Champion Athletes of the Ozarks is a program to help kids and adults with disabilities connect through sports competition, and new opportunities. Sunday, this group felt extra support from some familiar faces. The Nixa Eagles basketball team loaded the bus to head to a basketball game. But, not one of their own.
“It’s really fun just to watch them after all of the work they’ve put it in. They’re with us 24/7 at practice and games and in the locker room, so we just love them, love coming out here,” Nixa junior Colin Ruffin said.
They’re cheering for their basketball managers and former Nixa Eagles playing with Champion Athletes of the Ozarks.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s supportive. It means a lot to me, without them this wouldn’t have happened. I wouldn’t be here without them or coach Susan. If Susan wasn’t here I wouldn’t be here without her,” said Champion Athlete Alix Straker.
“It’s awesome to see the relationships that our players have with those guys. We’ve had Alix helping us for several years, and Evan’s helped us last few years as well. Our players do a great job including these guys in anything whether it’s practice or games. They ride the bus with us to pretty much everything we go to,” said Nixa assistant coach Brock Blansit.
The relationship between the Champion Athletes and the Nixa Eagles goes both ways.
“I just want to say, I want to thank the team for letting me be the best manager around,” said Champion Athlete Evan Lawler.
This has been a relationship in the making over the last few years and it’s something, they all plan to continue.
“Well they obviously love his company because they don’t have a lot of people that normally come to their games and they want to feel like a high school basketball player. So having a few more kids in the stands makes them feel a little bit, a little bit more special than maybe what might be on just a normal Sunday afternoon,” Blansit said, “You know, it teaches our kids there are other things besides just playing basketball, you know, off the court and outside of the classroom. We do it because we enjoy it, and our players are just awesome with these guys and really include them in everything that we do.”
