Presented by the State Farm Holiday Classic and S.O.A.R.
On October 13, 2005, the Classic Tournament, Inc. lost a very special and vital part of our event. Ron Knisley, Director of Sports and Competition for Special Olympics Illinois (SOILL), lost his battle to cancer.
Ron volunteered his time as a Holiday Classic committee member for ten years and was a constant around Horton Field House as a venue supervisor. Through the years, he assisted with the scheduling of athletic trainers, helped create the Classic scholarship program, and most importantly oversaw the coordination of the Special Olympics Shootout, now named the Ron Knisley Memorial Shootout in memory of our dear friend.
Now in its 19th year, the Shootout includes sixteen Special Olympics teams from across the state participating in a bracketed two-day tournament. And, Championship night will once again feature Shootout teams in 8-minute exhibitions on the main Shirk Center floor during half-time of Classic championship games.
If you find yourself at Shirk Center on the last two days of the Holiday Classic, please take the time to check out this great experience and support these athletes.
- Brackets for the 2021 Ron Knisley Memorial Shootout will be announced in December.
