By Haleigh Ehmsen-
Sonny Krob, a sophomore at Mount Vernon, started off the basketball season as a manager for the boys team, but as the boys got to know him, he became their sunshine-as as his name suggests-cheering them on during their magical season.
Sonny has Down syndrome and was adopted from South Korea three years ago by Jake and Nicole Krob of Mount Vernon. When he arrived from South Korea, he wasn’t even fluent in Korean, his dad Jake Krob said. “He’s only been immersed in English for three years. His biggest challenge is language.”
Sonny loves watching and cheering on the boys, but he would rather play. Sonny taught himself how to shoot the ball from watching the boys during practice. Since communication can be a problem for Sonny, he expresses himself through sports. Krob said that Sonny is very good at tasks. When he is showed how to do something, he can do it. For example, he couldn’t explain an offensive play, if asked, but he can show it on the court. “I think that’s why he likes sports. It’s this innate communication,” Krob said.
Krob described Sonny as a “sports freak.” He watches sports on TV and cheers for whatever sport is in season. To Sonny, the only better thing than sports is spending time with other students. “He loves to be around his peers. He’s part of a group and everybody likes to be needed,” Krob said.
Sonny said his favorite part of basketball is “the team” and the best part is scoring. Sonny scored a basket during a varsity reserve game at Cedar Rapids Washington High School.
Sonny was never thought to play in a game, but once he held a jersey up to his torso, his way of asking if he could play in a game. He was then given a uniform and played in three varsity reserve games. When there is nothing planned during halftime of a game, Sonny will shoot around, while the crowd cheers every time he makes a basket. Sonny said that this makes him feel proud.
While Sonny’s official title for the team is manager, senior basketball player Jake Timm said, “He’s there for moral support.”
Sonny goes to every practice and game. During practice he wears a practice jersey like the rest of the boys and spends most of the time dribbling on the sidelines, but at the end of practice, head coach Ed Timm has Sonny shoot a free throw to end practice. As soon as Sonny scores, the team can leave.
Assistant varsity Coach Mike Kragenbrink said that basketball gives Sonny the opportunity to have a high school experience.
“[Sonny] loves being an American and a part of a family, a community,” Krob said. And while the team is very important to Sonny, Sonny is also very important to the team.
“He knows how to bring a smile to people’s faces,” senior teammate Alex Minor said.
While Sonny is not traveling with the boys to Des Moines for tonight’s game against North Cedar, he will ride up with his dad and get to sit on the floor with the team.
