SANBORN, Iowa | June 24 concluded a busy week -- and a championship year -- for Landon Harthoorn, of Sanborn.
He joined his mother, Sue Harthoorn, and younger brother, Alex, in making the trip from Minneapolis to Des Moines, where Landon gave an acceptance speech before a few thousand people attending The Des Moines Register's All-Iowa Sports Awards at the Iowa Events Center. Landon had spent the entire week at a Conductive Education camp in Minneapolis, something he's done annually for years.
His dad, Kevin Harthoorn, joined his other brother, Jaron, and older sister, Kara Themistol and her family, in making the drive straight from Sanborn to Des Moines on June 24, a Saturday, so the entire family could watch as Landon, who has cerebral palsy, picked up the All-Iowa Inspiration Award for his work as a member of the Western Christian state championship football team last fall. The trophy sits in Landon's bedroom, now.
Landon never let cerebral palsy keep him from making the most of his contribution as a manager and camera operator at weekly practice sessions.
Western Christian, which features three Harthoorns on the roster (Alex and Jaron play, Landon manages), won the program's first Class 1A state football title last November, ending Iowa City Regina's six-year title run with a 47-34 victory at the UNI-Dome....Read the entire story at the Sioux City Journal