Greencastle to receive Champions Together banner tonight

Greencastle High School will join an elite group of Indiana schools tonight with the presentation of a banner from the Champions Together program.

Greencastle will become the second Putnam County school to be so honored, as North Putnam already has earned the designation.

Champions Together is a collaborative partnership between the Indiana High School Athletic Association and Special Olympics Indiana that promotes servant leadership among student athletes while changing their lives as well as the lives of those with intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics International is supporting Champions Together as a model program to activate schools through “Project Unify,” which also has the endorsement of the National Federation of High Schools.

Lee Lonzo, Champions Together director and IHSAA educational consultant, will be on hand to make the presentation of the banner signifying the school’s outstanding work in the program.

The IHSAA sponsors state championships in flag football and track and field, and many member schools also participate in basketball games.

Five state tournaments have taken place in track and field, and the first-ever flag football competition is taking place during the 2018-19 school year.

Other sports are expected to be added as the program continues to grow.

Student-athletes support and provide assistance to special needs students during the competitions.

Athletic director Doug Greenlee was instrumental in bringing the program with him to Greencastle from his previous position at Kankakee Valley.