Basketball...

[Skip Gundlach]

Penfield played both of these teams; in case you are on FB, the link to the article (with video) below/my post is https://www.facebook.com/SkipGundlach/posts/pfbid0CyYTQePN5jv3vfC9bnxs8Z42f68z71cwMCzmieUmUZreD2D3ymMHi6MMZjGNQzjsl - where I'd said:

My HS played both of those teams; presaging my graduation where the vast bulk of my income earned was in sales, I conned my way onto the cheerleading squad mid-season because none of the boys in the bleachers would join in with the cheerleaders and, weirdo that I am, I thought that if there were a boy among those girls, they might also shout encouragement.

(https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/184625?page=92)

I was mistaken but it was one of the highlights of my HS years...

On February 15, 2006 with only four minutes remaining in the final home game of the season, Greece Athena High School held a commanding lead over Spencerport High School. Jason McElwain, a 17 year-old student with autism, had been added to the Greece Athena basketball team for the final game of the year; coach Jim Johnson wanted him to receive a game jersey, though he promised to put him in a game if the score got large enough. Johnson put in McElwain for the final four minutes of the contest, much to the delight of the crowd. After missing his first two field goals, McElwain (who had previously served as the team's scorekeeper and manager) hit his final seven shots, six of them threes, to finish with a miraculous 20 points. When the buzzer sounded, the students ran onto the floor and lifted him off the court. The final score was Greece Athena 79, Spencerport 43. The story of McElwain's performance was immediatley picked up by the mainstream media. “J-Mac” quickly became a household figure and was interviewed by numerous talk show hosts. "I'm not really that different," McElwain said several days later. "The advice I'd give to autistic people is just keep working, just keep dreaming, you'll get your chance and you'll do it." He won an ESPY Award for the Best Moment in Sports in 2006.

L8R

Skip,

--

I expect to pass this way but once; 

any good therefore that I can do, 

or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, 

let me do it now.

Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
 
- Etienne Griellet  

[Alan Heatherington]

Great, inspiring story, Skip. Thanks for sharing. Your own story is not too shabby!

Love,

Fr. Alan Heatherington

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In Christ's love,

Fr. Alan ✠

[Sandra Kleiner]

Wonderful post…

Thank you ♥️

Sandra D Kleiner

6 Grandview Terrace

Adams MA 01220

Mobile: 413-244-2481

Email: adams....@verizon.net

sent from my iPhone

On Feb 16, 2025, at 8:47 AM, Alan Heatherington <alanheat...@gmail.com> wrote:



Great, inspiring story, Skip. Thanks for sharing. Your own story is not too shabby!

Love,

Fr. Alan Heatherington

On Sun, Feb 16, 2025 at 6:31 AM Skip Gundlach <skipgu...@gmail.com> wrote:

Penfield played both of these teams; in case you are on FB, the link to the article (with video) below/my post is https://www.facebook.com/SkipGundlach/posts/pfbid0CyYTQePN5jv3vfC9bnxs8Z42f68z71cwMCzmieUmUZreD2D3ymMHi6MMZjGNQzjsl - where I'd said:

My HS played both of those teams; presaging my graduation where the vast bulk of my income earned was in sales, I conned my way onto the cheerleading squad mid-season because none of the boys in the bleachers would join in with the cheerleaders and, weirdo that I am, I thought that if there were a boy among those girls, they might also shout encouragement.

(https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/184625?page=92)

I was mistaken but it was one of the highlights of my HS years...

On February 15, 2006 with only four minutes remaining in the final home game of the season, Greece Athena High School held a commanding lead over Spencerport High School. Jason McElwain, a 17 year-old student with autism, had been added to the Greece Athena basketball team for the final game of the year; coach Jim Johnson wanted him to receive a game jersey, though he promised to put him in a game if the score got large enough. Johnson put in McElwain for the final four minutes of the contest, much to the delight of the crowd. After missing his first two field goals, McElwain (who had previously served as the team's scorekeeper and manager) hit his final seven shots, six of them threes, to finish with a miraculous 20 points. When the buzzer sounded, the students ran onto the floor and lifted him off the court. The final score was Greece Athena 79, Spencerport 43. The story of McElwain's performance was immediatley picked up by the mainstream media. “J-Mac” quickly became a household figure and was interviewed by numerous talk show hosts. "I'm not really that different," McElwain said several days later. "The advice I'd give to autistic people is just keep working, just keep dreaming, you'll get your chance and you'll do it." He won an ESPY Award for the Best Moment in Sports in 2006.

<0576dd70-d793-463c-becf-7db7f76386a4.png>

L8R

Skip,

--

I expect to pass this way but once; 

any good therefore that I can do, 

or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, 

let me do it now.

Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
 
- Etienne Griellet  

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--

In Christ's love,

Fr. Alan ✠

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