Peter Kuhn, a senior with Down Syndrome on the Valley Regional/Old Lyme football team in Connecticut, is well-known around school and the town of Old Lyme as “The Mayor” and “Pizza Pete.” His mother calls him a “Renaissance man” because of his love of singing, painting, and art. He’s also a valued member of the high school football team.
“He is a heart-and-soul kid,” said head coach Hill Gbunblee to CT Insider. “He comes to practice. I’m his position coach. Running back drills, he’s right there with each and every one of us. He’s a part of this and we wrap our arms around him and fully embrace him.”
And by all accounts, Kuhn is a great guy, and a valuable and fully-contributing member of the team. “He was the high-scoring player for a while,” his dad, Adam Kuhn chuckles. “He loves it; they love it. The team really gets into it. It’s a good thing to see.”
“Pete’s not just a glorified member,” Gbunblee told TODAY. “He’s out there hustling. He’s running drills. He’s in the gym conditioning. Pete is a part of everything we do. And he’s also our biggest cheerleader.”
But although he’d scored touchdowns for his junior varsity team before, there was still something he wanted to do. He wanted to make a touchdown on the varsity team, and his teammates and opposing team made sure it happened.
“Coach,” he said to Gbunblee two days before the senior night game, “I want a direct snap out of the shotgun or a 16 counter.”
And in late November, Gbunblee gave him the last snap of a 25-8 victory game. The crowd chanted his name, as the running back took the ball 51 yards to the end zone.
“I was ready! I just focused on my speed and my distance,” Kuhn recalled. “I focused my head and I focused on what my coach said. He said, ‘Don’t give up.'”
READ: Young woman with Down syndrome follows her ‘passion’ and prepares to open a café
Kuhn feinted two players, and his teammates escorted him to score the last touchdown of the varsity game. His teammates gathered around him, cheering and celebrating with him. It was an unforgettable moment for Kuhn, one he had been dreaming of.
“Last year, we were 1-9,” said team quarterback Giovanni Winters. “He was upset last year. This year, he was waiting all year for that one run, and he was excited. He was so excited. He’s been practicing his touchdown dance since July.”
Pete’s brother Paul, 15, plays on the same team and was celebrating with his brother and their teammates, who have a tradition of inclusion. Cal Miller, another player with Down syndrome, suited up for the team moments before Kuhn arrived.
“To see Pete score a varsity touchdown was pretty incredible,” Paul said. “He’s been talking about it for four years, and I was just so happy for him.”
“You could hear the roar of the crowd,” Gbunblee said. “Then Pete runs the play and everyone starts going insane. It was just about as good as it gets.”
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