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Montessori school receives free-wheeling demo
by Dan Bialek
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A member of Montessori’s "Dream Team" goes for a shot. Photo by Dan Bialek |
Last year, the Montessori School of Manhattan Beach donated $10,000 to Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center’s wheelchair sports program. This year, some of the kids who benefit from the program came to Manhattan Beach to give the school an early Christmas present.
The "Rancho Renegades" came to both Manhattan Beach campuses this week for a demonstration of wheelchair basketball. And as a bonus, they played a scrimmage game against some of the teachers.
Lisa Hilborn, who has directed the program since its inception 11 years ago, said that Rancho’s program was entirely funded by donations like the ones Montessori School has made over the last three years.
"This program wouldn’t exist without their help, and the help of groups like the women at Las Floritas," Hilborn said.
She also said that program’s athletes are some of the best in the country.
"In 1999, our junior basketball team placed second in the nation out of 45 teams."
When the athletes arrived Monday morning, over 300 students were eagerly awaiting the "Rancho Renegades" performance. The students clapped and cheered while teammates Jose Chicas, Malcolm Wright, Tyler Hunter, and Ben Decuir warmed up on the court and took practice shots.
After the players were ready, Hilborn introduced their opponents. Teachers Traci Sell, Natanya Moore, Karen Hibble, and school administrator Erna Moore were suited up and ready to give the Renegades some tough competition. They mounted the splay-wheeled, sports model wheelchairs that the Rancho team had brought for them and took to the blacktop.
The Renegades played in their black, numbered team jerseys while the Montessori team wore red and white Santa hats as part of their uniforms. Hilborn threw up the game starting "jump ball" and the players were on their way.
The Renegades took an early lead, and showed why they were some of the best players in the country. Hilborn said that it shouldn’t come as a surprise because wheelchair athletes can perform just as well as other athletes.
"There are so few things that these kids can’t do," she said. "These guys can play any sport an able-bodied person can with very little modification."
Hilborn said that the athletes in her program also travel around the country to compete in sports such as tennis, football, hockey, and over-the-line.
The game concluded with a final shot being scored by the Renegades, but the score seemed unimportant. However, the Renegades did outscore the school staff at least two-to-one.
One of the participating teachers, Natanya Moore, said that she had a great time and that it was definitely a workout.
"That was really hard," she said. "I think I’m sweating to death."
John and Judy Ernst, the husband and wife team that runs the two Manhattan Beach Montessori Schools said that this was the first event of this kind at any of their campuses.
"We’re so happy to have Rancho come out and give us a demonstration like this," John Ernst said. "We hope this is just the first of what will be an annual tradition." ER