LINCOLN -- A miracle occurred in the life of a teenage girl during Lincoln's 2014 Basketball Homecoming in January when Kaylea Sandlin, a Down Syndrome child was crowned queen.
Recording the biggest single assist of her basketball career as a three-year starter at point-guard was Lincoln senior maid Shelby Rowe, who, along with fellow senior maids, Madison Rothrock and Mecee Thao, and Abagaile Uselton, all agreed beforehand to grant Sandlin the crown which she wore proudly.
"Everybody at the high school has been so good to Kaylea. It's just icing on the cake for her," said Sandlin's grandmother Fey Hall.
"Everybody treats her normal. She's gone to Lincoln her whole life."
According to Hall, Sandlin became the first person with Down Syndrome to graduate from Lincoln High School on May 16. In a Facebook post Hall stated she thought the graduation ceremony displayed the love between sisters.
"Sandlin who has Down Syndrome, graduated 16th in her class from Lincoln High School," Hall wrote. "Her twin sisters Lauren and Sarah Gilford, who are sophomores there, are in the school band, played for their sister's great night. It was wonderful."
In recent years, Lincoln has become known as a community which embraces their own and shares in whatever challenges an individual may be facing looking for an opportunity to help that person succeed. And succeed Sandlin has, flourishing in an environment where a desire to achieve is nurtured.
"[Sandlin] She's very likeable, shy sometimes, but not usually," Hall said. "She's just a great all-around kid. She's just amazing, a computer whiz."
Sandlin's fellow senior maids were not without their own personal adversity.
Rothrock's late father, Thomas Rothrock, couldn't be there to watch his daughter parade across the Basketball Homecoming showcase in Lincoln's brand new gym, but her mother Joy Huffaker was present and Rothrock was escorted by her grandfather, Joe Huffaker, and senior Ossy Escareno, son of Horacio and Martha Escareno.
Escareno listed his parents as his role models.
"They've always taught me to do everything right and be a good person to everybody," he said. "I always try to help people and do the right thing."
Rowe, daughter of Becky Peterson and Curley Rowe, was another senior maid escorted by her grandfather, Chuck Peterson, and senior Payton Hulse, son of Rob and Rhonda Hulse.
"I just love playing for Lincoln," the ultra-quick Rowe said, explaining she didn't know she would have a chance as a youngster to experience memories she now cherishes including a 47-45 upset over previously unbeaten and No. 1 ranked Charleston when Rochelle Goldman drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the 3A girls basketball Regional in 2012.
"When I was younger I was a fat, little kid. I played basketball from my third-grade year on," Rowe said. "As a sophomore, Coach [Deon] Birkes moved me to point-guard. That was the first time I ever started."
"That was an amazing game being with Rochelle and all them. It was nerve-racking but the best experience you could ever have with a basketball team."
Thao, daughter of Ger Thao and Vai Vang Thao, was escorted by her father, and senior Raphael Perez, son of Salvador and Angelica Perez; and Uselton, daughter of Dewayne and Lynne Uselton, was escorted by her father and senior Dalton Simmons, son of Terry and Sarah Simmons.
Sandlin is the daughter of Johnny and Susan Gilford and was escorted by her father and senior Michael Eubanks, son of Charles and Sara Phillips.
Regardless of their situation all Lincoln maids were treated equally accompanied by escorts and underclassmen to complete the Homecoming court.
Homecoming attendants were: Brihnlee Hunt, daughter of Jeremy and Morgan Hunt; and Lucas Kidd, son of Myrl and Amara Kidd.
Sammie Hannah, 2013 Lincoln basketball Homecoming queen, returned to crown Sandlin as 2014 Lincoln Basketball Homecoming queen and for one shining moment Lincoln High School basked in a spotlight epitomizing the spirit of America as described through the pen of an Australian singer/songwriter.
-- Give me your hungry,
Give me your tired,
Give me your homeless,
Give me your wanderers,
Statue of Liberty
Standing in the harbor,
this is America,
we try a little harder
Oh, this is America
-- Glenn Shorrock
1975 EMI Records
Sports on 08/13/2014