SCOTT TOWNSHIP -- This season, Daniel O’Brien has been a motivator for the undefeated Lakeland Boys Varsity Soccer team. O’Brien has Down syndrome, but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a key part of the team; he’s an honorary captain.
"He's a fun-loving kid. He really loves his school. He'll come and support everybody anytime so everybody loves him,” said teammate Graeme Nichols of Scott Township.
Wednesday night was Senior Night, so O’Brien and other seniors on the team were honored along with their parents. Then at the end of the game against Riverside, O’Brien got an extra special honor.
He got to play and the boy who didn’t walk until he was three scored a goal. His teammates rushed out to congratulate him.
"They're the best team in the world. I love them!" said O’Brien afterwards.
"Daniel every day is treated to kindness, respect, and inclusion every day in his school and it's a very emotional,” said Daniel’s father, Jim O’Brien.
Because Daniel is 20-years-old, he cannot play during an actual game, so an extra minute was added to the clock after the game was over for him to get on the field, but that didn’t matter to anyone.
“To see his excitement and pure joy, you know, going out there with all these guys he's been looking up to for the last two years and getting out there to celebrate truly with them and to see Riverside players getting out there was really heart-warming,” said Tom Kane, head coach of the Lakeland team.
“It's a dream come true. Both of us, all we ever wanted was for Daniel to have a chance to be like the other children and here in this school with these parents and these children he has that chance every day,” said Jim O’Brien.