Larks host the West basketball tournament

The West Regional Basketball Tournament in Plainville began its opening ceremony Saturday, February 15. The National Anthem was played on the trumpet by Kaiden Van Schuyver, followed by the Special Olympic’s oath was led by James Boehnke and signed by Chance Maes.

This was the sixth year the duo of Dave and Mary Van Schuyver, along with their Solomon Valley ARC Larks team, hosted the West region event. This year’s teams came from Dodge City, Great Bend, Hays, Russell, and the host team of the Solomon Valley Larks. Each town had five to six teams each, making for a busy day of competition.

The Special Olympians take an oath before each competition stating, “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” These tournaments and the practices leading up to them are about having fun, making friends that accept one another for who they are, unconditional love between parents, coaches, and players and the feeling of being comfortable to show their skills in front of a crowd of fans, who come to support their efforts.

The events started with the Cheer Leading competition, followed by Individual Skills and finally Team Games.

The Individual Skills competition began with 17 Lark athletes attempting to get their respective medals. The Solomon Valley Larks athletes are comprised of players from the towns of Beloit, Hays, Kensington, Osborne, Plainville, Russell, Stockton, Smith Center and Tipton.

From Beloit was Shayne Wilcoxson who won gold in both Individual Skills and Speed Dribble.

There were five competitors from Osborne. Austin Dibble and Zavier Dooley won silver in both Individual Skills and Speed Dribble. Devin Corwin-Herrick and Brayden McNeal received a bronze for Individual Skills and a gold for Speed Dribble. Bringing home a gold in Speed Dribble and a silver in Individual Skills was Tye Wilcoxson. Lane Schreiber was unable to attend.

From Russell, Steven Madsen received gold in both events, while Andrew Matthews won silver in Individual Skills and gold in Speed Dribble.

From Smith Center, Hannah Reitz earned a gold in Individual Skills and a silver in Speed Dribble; Logan Reitz, a silver in both events; and Trenton Reilley, a gold in both events.

From Stockton, Sydney Axelson received gold in Individual Skills and Speed Dribble, while Hope Smith won gold in Individual Skills and silver in Speed Dribble.

Results of the Individual Skills and Speed Dribble competitions from Tipton was Christian Darnell with a gold in both Individual Skills and Speed Dribble.

After the Individual Skills portion of the competition was completed, the real fun began with Team Competitions between all of the basketball teams, where each individual could show off their basketball skills. team, Sydney Axelson, Devin Corwin-Herrick, Logan Reitz, Hope Smith and Tye Wilcoxson, took home the gold and are coached by Mary Van Schuyver.

The Masters A team, including Joseph Burns, Destiny McQueen, Nelda Owen, Gusty Patterson, Todd Van Schuyver and Kayleen Walters took the silver medal, beating the Great Bend Tornados 12-8 and losing in overtime to the Great Bend Lightening by one point 15-16. They are coached by Tony, Terry and Nolan Weiser.

Coached by Mat McNeal and Kaiden VanSchuyver, the Masters Level 4-White team consists of Christian Darnell, Austin Dibble, Brayden McNeal, Steven Madsen, Trenton Reilley and McKaylla Walters. They edged out the Dodge City Hoopsters, 16-14, and the Hays Buffalo C team, 22-4, to take the gold medal.

The Masters Level 4-Red team, which includes Zavier Dooley, Kenny Owen, Myriah Penrod, Hannah Reitz, Lane Schreiber and Shayne Wilcoxson, went 2-0 to take first place and the gold medals after winning over the DC Hot Shots 14-4, and the Hays Buffalos, 15-8. Their coaches are Dave Van Schuyver and Rick Axelson.

It was a good day for basketball. Con-gratulations to all of the Solomon Valley Larks!

Their next competition was to be the State competition this weekend but it was cancelled due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus.