After a season of hard work and tough competitions, the Oswego Wildcats, SD#308’s Special Olympics basketball team, made it to the 2025 IHSA Unified Basketball State Tournament.
“During games, athletes get rotated a lot, so everybody has fair playing time. All of the athletes know that the next big play could come from them,” said Wildcats head coach Michael Folsom.
This group of dedicated OE and OH athletes practice hard, each player excited to perform their best and help their team win.
“Yeah, I just love it,” said OH junior Mateo Marasco. “I practice every week with Coach Folsom, and I made seven points at State!”
The team practices weekly at OE, meeting every Tuesday to review rules and practice skills while always focusing on displaying good sportsmanship. Each practice ends with a scrimmage, incorporating each individual’s talents into a productive team effort.
“My favorite thing about the SD#308 Special Olympics program is how inclusive it is,” said OE senior and Wildcats student coach Michael Moch. “Everyone on the team is included regardless of skill level or personal abilities. Everyone on the team is a key part of every game or practice.”
Many of these student-athletes take their effort to the next level, working on their skills either on their own or with family and friends outside of team practices.
“I practice at home … maybe like seven hours a week,” said OH sophomore Jacob Poreda.
Of course, the team gets most excited about tournaments and games, thriving on the competitive aspect.
“The actual game [is] better,” said OH freshman Evelyn Broznowski. “I like the people, the competing.”
Each game is an opportunity to not only show off their skills but to work together, supporting their teammate’s wins and encouraging each other to keep giving their all.
“When my team and I haven’t moved our bodies, I’m like, ‘Come on, everybody, we gotta keep going,’” said OH senior William Jarvis.
Even though the basketball season has come to an end for the Wildcats, the team’s athletes are eager to find their flow with the new addition of incoming freshmen to their team.
“The athletes get the opportunity to compete in their favorite sports and represent Oswego like any other student-athlete,” said Folsom.
The Oswego Wildcats will be back to compete again with even more experience under their belts next December. Until then, they will continue to practice on their own, excited to get the chance to represent the Oswego community.
For fans interested in attending the upcoming games and viewing the team’s record, they can access that information on the Oswego Athletics Website.
My name is Jessica VanVooren, and this is my second year on the 42Fifty publication staff. I am a senior in high school. I am a part of the OH National Honors Society (NHS), the National Art Honors Society (NAHS), and the Quill & Scroll (Journalism) Honors Society.
