Savage Words: This year’s ‘triple header’ offered up a story opportunity – again

Gotta give it to you, Brandon Valley.

You folks do a lot of things really, really well. And it’s in everything, from academics, to sports, to music, to theater, and every other extracurricular activity.

There’s always good stories coming out of Brandon Valley, which makes things so much easier for a guy like me, trying to come up with stories each week in this column.

And sometimes, they just fall your way, without even realizing how cool of a story it is until you dig, even just a little. Like I said, Brandon Valley has good stories, and I had a feeling when I saw this that I was onto something.

Last Saturday before the girls’ basketball game against Spearfish, I noticed something that was very intriguing. I’m not certain I’ve ever seen something like it.

As the players were warming up on the court, I noticed they all had red shirts over their jerseys that read: BV INCLUDES.

I didn’t know what that meant, but I had a feeling it was something good. So, I asked, and the end result was another lump in my throat, thanks to the good stories coming out of Brandon Valley.

March 4 is National Spread the Word Inclusion Day around the country, a collaborative effort between the Special Olympics and Best Buddies, the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending social, physical, and economic isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

My guess is other school districts around the country celebrate the day, too, but I’ve never seen it, certainly not to the extent that Brandon Valley opens its arms, hearts and minds. 

Victoria Orren in the high school’s Special Education Department came up with the idea of the BV INCLUDES shirts, and it’s not just limited to the basketball teams. Those shirts filled the hallways at every school in the district on Wednesday, but they first surfaced at last Friday’s basketball game. I’m sure glad I noticed.

Maggie Dady, another teacher in the Special Education Department, is also an assistant coach on the girls’ team. She, and every boys and girls coach wore them on the bench in their games last Friday.

The shirts also function as a fundraiser for the Best Buddies chapters at the high school and middle school. Three dollars of every purchase goes back to the chapters.

That’s cool, but it’s more than the money. And the beauty is, everybody at Brandon Valley knows it. 

Last Friday also served as Brandon Valley’s big Triple Header when the girls and boys played back-to-back varsity games against Spearfish. Nestled between those two games is the Brandon Special Olympians, who play their own game in front of a raucous, engaged and enthusiastic crowd.

“It’s kind of one of those nights that’s hard to describe, unless you’re there,” said high school principal Mark Schlekeway.

It is, indeed, a special thing to see.

But that, too, didn’t seem to be enough. Brandon Valley tells good stories.

After the Brandon Valley girls defeated Spearfish by 35 to open the night, the emotions just started to brew. After the postgame handshake, the Spearfish girls were making their way behind the bench, on their way to their locker room.

But they stopped, watching what was unfolding in front of them on the court as the Special Olympians had just tipped for their game.

The Spearfish girls stayed, and the Spartans’ boys team joined them, along with the girls and boys teams from Brandon Valley, all watching, admiring, cheering, embracing each moment.

It was inspiring, and emotions around the gymnasium showed it.

Selfishly, it was a good feeling for me, too. It was two years ago, almost to the day, when I wrote a column about a Spearfish fan that acted…strangely…after a game in Brandon Valley.

Last Friday was Spearfish’s first return to Brandon since that unfortunate incident. This time, however, the Spartans players, staff and fans couldn’t have been more graceful.

I’m really happy they got to be part of one of these good stories coming out of Brandon Valley.

So keep it up, Brandon Valley. You have a way of making everyone feel better about things.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that everyone’s working on that,” Dr. Jarod Larson, the superintendent of schools said when I asked him about other school districts, and the uniqueness of Brandon Valley’s inclusion effort.

But I dunno, Dr. Larson. 

Maybe.

But you guys set the standard.

Since today, March 4, is Spread the Word Day, I’m happy to do my part to continue to tell the great stories Brandon Valley offers up.

“We’re shaping our future society, and I think our future is pretty bright when you look at all the wonderful things our Brandon Valley kiddos are doing and the types of character they’re modeling,” Larson said.

Now that, Dr. Larson, I agree with wholeheartedly.