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FALL 2017 / 13
BSC student takes on big role in
World Dwarf Games
By Pat Kindall MPPM ‘11
This fall, a Birmingham-Southern senior
returns to the Hilltop with a world coaching
credit to his name.
Owen Ferguson trained 10-year-old Aiden
Cockrell of Homewood and accompanied
him to the World Dwarf Games in Ontario,
Canada, where Cockrell won a gold medal in
basketball and volleyball and a silver in soccer
and oor hockey.
The medals are a major victory for Cockrell,
who was born with achondroplasia, the most
common form of dwar sm. They were also
a huge win for Ferguson, who said there
has been no better experience. Although the
business major is still considering his post-
graduate career options—including possibly
working in sports or in sales and marketing—
he has discovered a passion for coaching.
“This coaching opportunity came out of
nowhere and became a huge part of my life,”
Ferguson said. “Not only did we get to travel
overseas, but we’ve been all over the news—
in magazines, in newspapers, and on TV…
It’s been a truly amazing experience for Aiden
and myself, and it has impacted me in so
many ways.”
Part of that experience was helping Cockrell’s
family raise funds online to send them to the
games, which were held Aug. 4-12. Supported
by the International Dwarf Athletic Federation,
the event, which occurs every four years, is the
largest sporting event exclusively for athletes
with dwar sm and includes competitors from
kids through seniors.
Last fall, Cockrell’s mom was looking for
someone to train her son for the games. She
knew Ferguson because he had coached the
boy’s ag football team in 2015 and asked
him to help out.
“Basketball is Aiden’s favorite sport, and
Aiden and his mom knew that I’ve been
playing basketball my whole life,” said
Ferguson, who played on the BSC basketball
team his rst two years on campus. “I’m so
glad I accepted. Aiden is an inspiration to me
and to everyone who knows him.”
Ferguson worked with Cockrell for two years to train him on speci c skills and general athleticism. He even enlisted his BSC Sigma
Chi fraternity brothers to come cheer at practices.
“There is a family feel around BSC and I have de nitely felt that the past three years,” he said. “I’m thankful for the love and support
the campus and broader community have shown throughout my and Aiden’s journey.”
“I’m so glad I accepted. Aiden is an
inspiration to me and to everyone
who knows him.”