Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
RICHFIELD — It's been almost nine years since Garrison Thalman studied at Richfield High School, but the "true blue Wildcat" is still actively supporting the school's sports programs, according to his mother, Ilene Thalman.
Garrison Thalman has pervasive developmental disorders with an IQ of about 50, Ilene Thalman said. While in high school, he was involved in track. Since graduation, he continually cheers on several of the sports teams.
"He has his own little pretend games when he's home. ... He knows who he's going to beat, and so it's just ... a highlight of his life, the sports events," she said.
Richfield High School softball coach Dave Clark has helped keep Garrison Thalman involved. Weekly, Clark takes him to lunch and spends time introducing him to the student athletes.
Current Richfield High senior Kaytlin Costa came to love Garrison Thalman her freshmen and sophomore year while playing softball. As a senior, she approached her principal and told him Garrison Thalman has been a huge part of their school and that she would like to name their trophy hall after him.
Saturday, the school honored Garrison Thalman by christening the trophy hall the Garrison Thalman Awards Hall and presenting the sports fan with a plaque.
"He wears the jerseys, he wears the helmets, he's there cheering, he's on the sidelines he's in the game," Costa said.
She felt Garrison Thalman should be honored because he is very supportive and is always clapping and cheering and getting everyone motivated.
There were not many dry eyes after watching Richfield High School's #1 fan Garrison Thalman, a 2007 RHS graduate, receive a plaque honoring him for the many years of support to the school!In addition RHS has renamed "G Hall", "The Garrison Thalman Awards Hall!" Thank you for your amazing support Garrison!
Posted by Melinda Pomeroy Costa on Saturday, February 20, 2016
At the games, he weeps with excitement or sadness. "He's just got so much emotion into sports no matter what the game is that I feel like he should have been honored in a way that was as big as he is as a person," Costa said.
When he was honored Saturday, he began crying and clapping, Costa said.
Irene Thalman said everywhere she and her son go in town, people she doesn't even know say hi to him.
"We feel like the luckiest parents in the world to be here in this community, and the high school and everybody ... just great to him," she said.
