Last month we shared with you the story of Michael Lind, a high school wrestler with Down Syndrome who won the first match of his career and made our hearts grow three sizes. This month we’ve got a similarly-touching story belonging to Wisconsin high school football waterboy Noah VanVooren, a senior with Down Syndrome who creamed defenders and ran in a game-winning touchdown for the Little Chute Mustangs on Friday night.
(Okay, they were up by 60 points and the touchdown was only honorary, but I don’t think anyone would argue with you if you told them Noah won the game. And he did totally cream that one defender.)
Here’s the report from Fox 11 featuring an interview with Noah and his parents. Hold on to your allergies.
https://v9.anv.bz/scripts/anv_mcp_9.js//
The song at the end is my favorite part. Who wrote that? ♫ WE CAN KICK AND WE CAN THROW, WE CAN PLAY FOOTBALL, WE ARE SO GREAT, EVERYBODY HOLD THE BALL AND TRY NOT TO DROP IT BECAUSE FOOTBALL GAME ♫
“I feel great!” VanVooren gasped, out of breath. “I scored a touchdown. It was great.”
As the crowd erupted, many were visibly moved by the sportsmanship. None more than VanVooren’s parents Kara and Todd.
“He was born 18 years ago and the doctors told us he would never be able to walk talk or do anything. And then to see him 18 years later, it’s amazing. It’s amazing. And to have a community like Little Chute to back him up and to love him the way they do, you can’t put it in words,” said Todd VanVooren, as tears streamed down his wife’s face. (via Fox 11)
Here’s another look at the run, via HuffPo:
Great job, Noah.
