A teen with Down syndrome whose quest to compete on his high school football team made national news will be honored by Sports Illustrated after securing support from fans across the country.

Under Michigan rules, Eric Dompierre was ineligible to play high school sports during his senior year because at age 19 he had aged out. But instead of giving up, Dompierre convinced the Michigan High School Athletic Association to change its rules and grant him a waiver so that he could play with his teammates for one more year.

Dompierre’s team went on to capture the state title and now they will have at least one more journey together. A Sports Illustrated video about Dompierre’s quest came out on top in the magazine’s annual “Underdogs” contest after securing the most online votes from readers over nine other finalists.

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The win will mean $25,000 for Dompierre’s school, Ishpeming High, and a trip to New York for his team, reports MLive. To read more click here.

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