Bring On the Madness

Trustmark Sends off Special Olympics Basketball Team to State with Smiles

The NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament doesn’t start until Thursday, but March Madness was in full swing when the Warren Special Recreation Red Rockets competed in the Special Olympics Illinois State Tournament on March 12.

The Red Rockets’ Max Kern and Trustmark’s John Anderson participate in a dribbling drill. Their eyes were on the ball but on March 12 all eyes were on the Special Olympics Illinois State Tournament in Bloomington on the Illinois State campus.

Actually, it began even earlier for the Red Rockets and members of a Trustmark recreational basketball team. On March 1, six players on the Trustmark team participated in a Red Rockets practice to help the team prepare for the tournament.
 
The Red Rockets, a co-ed team of players ranging in age from 17 to 52, feature two players with Trustmark connections – Celissa Harr, daughter of Monica Harr, and Jack Phillips, son of Vince Phillips.
 
At the start of practice, John Anderson, Executive Vice President, Insurance Businesses, presented the team with a $500 check and new basketballs. The donation to Warren Special Recreation, courtesy of the Trustmark Foundation, was in the name of Monica Harr and Vince Phillips.
 
“I’m blown away; the whole evening was an awesome experience,” Monica Harr said. “Parents and athletes reached out after telling me it was the best practice they ever had.”
 
Celissa Harr summed up the evening in three words: “best night ever.”
 
The Trustmark associates helped lead a variety of drills and skill work, and practice concluded with a spirited scrimmage. Anderson said the best part of practice was the players’ reaction to scoring a basket.
 
“When some of the players made a shot, they lit up like they had won the national championship,” he said. “It’s just contagious when you see that instant reaction in competition. It makes you feel wonderful to see that level of joy.”
 
Added A.J. Tyll, with a smile, “As an actuary, it was so much fun to interact with people that show their emotions. You could see the excitement and joy instantly on their faces.”
 
Trustmark’s LaBaron Jackson had the chance to reunite with an old friend. Jackson’ first job out of college was at a social service agency for people with developmental disabilities. One of the people he worked with was the Red Rockets’ Lauren Massong. The Red Rockets are coached by Massong’s sister, Amanda.
 
“When I saw Lauren on the court, her face lit up,” Jackson said. “It meant the world to me that she remembered me and it was great to see her again. The practice was organized so well and we had a chance to really interact with the whole team in small groups.”
 
The Red Rockets qualified for the state tournament by winning a tournament in Deerfield in January. Vince Phillips said the practice with Trustmark associates had the team even more excited about the state tournament.
 
“It’s a big deal for this team to go to state, and it was extra special to have the guys from Trustmark at the practice to help them learn and get better,” he said. “For the team, it was like having the Chicago Bulls there.”