By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The third annual Heroes vs Heroes basketball tournament was held Sunday, February 15, 2026, at the Wauseon High School gym, bringing together Fulton County Special Olympics athletes and local first responders for an afternoon built around community, inclusion, and friendly competition.
The event began at 3:00 p.m. and continued into the early evening, with four teams made up of both Special Olympics athletes and first responders. Game play started at 3:15 p.m. with a second game at 4:00 p.m., followed by a 5:00 p.m. championship matchup.
Between games, the spotlight shifted to the next generation of participants with a school age shooting contest at 4:45 p.m.
Triangular Processing Director Kathy Shaw said the number of younger participants continues to grow, noting an increase in young athletes and school athletes.
Shaw said the event has stayed consistent in its structure, with four teams returning each year and departments taking plenty of pride in representing their crews on the court.
She also credited the people behind the scenes who make the day run smoothly, pointing to volunteers and staff who, in her words, “knock it out of the park.”
Beyond the basketball, Shaw said the heart of Heroes vs. Heroes is the sense of belonging it creates for everyone in the building. “It is all about belonging,” Shaw said.
“It does not need to be complicated. It is just everyone is welcome. Everybody has a good time, and it is all about everybody having an opportunity.”
The tournament is organized by Triangular Processing, a local nonprofit serving individuals with developmental disabilities in Northwest Ohio.
Proceeds from the event support programming for individuals with developmental disabilities through the organization.