Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Tom Ducheteau is a leader.
Example: at Dekko Heating Technologies, his place of employment, he's a plant manager.
Recently Ducheteau used those leadership abilities to lead a different team: the area Special Olympics basketball team.
"We have a lot of community outreach at the company," said Ducheteau. "They put the word out they were looking for a coach and they asked if I was interested. It's something I'd like to continue every year."
Comprised of area residents from group homes and assisted living centers, Ducheteau's team finished second in the state losing to a team from Richmond by two points. The championship was held at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.
Though he was the coach, Ducheteau said in a phone conversation he learned just as much from this experience as the players did.
"I learned these people are just like everyone else," he said. "They play very hard. That was the most important I learned: that they're just like us."
Participants were placed on teams according to IQ levels as opposed to age. Members of Ducheteau's team had IQ levels of 85 or below. But according to him these people are no different than the people he sees at work everyday.
"They (employees, team members) all try to reach a common goal," Ducheteau said. "This (job position) is coaching too. The end goal is different but you still have to use teamwork to get there."
Ducheteau said he plans to continue coaching the team next year and that he might only see one or two team members drop out. The team will start practicing in November.
