, to refereeing, to judging the cheerleading competition. Volunteers are also needed to keep the scorebook, run the scoreboard, and help guide athletes through the skills competitions.
The Opening Ceremony on Feb. 25 is at 9 a.m. This will be the first West Regional tournament since 2020. CLICK HERE to register as a volunteer.