WASHINGTONVILLE TAKES ON WEST POINT

By TONI-ANN HOM 

Each year, the Special Olympics team of the Washingtonville Central School District participates at the annual Special Olympics at West Point. The whole Hudson Valley is invited to spend a day watching the athletes compete for bronze, silver and gold medals. It is truly one of the best days of the year.

On the big day, each athlete is assigned their own West Point cadet who follows him or her around to every event and the medal ceremonies. There are many track and field events that happen throughout the day such as  the standing long jump, softball throw, running long jump, and relay races.  These events help students with different strengths and weaknesses become more  athletic and prove that they can accomplish anything. 

The Special Olympics team trains for this event every Wednesday after school at Washingtonville Middle School.  Anyone is welcome to join the team and help train the athletes. It is a great way to help others and to be active at the same time. The team practices outside, weather permitted, but in the winter things have to be changed up a bit. The coaches come up with creative ways to still keep the athletes active and motivated. These activities range from building lego structures to scavenger hunts. The team works hard at all of these practices which helps to ensure that they will bring home the medals they covet.

TONI-ANN HOM FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY

Kirsten Reid, a senior at Washingtonville, helps out with the team each year and is a huge role model for the athletes. “I think the Special Olympics is an absolutely wonderful event that brings people together from all over Orange County. As I graduate from high school this year, I plan on attending SUNY Orange.  Hopefully I will, yet again, be at the Special Olympics event next year cheering on our athletes.”  Kirsten was beaming with pride as she discussed how she has helped out the team for so many years.  Her plans to continue to show her support throughout the next couple of years is truly inspirational.

There were many Washingtonville Wizards who went out and supported the athletes. Each athlete came home with medals, memories and lots of smiles.  Keelan Toro, Kaylah Ramos and Chad Jackson exceeded in the turbo javelin event. Tara Zecchini, Morgan McCue, Marisela Colangelo, Billy Herndon, Nick Ganzer and Kristina Girton amazed everyone with their softball throws. Last, but certainly not least, Danny Kostycz did an outstanding job in the standing long jump event. 

Washingtonville has never been so proud of these student athletes. The athletes came back to school and showed off their very impressive medals, which truly shows how greatly impacted each student was by this day.  The Special Olympics continues to leave an impact on many lives and hopefully more Wizards will participate in next year’s event. Congratulations to all of the athletes and good luck in all of your future endeavors.