Adams State, community make 2017 Special Olympics Basketball Showcase a success

ALAMOSA — The sport management class at Adams State University had the honor of hosting the 2017 Special Olympics Basketball Showcase on April 7th at Plachy Hall on the Adams State University campus as its class project.

Together as a class, students dedicated much of their own time planning and preparing for this event so each Special Olympics athlete could show off their skills in front of all their friends and family.

This event was held as a fundraiser for the local Special Olympics program, the SLV Dust Devils. Enough money was raised to cover the costs for the athletes to attend regional track competition in May and support next fall’s entire bowling program, including regional competition. 

There were a total of 20 athletes that were split up into the red or blue team, each team playing with three Special Olympians and two partner-players from ASU football on the court at a time.

After a hard-fought game between the two teams that led into overtime, the blue team was victorious with a final score of 38-34.

The Special Olympic athletes for both teams are listed below.

Red Team:

      Andrew Allee

      Ed June                                                          

      Chris Martinez

      Sandra Espinoza-Allaart

      John Bailey

      Sharon Bailey

      Christi Adams

      Marc Alfaro

      Joe Ray Medina

      Maria Garcia

Blue Team:

    Chuck Silva

      Robert Allaart

      Andrew Griego

      Christine Quintana

      Loren Velasquez

      Karie Valdez

      Tyson Caton

      Micheal Maez

      Virgil Wyatt

      Loren Guymon

The athletes would like to express their gratitude to everyone who attended the event and contributed to the local Special Olympics program, also thanks to Adams State Athletics Department, the football and basketball players who played key roles and assisted with the showcase and the Adams State mascot and print shop.

For more information about the SLV Special Olympics program, please contact Peggy Johnson at 719-587-7408 or [email protected] 

Caption:  Adams State and Special Olympian athletes compete in the 2017 Special Olympics Basketball Showcase. Courtesy photo