District 99 Special Olympics Basketball Team Wins State Title

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — The District 99 Special Olympics basketball team took home its fourth state title in six years during a recent tournament in Bloomington. The team defeated Cove 49-40 and Thorton 57-46 to win the March 17 championship games.

The winning team is part of four teams made up of athletes from Downers Grove South and North, along with players from the district's Transition Center.

District 99 held a celebration at Downers Grove South to celebrate the District 99 Hoops team's victory. "We’re incredibly proud of the team and their efforts competing this year, especially since we only had five players at the state tournament so there was no room for error," Downers Grove South special services teacher Kevin Ahrens said in a news release from District 99.

Ahrens added that the team had plenty of support going into the state tournament. He said, "Five busses of students attended the state tournament and made it feel like a home game.”

Image provided by District 99