Sharknados Repeat as State Champs

Published March 15, 2016

They’ve done it again! Fairview Middle School’s unified basketball team, the Sharknados, won its second straight state championship March 12 at the Tennessee Special Olympics State Championship Tournament.

The team is a combination of five students within the special education curriculum and five students in the general education curriculum.

“The team practiced two days a week for two months working on drills and scrimmaging,” said Coach Jamie Layne. “All of the kids were dedicated and extremely supportive of one another.”

All that hard work paid off as the team went undefeated for a second straight year and won the state championship in their division.

Coach Layne says she and Coach George Potter could not be more proud of the Sharknados.

“We are so happy for the kids and so very blessed to be able to be a part of such an amazing experience,” said Layne. “The thing that showed the most was the fact they all have enormous hearts!”

Members of the team are Shae Arney, Anastasia Bierly, Peyton Evans, Parker Jaco, Braden Jenkins, Dillon Jewels, Aidan Lane, John Mann, Anna Matlock and Logan Parsons.

On a related note, Summit High School’s unified team won the bronze medal at the state basketball tournament. Those students are Austin Corbett, Anthony Cawthorn, Kelly Strack, Madisun Rosier, Cameron Presson, Bradley Weinstein, Hollis Wiggington and Cameron Lux.