Editor’s note: Click here to read about Morrison High School Principal David Mills’s Polar Plunge fundraiser, to benefit Illinois Special Olympics.
After they won all nine games in their season, on Sunday, January 28, 2024, the Bi-County Bulldogs Basketball Team won the Regional Competition, held at Byron High School, in Byron, IL. There are four Illinois Region A teams in the M03 Division. This was the first year for Bi-County students to compete on a Basketball team. The ten young men and women took a shot; won a medal; helped earn a first team trophy.
Left-to-right are Kaleb Schipper; Collin Mealing; J’Marion Hill; Emily Hoffman; Samantha Merriman; Angelo Heald; Damian Hughes; Samantha Zimmermann; Havannah Lee. Brenden Hoagland was not photographed.
After coaching Bi-County Special Education athletes for eight years, Roggy said she “wanted to expand sports and give our athletes this [new] experience. I love it! Seeing how they have grown, becom[ing] a family. There’s been a lot of growth in all of them, dribbling, passing, and shooting. Being a ‘ball hog’ has diminished.”
They compete once a week in Rock Falls, IL, at Merrill School, for 1.5 hours. There is no fee to participate, because Special Olympics Illinois supports the program. “We had one fundraiser to sell blankets” this year.
Left-to-right at shooting drill are Kaleb Schipper; Kolten Sage; Angelo Heald; Brenden Hoagland.
Under the direction of Coach Mandi Roggy and Assistant Coach Jess Hurley, ten Bi-County Special Education students range in ages from 13-to-26. They come from these school districts: Eastland, 1; Morrison, 1; River Bend, 2; Rock Falls, 1; Sterling, 5. “The Bi-County programs go up to the day before [an athlete’s] 23rd birthday,” noted Roggy. “They work so well together [despite] the wide age range.”
At 13, Brenden Hoagland, left, is the youngest member. He attends East Coloma in Nelson Township as a seventh grader. “In gym, we’re actually doing [Basketball skills] right now, this week. [Offense and defense] help us get more into the game.” His best skills are “passing, defense, and guarding. The best skill to me is the defense. I am not that big, and all the big people target me. I sneak right under their arms! My best shooting skill is probably layups, on the right side, especially. I might do Flag Football, maybe Track, and probably Soccer.”
Kaleb Schipper, 21, is the second-oldest Bulldog. “It is my first year, to help me practice more. I want to do more stuff and be more active.” He played Softball with Jess Hurley, who recruited Schipper to the Bulldogs. “It was the first time I played Basketball in my entire life. We have a hoop at home; I played with my brothers. I was in Bi-County in High School in Fulton[, IL, playing Baseball, Track, Football, and Wrestling.” The Editor asked if he was nervous about playing at State. “I’m not scared. I’m focused!”
Other staff are Kristen Hoagland, Teri Holldorf, Emily Roggy, and Kolten Sage. Fundamentals and skills are taught by all Coaches.
This undefeated Bi-County Bulldogs Special Olympics Basketball team will perform at Horton Field House in Bloomington, IL, on Friday, March 8, through Sunday, March 10. All ten athletes will have playing time, as they participate in their first State contest.
