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Oakville football team welcomes freshman manager with open arms

Drew Yost loves football; more specifically, the Oakville High School football team. And the football team loves him back.
Drew Yost, football team manager, Oakville High School.

OAKVILLE, Mo. - Drew Yost loves football; more specifically, the Oakville High School football team. And the football team loves him back.

Yost, a freshman at Oakville, was born with a chromosomal abnormality called 22q, a syndrome that can wreak havoc on a child's cognitive, developmental, and speech skills, among other symptoms. He was born with holes in his heart, kidney issues, and a suppressed immune system. As a result, Drew cannot play sports.

But that has not kept him from being involved with the sport—and team—he loves.

Head Coach Arlee Conners said he was approached by a school counselor and Drew's mother, hoping to find a team or club that young Drew could participate in. Conners and the team welcomed Drew on the sidelines, giving him the role of team manager.

"They treat him like a brother. They really do," Conners said, adding that the team gains inspiration from seeing Drew at practice every day.

Drew's father, Mark, describes the situation as seeing his son have "60 best friends."

"To know that your son has a disability, can't play sports that he loves, and to get him involved to the extent that he's involved with this team… It makes me happy," Mark said. "It makes me proud, to know there's good people out there to kinda take him in."

In the meantime, Drew is advocating to get Missouri newborns tested for this condition, and has made trips to Jefferson City to speak with lawmakers on the subject.

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