Tony Ramos is nearing the end of his second season as head coach of the Holtville High boys’ basketball team and unfortunately, the Vikings have struggled this year.
One positive aspect of this rebuilding season has been the presence of 18-year-old Clay Gudde, a junior forward who runs gassers with enthusiasm and has a penchant for taking 3-point shots — he also has autism.
A student of the game
Diagnosed at the age of 4, Clay was placed in an out-of-county group home at 7 when his condition became too much for his single mother, Rhoda Claybrook, to handle.
He bounced around for several years, from San Bernardino to Anaheim, but returned to Holtville last August, his condition having improved greatly.
“He’s what you’d call high-functioning,” said Claybrook. “He likes to do odd jobs around the house to stay busy. He’s a very hard worker.”
He has also loved the sport of basketball for as long as either he or his mother can remember. At age 9, Clay even found time to compete in the Special Olympics. Nevertheless, the family had some misgivings about Clay’s first year in the public school system, to say nothing of his joining a high school basketball team.
“I did have some concerns,” confessed Claybrook. “I was worried that he wouldn’t be as good as the other kids, that they’d make fun of him. After his first practice, he wanted to quit because he’d never practiced so hard. But I told him, ‘No, no, you can never give up. Your team needs you.’ So he stuck with it.”
Nowadays, Clay actually looks forward to the exercises he used to dread, and although he’s not the fastest player on the squad, his teammates often find themselves unable to keep up with him.
“It was hard at first,” Clay recalled. “I never worked out like that before, but it’s been going easier and easier. It’s also a good physical activity,” he added, with characteristic cheeriness. “I really enjoy it.”
Infectious personality
“Clay brought a lot of morale to the team,” said Ramos. “He’s always hustling, never gives up. For a young man with special needs, he’s one of the hardest-working players I’ve ever coached. He’s an exceptional kid.”
Clay’s positivity and love of the game helped ingratiate himself to his peers, and while the overall experience has been “awesome,” it has presented some challenges. Not so much in the physical respect, but the mental.
“Sometimes it’s hard for me to figure out the plays,” Clay admitted, “but coach helps me out a lot.”
Autism affecting families
Autism affects one or two out of every 1,000 people worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 11 per 1,000 children in the United States have been diagnosed with the neurological disorder since 2008.
Common characteristics include impairment of social interaction and communication and restricted and repetitive behavior. There is presently no known cure, but there have been reports of autistic children who have recovered and go on to lead successful, functioning lives.
Paving a road to success
This year has been nothing less than a success for Clay and his mother.
“I’m totally excited about the way it’s gone,” Claybrook gushed. “He’s doing absolutely wonderful. I never thought it’d be like this.”
Clay plans on going out for the team again next year and while he still has his work cut out for him, Ramos is looking forward to another season with his 3-point-shooting forward.
“He’s taught me patience and resilience,” said Ramos, “but more than anything, that things could always be worse.”
To comment on this story click here to be directed to Facebook.
