Success in their First Season: Clippers Special Olympics basketball team plays in state tournament

The Door County Clippers Special Olympics Basketball Team placed second in their division at the state tournament in Oshkosh. Pictured, front row from left: David Gulseth, Tony Hoffman, Lydia Greenlaw and Alec Evensen. Back row, from left: Joanne Hathaway, Becca Conoley, Savannah Alberts, Anna Edges, Isaac Abrahamson, Nathan Klaubauf, Soren Anderson and Shannon Wautier. Submitted.

With an impressive record of 5-1, the Door County Clippers Special Olympics basketball team traveled to UW-Oshkosh’s Kolf Center on April 8 & 9 to participate in the state tournament.

This is the first season for the team, which is made up of two Sturgeon Bay High School students and seven Sturgeon Bay Middle School students. “We started the team this year because I wanted other activities for my students to participate in, outside of school,” said Shannon Wautier, coach and TJ Walker Middle School special education teacher. “My original intent was to have them join the older team coached by Stacey Vogel, however, Special Olympics rules dictate you can only have a maximum of 12 athletes per team; therefore, we decided to start a new team. It worked pretty well because the other team is composed of mostly adults, aside from two athletes who are school-aged, and our team is the ‘younger team’ composed of only school-aged kids.”

Wautier coaches the team along with assistant coaches Joanne Hathaway and Becca Conoley.

“When we started the team and I asked them to help, they were very willing to assist. I could not do it without them! They help to keep me organized, remind me when I need to substitute kids into and out of the game, as well as help with any behavior issues that any of the athletes may have during the game,” said Wautier.

The team is also assisted by Wally Volkmann, who serves as the scorebook keeper.

At the state tournament the Clippers team was placed in the lowest division. Wautier explained, “Special Olympics divides teams based on skill level; because we are a new team of athletes who have never played organized basketball (outside of gym class) we were put into the lowest division. We have played against teams that have young, school-aged athletes like us, but we have also played against teams with grown adults on them.”

Before tournament play began, the weekend started with the “Healthy Athletes” program. The athletes received free dental, hearing, and eye exams, as well as a physical. In addition, athletes could receive new glasses, sports goggles, or designer sunglasses for free if they had an eye exam. After teams played on Saturday, they were invited to a dance and they stayed in the dorms on campus for the evening.

The Clippers won their first game on Saturday with a score of 18-16, and lost their Sunday game, 26-22. They placed second in their division.

Even though their basketball season just wrapped, Wautier is already thinking ahead. “Next year, I hope to start a track team as well. I wanted to do so this season, however we have to have athletes’ qualifying times in by April 19, and I think it is better for me to get basketball under my belt before taking on a new adventure!”