12/30/24
September 19, 2009
High School Lets Down Syndrome Opponent Score TD: With 10 seconds left in a game they were winning 46-0, the players of Maryville [Mo.] High School let opposing player Matt Ziesel, a 15-year-old with Down syndrome, score a touchdown. "His effort's there all the time -- he's just like anyone else on the team to us," said Benton High School coach Dan McCamy.
Not sure why you find this curious. The two teams did this because the boy has Down Syndrome. Anybody else, anybody without a story, and you just take a knee so nobody gets hurt by accident.
It's a great story, almost as good as the girls softball players that carried the opposing player around the bases for the winning run.
posted by hercher at 09:18 PM on September 19, 2009
Its a simple thing, but what wonderful lasting feeling and memory for everyone involved. The Maryville coach and team displayed not just a higher level of sportsmanship, but humanity as well.
posted by irunfromclones at 12:02 AM on September 20, 2009
But what happens when the kid sees this story and realized that it wasn't real? They should have just kept it a secret.
posted by bender at 07:09 PM on September 20, 2009
I find stories like this curious. If it had been a 15 year old WITHOUT Downs, would they have been so sporting? If their role was exactly the same except for the Downs.
Regardless, feel good story, need more of these.