Two separate groups of knights are getting ready to take on the Carroll County Special Olympics team to honor Carroll County's special olympians. One, the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Knights of Columbus chapter in Sykesville will be teaming up with another, the Century High School Knights in order to play a game of basketball against the Carroll County Special Olympics team.
The event will take place at Century High School at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16. According to Community Program Director for the Knights of Columbus Chris Ryder, of Eldersburg, the event will feature a cheerleading squad from the Baltimore County Special Olympics, and a dance team from Savage Dance Company in Eldersburg. Century High School Vice Principal Jennifer Herman said that there will also be a silent auction of sports memorabilia at the game. Herman also said that a student from Century High School, Kori Norris, will be performing the national anthem at the event.
Because of current policy, Century's own basketball team will not be allowed to participate in the game, said Herman. The Century Knights will instead be contributing various other students and staff members to the team.
Admission to the event is free, however, donations will be collected for the Carroll County Special Olympics.
"Locally, Sheen council has a 33 year history of supporting charitable needs, this was a good opportunity for us to strengthen our partnership with Special Olympics and give those folks a hand," said Grand Knight David Johnston, of Eldersburg.
According to Johnston, the Knights of Columbus have always worked very closely with the Special Olympics. Sargent Shriver, the husband of the founder of Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, was not only a member of the Knights of Columbus, but was also a very active helper in the early Olympics.
Currently the Special Olympics basketball team practices on Tuesday nights during the regular season in the auxiliary gym of West Middle School. The team's coach, Marshall Green of Hampstead, said that he believed the venue was too cramped for them. Green is hoping that the upcoming basketball game will raise awareness of Special Olympics within the community, and hopefully help the team move into a larger facility.
According to 20-year-old point guard Mary Linthicum, of Finksburg, and 14-year-old center Daniel Graham, of Westminster, the team is very excited about the upcoming game.
Linthicum is hoping that the team can continue to improve by playing the game at Century. Graham wants the team to win, but said he hopes nobody gets hurt.
Everyone on the team has been playing sports for a long time, like 24-year-old Forward Tammy Holibaugher, of Taneytown, who said that she's been playing for 14 years. Graham currently plays high school football for the Carroll Christian Crusaders.
"It's great to learn in a closed environment, but better to go outside the special needs community," said Green speaking about what he wanted the team to get out of the experience.
To learn more about the Sykesville Knights of Columbus visit their website, http://www.kofc7612.org. To learn more about the Carroll County Special Olympics team, call 410-386-2103.
