Castleton Spartan

Issue date: 3/10/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Jeff Weld Area disabled residents play ball with members of the men's basketball team.

Twenty-five disabled athletes of all ages poured into Shape Gym on Feb. 21 with one thing on their mind -- playing basketball. The men's basketball team teamed up with the EDD Memorial Fund to teach these athletes basic fundamentals of basketball.

After a short introduction of the coaching staff and players, members of the team went to different areas of the gym with small groups of the disabled athletes to work on their shooting and dribbling.

Then, Coach Paul Culpo brought all the athletes together to play a few games, starting with a shooting competition and ending with a dribble relay. As they competed Castleton players encouraged them and cheered them on.

After a half hour, The Bulldogs arrived. The Bulldogs are a team of men and women with disabilities who play in tournaments around the United States. The local kids, including Colton Folmsbee of Fair Haven, seemed in awe of them.

From the moment Colton entered the gym, he was full of energy and eager to play basketball. He ran over to the closest hoop, set his feet, placed the ball between his legs and launched it at the rim. Castleton players watched as the ball flew in the air, seconds later, the ball dropped down through the net.

"Wet," Derrick Faragon of the Castleton team yelled.

Colton dropped to his knees, threw his hands in the air and screamed "Oh Yeah."

The excitement on Colton's face brought a smile to everyone near the hoop.

The afternoon ended when the athletes with disabilities joined men's team at mid court for a photo shoot. After the photo shoot, everyone congregated in the main lobby of Glenbrook Gymnasium. Well, everyone except for one youngster named Alan.

Alan spent an extra 10 minutes working on his three point shot with Castleton players Pat Winn and Greg Hughes.

Alan was on a cold streak when an adult told him he needed to go with the rest of the athletes to the lobby. He took a couple more shots and finally after what seemed to be a hundred shots, he sank the three. He was ecstatic and jumped into the air, slapping high fives with Hughes before leaping into the arms of Winn.

"I will never forget that moment," said Winn, " He was so excited, it got me thinking about how much I take for granted. It seemed like in that moment Alan was on top of the world and nothing could take him down."

Continued...

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