LOCAL NEWS

Wasatch represents Utah at National Special Olympics with cheers, fun

Jun 7, 2022, 9:03 PM | Updated: Jun 8, 2022, 10:32 am

ORLANDO, Fla. — Sometimes the hardest part of a basketball game is waiting for the game to begin.

“You ready? You ready?” coach Carla Bedingfield said.

The Wasatch High School Unified Basketball team has spent months practicing for these National Special Olympics.

Finally, it was time.

They knew Massachusetts would be a tough opponent, but these players from Heber, representing Utah, still gave it everything; Like Noah Wright, who scored several baskets, and even got the Utah fans into it by waving his hand after his first bucket.

And Lauralyenn Wallace, who not only hit her jumpers, but also jumped for joy after every one.

But perhaps the fan favorite was Hanna Homer. Her hard work and giving it her all, and that big smile, had everyone cheering for her, and although she missed this shot, it didn’t matter to her.

Because she cheered anyway — just for taking the shot.

“She has really just shined. Her excitement, everything about here is just… she’s always excited about this special Olympics,” her father, Aaron Homer, said.

Her parents have noticed a big difference in her since she joined this team. She’s now the co-president of the youth activity committee for the state of Utah.

“I think just to see her take on a leadership role is just amazing,” her mother Jana Homer said. “It’s been so fun.”

It’s what the Special Olympics are all about: Fun and building confidence.

Although Wasatch didn’t win the game, it doesn’t change anything.

“I love the people, I love my coaches. I just love being down here with them,” Kollyn Heffernan with Wasatch Unified Basketball said.

Down here, winning isn’t everything.

Heffernan is excited to go to Disney World.

Wasatch plays again Wednesday against Florida, the hometown team, but again, the wins and losses here don’t matter. Even after Tuesday’s game, they were still smiling and laughing as they left the court. They’re truly just having fun.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

The Tallahassee Florida Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Worthy members o...

Mark Jones

Public open house for Tallahassee Florida Temple begins Monday

A public open house for the Tallahassee Florida Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will begin Monday.

3 hours ago

Farmington police say the body of a 19-year-old woman was found Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, a day after s...

Shelby Lofton and Mark Jones

Body of missing woman found near Farmington

Farmington police say the body of a 19-year-old woman was found Sunday, a day after she was reported missing.

4 hours ago

Flash flooding earlier this week devastated 
 parts of Spain. A Park City teenager has started a fu...

Brianna Chavez

Park City teen raising funds for people devasted by flash floods in Spain

A Park City teenager, who became close friends with a foreign exchange student from Spain while studying in Utah, is hoping to raising funds for him and others devasted by deadly flash flooding in Valencia, Spain earlier this week. 

5 hours ago

The star of Dog Friendly SLC Instagram account, Scout, in Salt Lake City. The Instagram account was...

Bryana Willis and Kennedy Camarena, KSL NewsRadio

Local Instagram page raises over 10K in 24 hours for animal shelter

A local Instagram page focused on dogs in Salt Lake City has raised over $10,000 in one day.

6 hours ago

FILE PHOTO...

Larry D. Curtis

1 killed, 2 injured as car crashes into Taylorsville cemetery

A car struck a wall near a Taylorsville cemetery, killing the driver and injuring two others just before midnight Saturday.

8 hours ago

Engineers at Brigham Young University and the Japanese vehicle-manufacturing giant Toyota. (Jaren W...

Cassidy Wixom, KSL.com

BYU, Toyota develop new welding technique for minivan doors

An unlikely partnership is developing the future of minivans: engineers at Brigham Young University and the Japanese vehicle-manufacturing giant Toyota.

8 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

family having fun at home...

Lighting Design

Discover the impact of lighting on your mood

From color temperature to lighting saturation, we tackle how different lighting design setups can impact your day-to-day mood.

Laptops in a modern technology store. Department of computers in the electronics store. Choosing a ...

PC Laptops

How to choose the best laptop for college students

Finding the right laptop for college students can be hard, but with this guide we break down what to look for so you can find the best one.

young male technician is repairing a printer at office...

Les Olson

Unraveling the dilemma between leasing and buying office technology

Carefully weigh these pros and cons to make an informed decision that best suits your business growth and day-to-day operation. 

A kitchen in a modern farmhouse....

Lighting Design

A room-by-room lighting guide for your home

Bookmark this room-by-room lighting guide whenever you decide to upgrade your lighting or style a new home.

Photo courtesy of Artists of Ballet West...

Ballet West

The rising demand for ballet tickets: why they’re harder to get

Ballet West’s box office is experiencing demand they’ve never seen before, leaving many interested patrons unable to secure tickets they want.

Wasatch represents Utah at National Special Olympics with cheers, fun