Glenbrook United is a District 225 program that is affiliated with the Special Olympics. All of members of the program have some form of disability. The program offers different sports teams throughout the year such as basketball, golf, track and volleyball.

According to Head Coach Pa’al Joshi, all of the teams have been very successful. The Boys White basketball team has qualified for the state tournament for the past four years. It received bronze in its first year, and has been followed with winning gold in the other three. This year, the Boys White team qualified for its fifth state tournament in a row.

The team has enjoyed many wins this season, but according to Joshi, they have also faced many challenging opponents.

Joshi said that although the kids all enjoy winning, that is not what he cares about most.

“[I] don’t measure [success] by wins or losses,” said Joshi.  “I measure by if we are growing individually and collectively. It’s great to win. But if you don’t, who cares? Watching [the players] grow to become adults or young adults is the mission, and that angle [goes] beyond winning or losing.”

The players learn skills like passing, shooting and defending, but the program also helps them  make new friends.

Glenbrook United player Ryan Manso said his friends from Glenbrook United helped him become more outgoing.

“[The most rewarding part] is to see [the players] mature and make new friends because the social interaction has been amazing,” Ryan Manso’s  mother Mary Beth Manso said.

According to Joshi, Glenbrook United carries on the goal of Special Olympics which is inclusion because both schools combine into one team to include as many students as possible.

“You learn that [the Glenbrook United players] are no different than anyone else,” said Joshi. “They just want a sense of belonging and to be a part of something and when you share that with them it’s amazing. They feel like every other kid.”

The program runs like other school teams. Practices are held twice a week where players do drills and work through learning each sport. They practice one sport at a time, depending on the season.

“The coaches don’t give them any breaks,” said Mary Beth Manso. “They have to work really hard and put forth the best effort that they can.”

According to Glenbrook United player Henry Tish, the players use making it to state as a motivation to try harder. For some players like Tish, going to state is an ambition that they have always had.

“I felt like my dream of becoming a state [champion] was finally true,” Tish said.

The team is now preparing to compete in the state tournament held at Illinois State University. Its goal, according to Mary Beth Manso, is to defend its state championship. But according to Mary Beth Manso, there is more to it.

“You see these people with disabilities and honestly you could land a plane on their face because they’re so excited,” said Mary Beth Manso.  “They’re so happy to have the opportunity to do something that they never thought they could do… It’s the same feeling that anyone has when they are able to accomplish something but these people never had that opportunity before this.”