Highland Park Buddy Bowl showcases skills of special needs kids in front of 1000+
DALLAS — I doubt very much that when siblings Brayden and Brielle Schager thought of the idea in 2016, they imagined that the 2022 HP Buddy Bowl, an event originally planned to be a casual gathering at a local Park Cities green space, would draw over a thousand parents, students, players, and neighbors to Highlander stadium on the campus of Highland Park High School.
“It’s gotten way bigger. Almost to the point where we can’t even control it. But we love it. We want as many people as we can to come out and help,” said Brayden. It is truly a family affair for the Schager family as Ginger, Brayden and Brielle鈥檚 mom, organizes the event.
In 2020, the pandemic canceled the Highland Park Buddy Bowl, but this year nothing could stop the 5th annual event from happening, not even a short but threatening drizzle as the players of all ages and from several school districts began to run through the gauntlet at the registration desk. I couldn鈥檛 help getting a little 鈥渕isty-eyed鈥� as each player was introduced to the crowd in what was a joyous moment for them and their families.
Complete with coaches, referees, announcers, cheerleaders, and of course fans, the HP Buddy Bowl is a real game, and聽each athlete is paired up with a high school student who teaches him or her聽football skills in an on-field clinic then competes side by side with them during the聽game. For most of the players, the experience is a dream come true. The HP Buddy Bowl evolved from the vision of a 14-year-old North Texas middle-school football player (Brayden) and his 12-year-old sister (Brielle). In November 2016, they sat around the kitchen table talking about how football is king in Texas, but not everyone gets the chance to play. They thought the community needed a game that allowed special athletes to play in their own Super Bowl.
It鈥檚 not just a great event for the players. The 鈥淏uddy Teammates鈥� get a lot out of it too. Many of the HP students that volunteered as a 鈥淏uddy鈥� in past Buddy Bowls return every year for the event, many after they have graduated from HPHS if they are home from college for summer break. 鈥淪eeing the expressions on the players faces when they get to carry the ball and score a touchdown is priceless,鈥� added Brielle Schager. 鈥淭his is no small undertaking, but it is a labor of love and worth every minute of time and drop of sweat,鈥� says Ginger Schager. 鈥淲e could not have this great event without countless volunteers, service organizations, and especially key sponsors which we cannot thank enough,鈥� she added. This was my first Buddy Bowl, and it won鈥檛 be my last. Please put HP Buddy Bowl 2023 on your schedule for next May.
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