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Special Olympics teams converge on day one of Hoopfest

Hank Hendriksen, center of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, battles David Emerson, left, and Chris Banning of the Mamas Boyz for a rebound during a Hoopfest game, June 24, 2017, in the Special Olympics division. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
Hank Hendriksen, center of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, battles David Emerson, left, and Chris Banning of the Mamas Boyz for a rebound during a Hoopfest game, June 24, 2017, in the Special Olympics division. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
By Drew Gerber The Spokesman-Review

In Scott Tobin’s eyes, his team’s name is pretty self-explanatory.

“Well, we’re on land,” Tobin, team captain of the Land Sharks, said while standing courtside by City Hall. “And on the court, we come at you like a shark.”

The Land Sharks are just one of 62 Special Olympics teams that have traveled to Spokane for Hoopfest 2017, coming from all over Washington, Idaho and Oregon. Part of Hoopfest weekend for more than 20 years, Special Olympics remains a primary beneficiary of Hoopfest donations, receiving nearly $1 million since 1990.

Tobin, 29, said he has been playing basketball since he was 12 years old, and he’s played in Hoopfest five times. He said he comes to play for the same reason as anyone else: love of the game.

“Basketball is my favorite sport,” he said. “The thing about Hoopfest is having fun, teamwork and being with friends.”

It’s amazing to watch the excitement for the tournament build each year, said Dan Wartelle of Special Olympics Washington.

“As soon as the calendar flips over to January, the chatter starts and people start asking about when they can register,” Wartelle said.

Playing among other athletes competing at the highest levels is important not only for gaining skills on the court, but also for building teamwork, he said.

For the past five years, and the past 10 in the Special Olympics, Hoopfest has included “unified” teams in addition to traditional teams, comprising athletes with and without disabilities.

While Tobin doesn’t come to Spokane from his hometown of Cheney for every Hoopfest – he said he likes to have a break from the noise and crowds – he enjoys getting to see friends and players he normally doesn’t get to see.

“Playing on the sports field together just builds bonds,” Wartelle said.

The beauty of Hoopfest is that its spirit mirrors what Special Olympics has been doing for years, Wartelle said.

“It doesn’t matter how good you are or how old you are,” he said. “You could be 70 or 7, but as long as you can dribble the ball, you can play.”