Pack The House For The Special Rec Basketball All-Stars And Pep Squad
OAK LAWN, IL — If you can only see one basketball game this year, be it professional, college or high school, then you’ll want to go see the Oak Lawn Eagles from the Oak Lawn Park District’s special recreation program this Saturday, Jan. 27. The Eagles’ A, B, C and D teams will engage in four intersquad exhibition games at Oak Lawn Community High School, 9400 Southwest Highway.
Games are scheduled for 1:15 p.m, 1:40 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 2:55 p.m., with a half-time show featuring the effervescent Oak Lawn Pep Squad, doing their cheer routines. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted at the door.
The Oak Lawn Eagles offers adults with developmental abilities and intellectual challenges the chance to get exercise, develop their athletic skills to compete in Special Olympics Illinois, and build friendships.
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Oak Lawn Community High School athletes and dance team will support the athletes and pep squad.
Oak Lawn Parks Special Recreation Supervisor Todd Mallo said it’s a day athletes look forward to all year.
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“The friendships are huge,” Mallo said. “These players have known each other since they were 8 and 9 years old, playing on the Junior Jordans. Their families are friends.”
Dan and Anne Fritz are in their fourth year of organizing the games before the torch is passed to another parent. The Fritzes belong to the Special Recreation Athletic Support Association cooperative. SRASA is a parent organization separate from the park district that raises money to help families with extra costs, purchase uniforms and equipment, and training for the Special Olympics Illinois games. Their son, Ben, participates in the program.
“For Benjamin, this event has brought out the performer in him,” Fritz said. “Giving him the confidence to ham-it-up in front of a large crowd. That confidence helps him in all aspects of his life.”
The park district’s special rec basketball teams draw players from Bridgeview, Burbank, Evergreen Park, Chicago Ridge, Palos Heights, Crestwood and Hometown. Participants’ range in age from high school to 40. Many of the players have been shooting hoops together since 2005.
While the squads will be playing before hundreds of family members and friends, the rest of the town is invited to pack the house, too. The parents cooperative will be raffling off a giant TV, with additional prizes including a Bundt Of The Month membership donated by Nothing Bundt Cakes, and Blackhawks tickets donated by Uncle Bud’s.
The Oak Lawn Bank & Trust is a major sponsor and donor of this event, along with All Saints Lutheran Church in Orland Park, PepsiCo EnAble and the Hage Insurance Group. Concessions will be offered with pizza donated by Palermo’s and hot dogs from Whittingham’s Meats in Alsip.
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