Jimmy McKay knew it would be fun to volunteer at the 20th Annual Northern Virginia Special Olympics Basketball Invitational Tournament on Saturday at Marymount University.<\/p>\n
\u0093But I had no idea just how exciting it would be until I saw the look on those player\u0092s faces,\u0094 said McKay, a second year graduate student in the department of physical therapy.<\/p>\n
McKay served as the announcer for all the games in the main gym at the school\u0092s Rose Bent\u00e9 Lee Center, where he said the energy level was infectious.<\/p>\n
\u0093They\u0092re just so excited to be out there,\u0094 the Walden, New York, native said. \u0093How many basketball tournaments will have a dance competition during halftime of the championship game with players from both teams out on the floor dancing away?\u0094<\/p>\n
About 100 special needs athletes from Arlington and Fairfax counties participated in the event, sponsored by Marymount\u0092s office of community engagement. More than 250 MU students volunteered to help, making the tournament memorable for the 10 participating teams.\u00a0 During opening ceremonies, Sen. Barbara Favola (Arlington) presented Marymount President Matthew D. Shank with a certificate of commendation from the Commonwealth of Virginia, recognizing Marymount\u0092s 20 years of organizing and hosting the tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suzanne Carson, who works in the library at Marymount, said her 25-year-old son, Benjamin Carson, has played Special Olympics basketball since he was 12.<\/p>\n
\u0093For the whole group we work with, the entire season leads up to Marymount Day,\u0094 she said. \u0093We\u0092re blessed and fortunate that it\u0092s here in Arlington.\u0094<\/p>\n
Benjamin knows a number of Marymount students and athletes and is always telling everyone to come and watch his team play. His older brother, Daniel Carson, is a Marymount alumnus and former lacrosse player, and Benjamin has plenty of fans on the varsity lacrosse team.<\/p>\n
\u0093It means a great deal to the players that it\u0092s not just their parents out there cheering them on,\u0094 Suzanne Carson said. \u0093The men\u0092s and women\u0092s basketball teams come out, the students from the dorms, Marymount staffers. That\u0092s a really cool part of it all.\u0094<\/p>\n
Ashlee Courter-Rogers, coach of the Marymount women\u0092s basketball team, said her players want to be involved every year.<\/p>\n
\u0093It\u0092s an amazing experience being around athletes who play purely for the love of the game,\u0094 Courter-Rogers said. \u0093And it\u0092s really an eye-opener for our freshmen to see what a close-knit community we have here.\u0094<\/p>\n
A former Marymount player who volunteered at the event during her playing days, Courter-Rogers said the Saints love the relationships that develop.<\/p>\n
\u0093The players give us hugs when they see us, and we catch up from last year,\u0094 she said.<\/p>\n
After one year of announcing the games, McKay said he was hooked. He added that the event speaks volumes about Marymount\u0092s commitment to service.<\/p>\n
\u0093So many students came together on a Saturday to do something for someone else,\u0094 he said. \u0093But to be honest, I think we all got a lot more out of it than we put into it. This tournament is really something special for everyone involved.\u0094<\/p>\n
\nPhoto Captions:<\/strong><\/p>\n \nPhoto 1<\/p>\n Marymount University President Matthew D. Shank receives a commendation from Sen. Barbara Favola (Arlington) on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the school\u0092s 20 years of hosting the Annual Northern Virginia Special Olympics Basketball Invitational Tournament. (Photo by Bob Brown)<\/p>\n Photo 2 Photo 3 Photo 4 Jimmy McKay knew it would be fun to volunteer at the 20th Annual Northern Virginia Special Olympics Basketball Invitational Tournament on Saturday at Marymount University. \u0093But I had no idea just how exciting it would be until I saw the look on those player\u0092s faces,\u0094 said McKay, a second year graduate student in the department […]<\/p>\n
\nPlayer David Church poses with Marymount University President Matthew D. Shank at the 20th Annual Northern Virginia Special Olympics Basketball Invitational Tournament on Saturday at Marymount University. (Photo by Bob Brown)<\/p>\n
\nMarymount students and Special Olympic athletes both look forward to the annual basketball tournament on campus. (Photo by Bob Brown)<\/p>\n
\nMore than 250 Marymount University students volunteered to help at the Special Olympics basketball tournament. (Photo by Bob Brown)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"