Championship medals are waiting to be awarded Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) State Basketball Finals. More than 80 teams from across Michigan will compete for top honors Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16.
“We are excited for State Basketball Finals to return to Grand Rapids this weekend,” said Nick Caudle, Senior Manager of Sports Training for Special Olympics Michigan. “It's a great opportunity for us to showcase our new Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, the beautiful facilities at one of our great partners, Calvin University, and for our athletes to highlight their skill and determination on the court."
Unified competition – featuring teams comprised of those with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) and men’s teams will compete on the campus of Calvin University and women’s teams will play at the Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center.
Skills training will be also offered to more than 40 athletes new to basketball at noon on Saturday at the Unified Sports & Inclusion Center. These competitors will have the opportunity to focus on five basketball centered skills (dribbling, target passing, lay-ups), and awarded based on finish.
In addition to state competition, SOMI will offer complimentary Healthy Athlete screenings. Friday and Saturday will focus on hearing health, through Healthy Hearing, offering full diagnostic hearing exams. FUNfitness screenings will take place Saturday, evaluating athletes’ flexibility, strength, balance, and aerobic fitness.
For complete details, including competition brackets, event descriptions and partner information for the 2024 State Basketball Finals, click here. High-resolution photos of 2023 SOMI State Basketball Finals are available here.