ST. PAUL— The University of Northwestern Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted its 5th annual Special Olympics basketball event in a first-time partnership with Hamline University Sunday night. This particular event began in 2011 and reached a new attendance record this year with 225 fans supporting both the Roseville Flames and Highland Friendship Club.

Northwestern and Hamline basketball players ran the first hour of drills, interacting with the athletes in teams of four as they rotated through different stations. Dancing to the Cha Cha Slide, playing a giant game of Lightning, and conducting dribbling relays were a few of the added activities in the first half of the event. The highly anticipated game always draws a crowd as students and faculty come to watch one of the most joyful competitions of the year. Joel Riordan, a senior baseball and football player from Hamline was one of the participants for the day. "The passion the athletes bring to each competition is unmatched," he said. "The thing I enjoy most about working with these athletes is the camaraderie and love they share for each other and their sport. They play the game the way it should be—for fun and with a great smile on their face. They are the true definition of competitors."

One of the unique parts of UNW's event each year is the staffed score table, providing the athletes with a collegiate basketball game experience. Men's basketball player Will Gisler has worked the past two events in both the clinics and the score table. "The opportunity to spend time working with and playing alongside these athletes is such a blessing. The clinics and games that we get to be a part of each year are some of my favorite times of the year. The sheer joy on the faces of the Special Olympics athletes is unlike anything else that I've seen." 

Partnering with Hamline University for the first time in event history made this particular day so unique compared to past events. Coming
alongside another institution from a completely separate conference to celebrate Special Olympics is the heart of Division III athletics.
Haleigh Bolton, from Hamline's women's hockey team concluded, "The athletes' work ethic and love for

the game makes our partnership with Special Olympics worthwhile. We always leave these events with our hearts filled and a smile on our face."

Cody Sprenger, among a few other men's basketball players, has taken the relationships from this event in the past beyond the court. Sprenger started investing in an athlete's life consistently over the past year— attending basketball tournaments, flag football playoffs, going to the park and playing four square, and picking him up from the bus to come attend basketball games. Ty, one of men's basketball's top fans, has been at nearly every home basketball game this season. "Ty teaches us to be thankful and joyful in all circumstances," said Sprenger. "He keeps in touch with a few of us players, and it's been such a blessing to get to know him over the years and support him on and off the court."