On Wednesday, March 6, the SUNY Cortland Best Buddies participated in a joint basketball game with members of the Cortland Stars [SUNY Cortland Special Olympics Club]. The event was hosted in the Student Life Center with the objective of inclusivity for all in sports.
“This was an event for individuals with disabilities and individuals without disabilities to come together to achieve a common goal and participate in a basketball game to support shared interest and support one another,” said Co-President of the Cortland Stars, Morgan Valerino.
The senior student at SUNY Cortland is an Inclusive Childhood Education major. She hopes to initiate change among the disabled community in schools as she approaches the end of her time in Cortland, New York.
The Cortland Stars Club gives students the opportunity to coach and train individuals with developmental disabilities. The club allows individuals with disabilities to learn and practice a variety of different sports.
Valerino helps to facilitate the group warm-up during meetings for the Stars. Dynamic exercises are conducted with an overview of the sport scheduled for the day’s activity. Meetings/ Practices are held on Wednesdays from 6:15-7:30 pm on the Mutli-Activity Court in the SLC.
The Cortland Stars held their weekly warm up alongside the SUNY Cortland’s Best Buddies club before their basketball game. During this time, the clubs were able to meet each other and use teamwork strategies to accomplish the basics of basketball such as dribbling, passing, and shooting.
“I was very impressed with the outcome of this event,” said President of Best Buddies Jessica Bonville. “It was great, combining two great clubs, and all of our buddies being together and getting to know each other.”
Giving athletes the opportunity to play [sports] just like everyone else is something that sophomore Bryce Carroll finds very important. He had a great time and said it’s always fun to participate with members of the club.
Athlete Jacob Brown said he was “trying to get past the red [lines in the gymnasium],” the entire game. Nonetheless, he was named the MVP, as he scored many points for the blue pinnie team.
“I have been a member of Best Buddies since my freshman year at Cortland,” said sophomore student. “I have seen Cortland Stars practice in the SLC a few times, but I never knew what club it was. I’m glad I was able to experience it for myself and I look forward to participating in further events.”
While the event’s purpose was to collaborate with the Cortland Stars and Best Buddies clubs, it was also to fundraise for the annual Best Buddies Friendship Walk in Rochester, NY on April 27. It is the leading walk in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (also known as IDD) with over 70 walks across the world.
Treasurer Alexa Rago said, “spreading inclusion one friendship at a time,” is the goal for the Best Buddies chapter at Cortland. Stay in the loop with the Best Buddies organization throughout the world.