The Owensboro Hornets, coached by Jeannene Hurst, Dustin Shelby and Carey Holton, won the Special Olympics Kentucky State Basketball Tournament B-Green division in Louisville Sunday.
The team qualified after winning regionals in Bowling Green in mid-February, Hurst said. The 12-member team ranges in age from teen to 65 years old.
Players are Joshua Bradley, Emily Burks, Sam Fenwick, David Fogle, Steven Glenn, Gary Kelly, Clay Lankford, Josh Melton, Larry Simon, Nycheala Smith, Tony Wade and David Woodruff.
Hurst said the basketball season begins each November and runs until the tournament.
According to wdrb.com, over 700 athletes attended the tournament this weekend and participated in a victory dance Saturday.
Hurst has been involved with Special Olympics for over 25 years and takes a lot of pride in the win.
She shared that on the way back to Owensboro, one of the team members turned to her and said, “We did it.”
“They are just an awesome group of individuals,” Hurst said. “They are the greatest athletes around.”
Hurst said the local Special Olympics are always looking for volunteers and that it is a great opportunity to become involved as there are events happening locally year around.
Hurst and Kim Johnson are the local program contacts and Hurst can be reached at 270-926-0606. For more information, see the Special Olympics webpage.
