Every Saturday for the past few months at a Freeland church’s gym, every pass sent and caught and every basket made and missed was celebrated.

That’s because each attempt represents a step forward for the Whidbey Wind Special Olympics basketball team, a collection of players whose age ranges as widely as their conditions and disabilities, from Down’s syndrome to developmental disabilities.

John Svacek knows the mighty power of the Whidbey Wind. His daughter, 29-year-old developmentally disabled Lauren, formed social skills and, more importantly he says, friendships on the Wind.

“This is the best thing that ever happened to her,” he said during a recent practice at the Trinity Lutheran Church gym in Freeland.

“She’s so much more social. She had gotten really closed off … She really looks forward to this,” he added.

With a video camera in his hand, Svacek captured every moment of the hour-long practice. If he showed it to the casual observer, here’s what they’d see: casual shooting from the free throw line, way out by the three-point line and the occasional mid-range jump shot. Lots of smiles, hearty laughter and back pats after both makes and misses. Bounce passing drills. A box of four players around the key — an area outlined on the court floor — passing to each other, then to a player shooting free throws from a closer line about 6 feet away from the hoop. A little girl named Talia shooting “granny-style” underhand free throws, or Andrew Bishop — coach David Bishop’s son — holding up his hands like a showboating pro after the ball falls through the rim. At the end, they may see the free-for-all players versus coaches and parents full-court game that capped a productive practice in November.

All of that is especially necessary this year. The Whidbey Wind teams (one for players over 22 years old, one for the 8-21 athletes) are reigning gold medal champions, and as coach David Bishop joked, they expect the other teams in Washington to give them their best, much in the same way Nation Football League teams go after the Seattle Seahawks.

The regional tournament is Feb. 8 in Stanwood and will be the Wind’s first test to qualify for the Special Olympics state winter tournament. Madison Goverde, Northwest Region manager for Sports and Training at Special Olympics Washington, said there are about 520 athletes in the regional basketball tournament where the Wind play to qualify for the state tournament.

Competition levels vary as widely as the players’ ages. To some, like Mark Welch, a self described “shooter” who at 44 is the team’s oldest player and its most competitive, winning matters a lot. But even a fiery competitor like Welch said he is a fan of the team spirit of the Whidbey Wind.

For many of the Whidbey Wind players, hitting the court is a chance to shine. While frustration of feeling different can dog people with developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions elsewhere, on the court at a Special Olympics tournament like the one the Whidbey Wind won two gold medals for in February, they became superstars.

“A big part of it too is providing for them that experience every child or adult should have, which is participating in a sport or a sports team,” Goverde said.

The tournament, just like the Olympics, has an opening ceremony where teams get to walk around the gym to a cheering, adoring crowd with a flag or banner. Those are the things parents and coaches remember.

Spaghetti dinners and dance parties are the moments recalled by players Lucas Etzell and Andrew Bishop.

Things aren’t always breezy for the Wind. Frustration for special needs players can mount quickly and lead to behavior outbursts. One little girl showed up, did not take part in the first few activities, never touched a ball and sat against the wall crying before leaving. In such instances, the coaches said they let the players have some time to themselves before approaching. If they can’t be calmed down or insist on not participating, Etzell said he’ll let a parent or guardian know as a last effort.

The Whidbey Wind is the only team for special needs people on South Whidbey, with a few others in Oak Harbor. Going into its eighth year, the Wind continues its policy of an open door for anyone wanting to pop in for 15 minutes or the full hour.

“We are always open,” Etzell said. “It’d be good to have more come.”