The deadline to be a Special Olympics of Missouri (SOMO) basketball tournament buddy is extended due to lack of applicants.

The deadline to apply was originally January 31st. There are 206 buddies needed, and only around 110 of the spots are currently filled. In order to fill the open spaces, Mr. Steve King and Mrs. Kelly Roberts, the sponsors of Student Council in charge of the tournament, decided on extending the deadline to next week.

“I am pleased with the outcome, we just are asking for a lot of people,” King said.

The buddies will be missing school on the day of the tournament to hang out with their SOMO athlete, but only a small part of ANP, all of 7th block, and a small part of 8th block. They will be escorting them, making sure they get to their basketball games on time, playing games with them in Victory Village, and dancing in the multipurpose room.

“Everyone will just be socializing and hanging out all day,” King said. “Literally, they will just be a buddy to the athletes.”

If people are still interested in being a buddy, it is not too late. Applicants will be accepted all of next week, but t-shirt sizes are needed right away to order all of the shirts. The event will be held on February 20th.

“There is still time to get them in, but let us know!” King said.