Fifth-grade teams assist with special moment

MARION - Sports can serve as a teaching tool, presenting intangibles that extend beyond competition.

Many learned an important lesson when 11-year-old Bella Trotter took the basketball court for about 90 seconds of fun last Saturday during a youth basketball tournament at Linn-Mar High School.

Bella, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was about 6 months old, smiled from ear-to-ear when she participated in the final minutes for the Junior Cougars fifth-grade team against the Cedar Rapids Bulldogs.

Bella, who attends Viola Gibson Elementary, has been involved with the Junior Cougars, practicing with the team and attending games. She watched from the bench in uniform, joining the team huddles and supporting teammates.

With time winding down and the result evident, Cougars coaches Doug Slings and Darren Stoltenberg set the wheels in motion for an emotional moment that shouldn't be forgotten.

After a brief discussion between coaches of both teams, and the approval of game officials, Bella made her way onto the court with the assistance of a walker and her mother, Kristi Trotter, to close out the game.

'I was not expecting it,” said Kristi, noting Junior Cougars Coach Mike Vaske also has been supportive. 'She loved it.”

It was hard not to be affected by the warmhearted exchanges between Bella and her Cougars teammates. A Kennedy teammate dribbled the ball down the court, getting the ball to Bella, who passed to another player for a basket. This occurred twice and she remained in the game on defense at the urging of Bulldogs' Coach Stephanie Potts.

Her reactions, and those of the other girls on the court, were priceless.

'That was so sweet,” Kristi said. 'Bella loved feeling like she was part of the team”

Bella also participated in the awards ceremony with the team. Kristi said being part of the team made Bella's day. She occasionally faces struggles walking, talking and eating, which made that moment so special.

It wasn't the first time she was included in activities. Kristi contacted Kennedy head coach Tony Vis about participating in a camp last summer and he was all for it.

'Kennedy was very welcoming,” Kristi said. 'They were awesome.”

Kristi Trotter said her daughter enjoys being active, especially playing basketball, which is also played by her twin brother, Ben, and older brother, Nate. She serves as a role model. Bella provided a perfect example of sports' buzz terms of toughness and perseverance. She demonstrated how making most of your abilities and doing your best is a necessity in life, which so many take for granted.

Kristi and husband, Andy Trotter, have instilled that trait in Bella, who has undergone corrective eye surgery, a procedure to correct hip dysplasia and rhizotomy surgery to reduce the spasticity in her muscles from the cerebral palsy.

'She has grown up with the mentality she can do everything everybody else does,” Kristi said.

The Bulldogs also displayed a maturity and understanding not possessed by some adults attending youth sporting events. They helped support the situation and shared postgame congratulations, despite the loss.

There really were only winners this day. The parents and players have Bella Trotter to thank for that valuable lesson.

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com