Special Olympics athletes from north central Kanssas are preparing for the regional basketball and cheerleading competition at Junction City High School on Saturday, February 27.

Last year 400 athletes from McPherson, Salina, Junction City, Manhattan, Topeka and the surrounding areas formed basketball teams and cheerleading squads to compete in the all-day tournament.

John Hagerty, paraprofessional at Junction City Middle School and head coach of the Junction City Pacesetters Special Olympics team, was recently named 2015 Regional Coach of the Year by Special Olympics staff. Hagerty and his delegation of 25 athletes will participate in the regional tournament.

Forty games are scheduled to be played during the tournament, and nearly 100 volunteers will be needed throughout the day. Volunteers are utilized as scorekeepers, referees and assistants to individual skills competitions for low-functional athletes. Volunteer training is offered at the event.

Volunteers can register online eat www.ksso.org/volunteer.