OLATHE, Kan. — No matter if it’s a Tuesday or Friday night, if the Olathe West Owls are playing at home Reece Hayden-White is sitting in the stands mesmerized.
“It’s super cool,” he told 41 Action News.
The nine-year-old loves basketball but more importantly, he loves this team, who he first met during a Special Olympics clinic in December.
“He was the life of the party. He absolutely loves playing basketball. He was on the court playing with the guys the whole time,” said head coach Brad Ball.
Even though he’s only 9 years old, Reece is essentially part of the @OlatheWestOwls basketball team... And it all started during a special olympics clinic. @41actionnews pic.twitter.com/QCFflYHJ8U
— Ariel Rothfield KSHB (@arothfield) February 28, 2018
Junior Kellen Welsh agreed. He partnered with Hayden-White that day.
“Yeah, he loves it… just being around this sport,” said Welsh.
Every game since the clinic, Hayden-White has attended the team’s home games. Each time he scoots slowly but surely next to the guys on the bench, eventually yelling and cheering them on.
“He’s always behind the bleachers. Always has a smile on his face, that’s the best part about it,” said Junior Dominic Messina.
After the game, the players talk to Hayden-White. They hug him, throw him on the back and make him feel as if he is part of the team.
These gestures coupled with the fact that Hayden-White has an intellectual disability, his mom said is what makes their bond so special.
“The fact that they are willing to do that even it’s not on the court or anything, they’re carrying them and including them in their win last week, I mean that’s a really big thing,” said Hayden-White’s mom, Katie.
