Students with disabilities show off football skills in 2023 Buddy Bowl

Have you heard of the Buddy Bowl? Yes, it's a football game of sorts, but it is so much more. How about a winning opportunity to celebrate sportsmanship by playing with everyone instead of just against someone? Ladies and gentlemen. The star treatment for Championship Day, including those who may not necessarily be accustomed to enthusiasm. If you take a good look, you can see why this is called Buddy Bowl. All around the football field of Highland Park High School, the game of brother and sisterhood is scoring TDs. Kids and young adults living with physical and cognitive challenges get their chance on the gridiron with a bowl of buddies to support and cheer. A little two-step duet? That's fine. So too is that breakaway gallop to the end zone. This is a yearly gesture of inclusion and embrace. The Shager family has led their Highland Park community's love of football to this game of the year where everyone scores. Yes, my family and I started this event back in about seven years ago, I believe, and it's just really been a special thing that we get to do every year, and it's just, I look forward to it every year. I heard you scored a touchdown. I scored a touchdown. Emily Morrow is a Buddy Bowl veteran, and this game, everyone wins because everyone can play side-by-side, buddy-to-buddy.