Special Olympics Texas athletes will experience a role reversal when they coach Aggie students in a basketball tournament March 7 by the Aggie Special Olympics Texas Volunteers.
Playing for the Gold three-on-three Basketball Tournament will pit Aggie teams against each other, as they are coached by members of the Aggie Bombers, the Special Olympics team.
"This tournament gives students who have never volunteered with Special Olympics an opportunity to get know an athlete and get a real feel for volunteering, while having some fun playing basketball," said Brittni Serwinski, a freshman general studies major and fundraising co-chairwoman for the group.
The organization is in its first year as a recognized Texas A&M student organization. The mission is to support the efforts of Special Olympics Texas by spreading awareness, raising money and volunteering with teams.
The basketball tournament helps maintain those goals, and the money raised will go to the Aggie Bombers. The interaction with the teams will allow Aggie students the opportunity to develop a personal connection.
"If the students understand what ASOTV is, then maybe we will have more students willing to volunteer," Serwinksi said.
Each team will be assigned an athlete, who will stay with the team throughout the progress of the tournament.
"We have asked the Aggie Bombers, a local Special Olympic team, to be our coaches for the event," said the Fundraising Director Keeton Perry, a freshman biology major. "They will do everything with the team from coaching the team in the tournament to wearing the team colors in the T-Shirt making contest."
Student teams must be comprised of no more than four students. A team can register for $30, which includes a T-shirt for each team member. The T-shirts are being funded by monetary donations from community members and organizations.
Students can support the event by registering to participate or by coming out on March 7 to cheer on the teams. The tournament offers students the thrill of contest, as well as the chance to learn more about the organization and Special Olympics Texas.
"Playing for the Gold will not only give the opportunity to compete, but also get to know a local Special Olympics Texas athlete and give them a chance to see what the Aggie Spirit is really all about." said Ashley Hermes, the group's president and senior kinesiology major.
Playing for the Gold will be on the Read Building basketball courts. The tournament will be set up in a bracket, with each team playing a minimum of two games.
Members said the tournament will be a rewarding experience for all participants.
"Let an athlete help you go for the Gold." Hermes said.
Registration Registration for the tournament continues in Rudder Plaza until 2 p.m. today. If teams are unable to meet this deadline, late registrations will be accepted starting Monday in Rudder Plaza or through contact information on the organization's Web site, http://asotv.tamu.edu.
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