River States Conference

NEW ALBANY, Ind. - Players and coaches from the Indiana University Southeast men's and women's basketball teams participated in a clinic for Special Olympic athletes at the NAIA Division II National Basketball Tournament.

Both teams joined with other NAIA schools to make time to help take part in a basketball clinic involving kids with special needs.

Grenadier Men's Basketball:

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - Players and coaches from four teams participating in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship made time to take part in a basketball clinic involving kids with special needs on the morning of their quarterfinal games.

The teams involved were Indiana Wesleyan, Oklahoma Wesleyan, Indiana University Southeast and Saint Francis (Ind.)

The players led the students through a number of different drills and skill competitions throughout the morning. Each team was responsible for teaching a particular basketball skill to the students.

Players worked and interacted with the students and then rotated to a different station. Following the drill and skill work, the players performed a shooting clinic for the students.

"We had a fantastic morning. I think it says a great deal about the character and work ethic of our NAIA student-athletes when they work in a basketball clinic the day of their quarterfinal games" commented tournament committee member Sean Hanrahan, who also serves as the head men's basketball coach at Warner University (Fla.). "I was honored to work with our tournament teams and Special Olympic Athletes."

Grenadier Women's Basketball:

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The college women's NAIA basketball teams participating in the 19th Annual State Farm-NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship kicked off the tournament on March 9 by helping with the clinic and interacting with the Special Olympics athletes.

This is the 11th year that Special Olympics Iowa has held the clinic. Typically there are more than 100 Special Olympics athletes from the Siouxland area who participate and this year was no exception.

NAIA teams, including coaches and players from the Indiana University Southeast women's basketball program, helped with the clinic.

During the clinic, the special athletes participated in shooting, passing and dribbling activities as well as a scrimmage against the college athletes. Two sessions were held - one from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and the other from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

IU Southeast senior, Vanessa Stauble, is majoring in special education so participating in the clinic was natural for her.

"I enjoy working with the kids and helping them as much as possible," she said. "They love it. To have people working with them and helping them out, it just makes their day."

Stauble said that the Special Olympics athletes go through so much, so being able to "make them smile and make their day go a little easier makesme happy."