For the second straight year, Methacton participated in the Special Olympics that were hosted by Spring-Ford High School on May 1. What started with a fun bus ride for all the students making the trip ended in a hot, sweaty, and tired ride back to the high school just in time for dismissal. According to Special Olympics PA, their mission is, “to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community…”
The event set up is above, behind the away bleachers of the Rams’ Coach McNelly stadium was the softball throw. The long jump was on the turf in the middle of the track which was also hosting the 50 and 200m dash. Joining Methacton and Spring-Ford were North Penn, Pennridge, Upper Perk, Souderton, Pottstown, Pottsgrove, and Perk Valley.
The list of athletes MHS had competing in events is below, with their assigned buddy to spend the day with them in parenthesis:
- Preston Palmer (Taylor LaFreeda)
- Kim Jung (Laura Blake)
- Brianna Katz (Ella Hopwood)
- Justin DiFillippo (Megan O’Donnell)
- Julia Policastro (Katie Greeley)
- Ryan McCann (Allie Conrad)
- Chase Hoven (Taylor Lee)
- Aiden Ludwig (Calie Fisher)
- Eva Dougerakis (Emily Miller)
- Joseph Mascaro (Kyra Mauer)
- Thomas MacConnell (Sam Mullen)
- Gus Mandracchia (Dylan Oszeyczik)
Special Olympics had provided great food options at their snack stands, cheese pizza from Papa John’s or hotdogs were the main course with water and Gatorade among some other good treats. One of the highlights was the ice cream following a long, hot day. There was no scheduled lunch break so it certainly helped that buying food was quick.
The goal of the day for most was having fun. Everyone got a ribbon for each of the three events they did, no matter what position they placed. Everyone also got Methacton Special Olympic shirts that are made differently and new every single year. At each event, Spring-Ford had some of their students as helpers to score and guide the athletes through what they needed to do. Just an outstanding showing on Spring-Ford’s part of how a school can come together to help and give support.
Students can help support events like these by joining the Unified Sports Club and the Best Buddies Club here at Methacton.
To see more on this event, check out this news report done by Methacton’s Warrior News crew: https://youtu.be/F18Xole3-yA
