Coaches dream of moments like these, and players remember them forever.
The Whitman County Superstars basketball team was down two points at the beginning of the second half of a championship game against the Lewis County Vipers at the Washington Special Olympics Winter Games.
Then Aiden Fitzgerald executed a flawless pull-up jump shot, despite being guarded by an intimidatingly tall player from the other team. “It was a floater,” Fitzgerald said of his shot.
He and his teammates watched the basketball rise majestically before it descended to swish through the basket. The crowd erupted with cheers. The burst of momentum carried the Superstars to a 28-17 victory against the Vipers and a gold medal in their Special Olympics division.
Fitzgerald and most of his teammates are part of Washington State University’s ROAR program. Established in 2017, ROAR provides a two-year college experience for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Shortly before March Madness started, the Superstars played in a five-game tournament in Wenatchee from Feb. 27 to March 1.
The win at the Winter Games capped a season of teamwork, camaraderie, and growth for the Superstars, said Korey Brock, the team’s volunteer coach, who is also the WSU Creamery production supervisor. Fitzgerald’s pull-up jump shot was one of many proud moments for him during the championship game.
“We had tremendous depth on the team,” Brock said. “Seven of our nine players scored points during the final game, and they really played team ball. Everyone had a part in the win.”
“Winning a gold medal at state was awesome. And spending time with these guys and girls was awesome,” Fitzgerald added. “We had each other’s backs throughout the season. When someone missed a basket, we were like ‘That’s OK. You’ll get the next one.’”
This is the third year that WSU ROAR students have played on Whitman County’s Special Olympics basketball team. Some of the students had previous experience, but it was Isabel Fox and Damon Landeros’s first time playing on a basketball team.
Both players said their ball handling skills and teamwork improved during the season. They credited the twice weekly practice sessions at the Pullman Recreation Center, where Brock and assistant coaches Ted and Lisa Uhlenkott focused on skill development and conditioning.
The conditioning drills paid off during the tournament, where the Superstars consistently outran other teams’ players and kept the ball in play through defensive rebounds. “We had the speed,” Fox said.
Throughout the season, the Superstars also received compliments for their sportsmanship.
“Parents and community members came up and said they were one of the nicest, most respectful teams,” Brock said. “They were helping other players up and encouraging other teams. They are not just good players; they are good people.”
Desmond “Dez” Moses, the team captain, said he’s proud of the Superstars’ reputation. “Even when things are tough, we still show good sportsmanship, because that’s what Special Olympics is about,” he said.
Sometimes, showing respect to the other teams meant backing off when the Superstars had a big lead, and letting the other team score, Xander Piatt added.
Other WSU Roar students who played with the Superstars were Justin Braza and Sarah Rowley. After they won their championship game, the players celebrated in a time-honored fashion. They pulled Brock outside and soaked him with their water bottles.
While the Superstars bask in the glow of their successful season, they’re also thinking ahead to next year. The Special Olympics basketball season starts in November, and Moses sees another trip to the Winter Games in the teams’ future.
“Next year, we are going right back,” he said.
