On Nov. 8 and 9, the Plant High School Special Olympics team achieved a remarkable milestone as they competed at the prestigious ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex—an opportunity they hadn’t experienced in five years. Making it to the state competition was no small feat, especially since this chance had eluded them since before COVID-19.
The club’s president, senior Nick Pope, has dreamed of reaching states ever since he joined the team.
Reflecting on the journey, Pope said, “I honestly didn’t think we would get to states. But everything lined up perfectly for this season. We went to states for Flag Football. This is the first year that Plant has even won a flag game, let alone making it all the way to states.”
The team has been practicing every Monday since the school year began, pushing through a host of challenges along the way. Hurricane disruptions were one of the biggest setbacks, often affecting their tournament schedule and practice time.
“The hurricanes really set us back with practices and tournaments,” said vice-president Dillon Cheong, a junior at Plant. “Honestly, we definitely were struggling for a little while. We didn’t have anything for the club for around a month, so states honestly seemed like a far-off dream.”
Despite the obstacles, Plant’s Special Olympics flag football team went undefeated in tournaments throughout the autumn months, eventually qualifying for the state competition. They held three final practices before heading to Orlando, each session filled with drills, strategic planning, and anticipation for the big day.
When they arrived at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, the team was ready for action, competing in three games—one on Friday, Nov. 8, and two more on Saturday, Nov. 9. In the end, Plant’s Special Olympics team finished their flag football season as the second-best in the entire state, an impressive achievement considering they had only two losses throughout the season.
“I really am so proud of the club,” Pope said. “It is unbelievable to me that we even got to states and getting second overall truly made this season unforgettable. This has only made the club and the board more excited for our next season [basketball], which will be starting up on Nov. 18.”
With spirits high and a renewed sense of unity, the Plant Special Olympics team is looking forward to taking on the challenges and excitement of their next season, where they’ll aim to reach new heights in the basketball court.
