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Posted: 9:39 AM Jan 30, 2008
Down Syndrome Doesn't Stop Teen from Earning Two Varsity Letters
We all dreamed of being the star athlete when we were in high school.
Reporter: Jamie Apody |
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We all dreamed of being the star athlete when we were in high school.
Here is a story about a remarkable young man who has developed a big following playing one of the sports he loves.
At first glance, it was just your run of the mill three-pointer in a high school hoops game.
"He comes down with three seconds to go and makes the final shot," said father, Bob Hennefer.
"It was an amazing shot."
And then you notice, the coach on the opposing team came over to shake Brad Hennefer's hand.
"It was unbelievable," said Cherry Hill East coach, John Valore.
"He got a standing ovation."
This shot was different.
This shot was Brad Hennefer's first-ever Varsity basket.
This shot was something that was never supposed to be in the cards.
"I'm a very good shooter, good behind the black lines," explained Brad.
Life has been tough from the beginning for Brad.
Born with Down Syndrome, nothing comes easy or guaranteed.
"We had no idea about Down Syndrome," said his father.
"We had mixed emotions."
What he did, since the tender age of three, was turn to sports.
Now a senior at Cherry Hill East, he has played four years of high school basketball.
"Being part of a team is always a kids dream," exclaimed his dad.
"It has been great for him,"
"His reaction to the excitement of it all just adds a catalyst to the rest of the players and makes them go harder, work harder," stated Valore.
"All the kids in basketball, they look at me and are proud of me," smiled Brad.
Basketball is not even Brad's best sport.
He is thought to be the only kid with Down Syndrome in the country to earn a varsity letter in two sports, basketball and golf.
Brad is set to graduate this year.
He has big plans.
"After high school, I'll go to Camden County College to work on business and computers," said Brad.
And wherever life takes him, he'll always have that shot.
It's proof that sometimes the biggest triumphs come in the smallest of victories.
His teammates call him B-Rad.
The Hennefer family has started a foundation, Golf for Life, in which they travel the country and put on golf clinics for kids with Down Syndrome.
For more information on the foundation, click here to visit the Golf for Life website.
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