Sports
Local ESPN Star Owen Groesser Recognized by Rochester Hills Leaders
Mayor, City Council salute the Van Hoosen eighth-grader during Monday night meeting.
Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett and the City Council recognized eighth-grade basketball player Owen Groesser on Monday night for being an outstanding member of the community.
Groesser's fame began back in January when he sank two three-point shots in his two minutes of playing time during the last home game of the Van Hoosen Middle School basketball season.
It was the first time Owen, who has Down syndrome, had taken the court this season. Almost immediately, a trending social media campaign was born, as students began tweeting "#GetOwenOnSportsCenter." The tweet picked up momentum and resulted in a video of Owen's 3-pointer being a highlight on ESPN SportsCenter's Top Plays.
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That week, he met a Harlem Globetrotter during an assembly at his school. Since then, he has been the subject of numerous media reports. (Read:Â From Twitter to 'Today' and Beyond: Owen Groesser Phenomenon Continues)
City Councilmember Mike Webber mentioned that he once played basketball for Van Hoosen.
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"I never had a chance to make a 3-pointer; I certainly am envious," he said.Â
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