CASEY POWERS IS LEARNING ABOUT LIFE FROM HIS FRIEND JACOB

Casey Powers is an outgoing 11th grade football player at Ardrey Kell High School. He holds a spot on the school honor roll and he hopes to attend Notre Dame following his senior season.  He enjoys many sports, he makes good grades, he has his act together as many would say.   His parents Kevin and Katie Powers have provided a great support system and taught him many life lessons.  Over the last year, Casey has learned one of the biggest lessons in life from a nine year old boy named Jacob Barman.  

Life hasn't been quite as easy for Jacob when compared to Casey. 

Jacob is a nine year old third grader at Weddington Elementary School. He has Asperger's Syndrome. He is the son of Joel and Joanna Barman and has one younger sister, Emma Barman who is 7.

The Mayo Clinic provides the following description of Asperger's syndrome;  it is a developmental disorder that affects a child's ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others. Children with Asperger's syndrome typically exhibit social awkwardness and an all-absorbing interest in specific topics.

Thanks to the Challenger Baseball Program at Wesley Chapel Weddington Athletic Association, Jacob has been given the opportunity to play baseball.   This program relies on "buddies" to help the players during the game.  This is where Casey Powers comes into the equation.  Casey heard about the program and decided to volunteer, through sheer luck, he was matched up as Jacob's buddy and the two have developed a strong bond over the last three seasons.

Casey began last spring and was hesitant at the start, he didn't know what to expect.

"At first I was a little nervous and I didn’t really know how it was going to go because I had never worked in anything like the challenger league but once I got there everybody was very friendly and made me feel comfortable right away and I ended up having fun."

The experience has taught Casey so many lessons about life.

"It has taught me to be a little bit more patient and laid-back because that’s how you have to be as a volunteer.  Most of the time you just have to kind of go with the flow.  It has also taught me to count my blessings and that sports are still just games.  A lot of people get caught up in winning and losing but helping out with this league just put it into perspective for me that sports are just about getting out and having fun."

 The pairing of Casey and Jacob has also been very rewarding for Jacob according to his Dad Joel.

"Jacob adores Casey. This is their third season together. I was an assistant coach last year when I paired them up together. I was a head coach in the fall, and when Casey signed up as a buddy, he requested to be Jacob's buddy. And Jacob requested him to be his buddy."

"On game days, Jacob will not practice or warm up with anyone but Casey. All winter long, he kept asking me if I heard from Casey and how much Jacob missed him."

Now with the season underway, this pair is back together on the field and Jacob is really having a great time.

"Casey has made an amazing impact on Jacob. Jacob was moved up to the upper division of Challenger Baseball. He was worried Casey wouldn't be with him, but he was assured if he moved up, Casey would still be his buddy."

The Barman's have high praise for Casey Powers and the time he has given to Jacob.

"Casey is very mature for his age and is an amazing person. I have never seen anyone make such an impression on Jacob when it comes to baseball except for Casey. Casey is also extremely patient with Jacob and never seems to get frustrated. Even if Jacob is having a bad day, Casey is able to calm him down and keep him focused on playing baseball. I told Jacob that Casey played football in High School at Ardrey Kell. Casey has invited him to watch him play this fall and Jacob will be going to see him play. He is looking forward to seeing him play."

"As parents we could not be happier with the connection between Jacob and Casey. Having Jacob play Challenger Baseball is a very rewarding experience, but having Casey as his buddy makes it even more rewarding. Without Challenger Baseball and the buddies, Jacob would have never been able to play."

Volunteers like Casey can make such an amazing impact on our community.  Because of Casey, Jacob has been able to grow and learn more about the game of baseball.  Because of Jacob, Casey has been able to find an inner-peace and develop an even stronger foundation for his future.   The South Charlotte Sports Report salutes Casey Powers for taking the time to make an impact on the life of a little baseball player named Jacob.

How do you do in school?

 I make A’s and B’s and I am in all honors classes

Favorite class?

Pre-Calculus

Goals for college?

I hope to attend the University of Notre Dame after I graduate from high school.  I would like to study exercise science and become a physical therapist or a personal trainer, something in that area.

Jacob is a nine year old Third grader at Weddington Elementary School. He has Asperger's Syndrome. He is the son of Joel and Joanna Barman and has one younger sister, Emma Barman who is 7

How does Jacob feel about Casey?

Jacob adores Casey. This is their third season together. I was an assistant coach last year when I paired them up together. I was a head coach in the fall, and when Casey signed up as a buddy, he requested to be Jacob's buddy. And Jacob requested him to be his buddy.

On game days, Jacob will not practice or warm up with anyone but Casey. All winter long, he kept asking me if I heard from Casey and how much Jacob missed him.

What has Jacob learned from Casey?

Casey has made an amazing impact on Jacob. Jacob was moved up to the upper division of Challenger Baseball. He was worried Casey would be with him, but he was assured if he moved up, Casey would still be his buddy.

Feel free to add any thoughts or facts that may help my story Casey is very mature for his age and is an amazing person. I have never seen anyone make such an impression on Jacob when it comes baseball except for Casey. Casey is also extremely patient with Jacob and never seems to get frustrated. Even if Jacob is having a bad day, Casey is able to calm him down and keep him focused on playing baseball. I told Jacob that Casey played football in High School at Ardrey Kell. Casey has invited him to watch him play this fall and Jacob will be going to see him play. He is looking forward to seeing him play.

As parents we could not be happier with the connection between Jacob and Casey. Having Jacob play Challenger Baseball is a very rewarding experience, but having Casey as his buddy makes it even more rewarding. Without Challenger Baseball and the buddies, Jacob would have never been able to play.