The Tuscarawas County Rockets Special Olympics basketball team has hit the big time – BigTime Sports on PCM TV 2 that is. BigTime Sports which airs area high school games and produces the popular sports show of the same name hosted by Charlie Jones and Scott Robinson, will air the Rockets basketball game against the Holmes County Special Olympics Basketball team on January 31.
The game, played at the Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School gymnasium at 6:30 p.m., will air at 10 p.m. that evening and again at 7 p.m. on February 1 on PCM TV 2.
The players are very excited and are practicing extra hard to do their best. Their coaches are working hard too. Clog up the lane. Hands up and be aggressive; theres no way that ball should have made it through there, called out Coach Dan McCauley during a recent practice held at the Starlight School gymnasium. McCauleys son, Justin, 12, helps out as ball boy.
The team works on a lot of fundamentals. Its a lot of repeating. We go over things 10 or 12 times instead of 2 to 3 times like you would in high school. It can be frustrating at times, but when you see how much progress they make, its all worth it, said Coach Briana Lang.
Lang became involved with the team because her brother, Travis Glasgow, is a member. She has much experience with the sport having played basketball since she was seven years old and also refereeing. Im happy to have the opportunity to coach. Im pursuing a degree in special education, she added. We have a fun time and they work hard. I just really enjoy it.
Its amazing to see how their social skills develop. One boy who didnt like to be touched came up to me at the last game and gave me a hug, said Lang. Thats more rewarding than seeing them win a basketball game.
Friends and family have always been at the center of the team. Gerry Jasper is one of the Rockets long time players. He credits his late parents, Gene and Sally Jasper, for getting him involved with the team. Gene also helped coach the team and was doing so in 1997 the year the Rockets won their first state championship. I always think of my dad and mom every day, said Gerry.
Gerry continues to play because, Im good at it and it makes me feel good. I like playing on a team. Its the same with bocce. Ive been playing about ten years with bocce.
Rockets point guard Rachel Russell said her friends, Alison Roth and John Eminem Carlson, got her interested in joining the team four years ago. Rachel likes her coaches and said the team members help each other. The coaches teach people what they might be doing wrong, if they dont get it, we try to show them, she said.
Dave Roth, whose daughter Alison is a member of the team said shes looking forward to the televised game. Shes really excited. She likes Charlie (Jones.) She always has to say hi to Charlie when we go to the Dover (High School) home games, said Dave.
Alisons involvement in sports year round keeps her moving and exercising and helps with socializing and getting along with others, said Dave. In addition to the Special Olympics sports of track and field, bocce, and bowling, Alison also bowls in the Sugarcreek Youth League which is affiliated with the United States Bowling Congress. She placed 4th out of 13 in a recent event with the league.
The members of the Rockets who compete in games are Rachel Russell, Craig Gordon, John Carlson, Kershel Zehnder, Travis Glasgow, Nathan Wells, Shabastian Jacobsan, Miranda Milburn, Robert Easlick, Jenny Hostetler, Elizabeth Lippencott, Shane York, Zach Coleman, Gerry Jasper, and Alison Roth.
The members of the Rockets who compete in individual skill competition are Melissa Bolek, Diane DeMonte, Lon DiGenova, Trevor Herzig, Andre Weaver, John Pirolozzi, and Michael Teague.
Everyone is invited to attend the game. Admission is free and a refreshment stand to raise money for Special Olympics will be available.
On Monday February 14, the Rockets will have a blood battle with the Stepping Stones Knights, a new first year Special Olympics basketball team in Tuscarawas County. The Red Cross blood mobile will be at Starlight School from noon to 5 p.m. to take donations of blood from the Rockets and Knights fans. Later that evening, the two teams will play 6:30 p.m. at the Tuscarawas Central Catholic High gymnasium.
