Three-day NubAbility sports camp underway in Du Quoin More than 200 limb-different kids compete, make new friends

DU QUOIN - The irrepressible, undeniable, genuine, heartwarming smiles of young limb-different children made any heat obstacle bearable Thursday as the NubAbility Athletics Foundation summer sports camp opened in Du Quoin.

This year marks the eighth year of the camp and a couple hundred youngsters from all points of the United States descended upon the fairgrounds to kick off the three-day extravaganza, participating in fishing, archery, and water games Thursday morning.

The camp will continue through Saturday with groups of kids and their coaches meeting at Du Quoin High School, the tennis courts at Keyes Park, and swimming pool at the Robert E. Summers Memorial Sports Complex, as well as Red Hawk Golf Course in Pinckneyville.

"I'm making new friends," said 10-year-old Andrew Gonzalez of Kingsland, Georgia. Andrew lost his left leg due to a blood clot when he was only 2 weeks old. But that didn't hold the youngster back from having a great time Thursday in his first visit to the NubAbility games. He was busy learning the basics of archery from his coach, Preston Wright. Ironically, Wright is also from Georgia.

Andrew's mother, Erica Chapman, said her son had "just recently gotten into sports" and she heard about the NubAbility camp, investigated, and agreed it would be worth the time and money invested to make the trip.

"Andrew hasn't had a chance to meet a lot of kids like him, so coming here means a lot to him," Chapman said. "He's doing fishing and archery here today, but his main focus is swimming. He hasn't yet figured out how to do that really well without a leg. We're hoping he can get some tips here. He's also signed up for basketball and golf, so it should be a fun weekend."

Justin and Brittany Simmons were enjoying a morning of fishing with their limb-different 5-year-old daughter, Kynleigh. The family is from Marion.

"This is our second year here," said Brittany. "We all love it. Kynleigh has learned a lot in this environment. I think archery is her favorite sport."

Perhaps so, but fishing might run a close second as she hauled in, with some help from her dad, four fish, including both bass and catfish.

Brittany explained that Kynleigh's left arm never formed during pregnancy.

"Doctors called it Amniotic Band Syndrome," she said. "We found out when I was about five months along."

Justin said it scared the couple at first.

"But when she was born, Kynleigh came out healthy, and that was the main thing. She doesn't hold back on anything. She's a real pistol, believe me."

Hannah Marek is a 2016 graduate of Du Quoin High School now attending college. She was volunteering her time at one of the camp's registration points Thursday.

"We're family friends with the founders of the camp (Sam and Jana Kuhnert) and I wanted to help out. Once I came, I fell in love with the kids. Everyone is so happy to be here and having fun. It's just a great experience for all of us."

DHS senior Braeden Pursell felt similarly. He was serving as a fishing coach for kids lakeside. Pursell just happens to be a member of the high school bass fishing team.

"This is my second year here. The kids are really fun to be around and I enjoy helping them out. I like seeing young people get involved with fishing."

Pursell served as coach all day Thursday and was planning to spend Friday at the lake, too.

"I show the kids how to cast properly, bait their hooks, and to be patient," he said.

The Philippe clan made the trek to Du Quoin from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, which they said is close to Cincinnati, Ohio.

The elder statesman of the group, Lanee, is the grandmother to 7-year-old participant, Anna Grace, and 5-year-old sister, Elena.

"This is our first time here. It's a very well organized event," she said.

Lanee's daughter or the girls' mother, Wynne, was also complimentary of the camp.

"Anna has been counting down the days to this camp. For the first time, she said, people aren't staring at her for being different."

Anna is missing part of her left leg, having been born that way in China. She was adopted by the Philippes and brought to the U.S. when she was 27 months old.

Anna's focus sports are tumbling and cheerleading, although she enjoyed fishing Thursday and planned to participate in archery, swimming and tennis, as well.

Perhaps it was Anna who summed it up best when describing her experience at the camp.

"I get to see and meet people like me and make new friends," she said.