Games bring out competition, fun

By: Philip Batson, Staff Writer

Philip Batson/Sun Photo Let it fly: Blue Valley North junior Ryan McHenry, left, launches a throw during his bocce ball match against Troy Berry at the Mid-America Games for the disabled on May 3 at Blue Valley North High School, 12200 Lamar Ave., Overland Park.

Waiting to compete in the high toss event, Ryan McHenry did not know what he had gotten involved in.

“I don’t know anything about it,” Ryan said. “Somehow I got signed up for it.”

Not that it mattered.

Even with no prior knowledge of the event, Ryan, 17, had no trouble immediately looking like a seasoned participant. With each toss of the disc surpassing the bar in front of him, Ryan pushed the limit higher and higher.

Eventually, after a volunteer needed a step stool to continue raising the bar, Ryan could not clear seven and a half feet. His final toss missed by mere inches, leaving him with a final clearance of seven feet.

Participating in his second Mid-America Games for the Disabled on May 3 at Blue Valley North High School, 12200 Lamar Ave., Overland Park, Ryan also took part in bocce ball and the soft toss, where competitors toss a disc for distance.

“He loves sports, so it’s great he actually gets sports he can participate in,” Ryan’s mom, Debbie McHenry, said.

For Ryan, who has cerebral palsy, sports have been a way of life since he fell in love with football in the third grade. A junior at North, Ryan is a member of the football team, complete with his own roster spot. He is also a diehard Missouri Tigers, Kansas City Chiefs and Royals fan.

“He’s got a competitive spirit,” Debbie said. “He gets very engrossed with his teams. He just has a real sporting attitude.”

Ryan got involved with the 27th annual Mid-America Games for the Disabled last year when one of North’s assistant principals, Mark Dalton, suggested Ryan give the Games a try. Ryan and his parents had never heard of the Games or any of the events in which he would soon be participating.

“It’s good because he would participate in everything if he could,” Debbie said. “It’s nice that he has something that he can actually physically do.”

Before he took a shot at the high toss, Ryan started with a game of bocce ball. His opening match against Troy Berry had a crowd circling the court. Several classmates and teammates offered their support on each toss.

“That was pretty amazing that they would all show up to watch,” Ryan said.

Ryan and Troy went back and forth. After Troy won the first two games to take a 2-0 lead, Ryan picked up three points in the third game. However, in the final game, Troy scored two points to win the match 4-3.

Not that Ryan was too disappointed, he was already looking ahead to his next event.

Contact Philip Batson at (913) 385-6065 or philipbatson@sunpublications.com.