Students in the News
Students share track at College Place
Published on Thu, May 13, 2010 by Sara BruestleRead More Students in the News
A lot more cheering goes on at track-and-field practices at College Place Middle School now that the district’s Special Olympics team is there.
“We’re cheering them on while racing and they’re also cheering us on while we’re racing,” said Hailey Kettel, a College Place eighth grader. “It’s just cool to see them cheering us on because normally our team doesn’t, but these kids really want to see us do well.”
Special Olympics athletes Kevin Cano, Dominick Monillas, Allison McAfee, Donald Sommer, Stacee Hardin, and Kyle Imthurn competed in the 2010 Northwest Regional Special Olympics Games at Marysville-Pilchuck High School on May 2.
For the last month, 136 students in track and field at College Place have been sharing their track after school on Mondays and Wednesdays with 30 students on the Special Olympics team.
“They’ve been very accommodating,” said Special Olympics coach Becki Bell. “The kids [at College Place] are really nice. It’s just been a very good experience for all of us.”
The Edmonds School District’s Special Olympics program gives middle- and high-school students with developmental disabilities the opportunity to train and compete in sports, including track and field, swimming, cycling, bowling and basketball.
Special Olympics students in track and field train for several events, including running, long jump, shot put, tennis-ball throw and softball throw, and compete in the Northwest Regional and Washington State Special Olympics games.
Until last year, the Special Olympics team practiced alone after school on Edmonds-Woodway High School’s track. When scheduling changes put the team on the track at the same time as Edmonds-Woodway’s team, they moved their practices to the old Lynnwood High School.
But the track at the old LHS – which the district recently sold – presented some issues for the team. The track is old and in need of repair, has no cover for when it rains, and offers a Porta-Potty instead of restrooms.
“The track is buckled and has holes in it,” Bell said. “I was afraid the kids were going to get hurt, so the minute we started over there, we started looking for another place.”
The search for another track ended at College Place Middle School.
“What [this] does is give our kids an opportunity to shine in terms of the things that we’re trying to teach our kids at this impressionable age, which is how to be respectful, kind and helpful,” said Casey Campbell, athletic director at College Place. “So far, it’s just been very positive.”
College Place’s team held a welcoming assembly in the school gym for the Special Olympics team during their first shared practice, where students introduced themselves and learned about the Special Olympics program.
“Both teams were really excited to meet each other,” said Brandon Torrey, track coach at College Place. “They cheered and yelled for one another.”
The Special Olympics students start their practices at 1:50 p.m., while College Place students start at 2:30, and usually use the track in shifts. When the teams need to share the track, they divvy up the lanes.
Liz VanScoy and Stacee Hardin
“It’s a really cool program that they do, because these kids get to show their true athleticism,” Kettel said of Special Olympics. “I’m really happy we’re sharing the track with them.”
Eighth grader Theodore Lebesis said the Special Olympics team is an inspiration for the students in track and field at his school.
“They look up to us and we look up to them, because they’re another good track team,” he said. “It’s amazing what they do.”
The Special Olympics team competed in the 2010 regional track and field competition on May 2 at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, where 24 students qualified to compete in the 2010 Washington state summer games scheduled for June 4-6 at Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base.
One student, Allison McAfee, 16, qualified to compete in the National Special Olympics Summer Games to be held in Nebraska in July.
“We’re cheering them on while racing and they’re also cheering us on while we’re racing,” said Hailey Kettel, a College Place eighth grader. “It’s just cool to see them cheering us on because normally our team doesn’t, but these kids really want to see us do well.”
Special Olympics athletes Kevin Cano, Dominick Monillas, Allison McAfee, Donald Sommer, Stacee Hardin, and Kyle Imthurn competed in the 2010 Northwest Regional Special Olympics Games at Marysville-Pilchuck High School on May 2.
For the last month, 136 students in track and field at College Place have been sharing their track after school on Mondays and Wednesdays with 30 students on the Special Olympics team.
“They’ve been very accommodating,” said Special Olympics coach Becki Bell. “The kids [at College Place] are really nice. It’s just been a very good experience for all of us.”
The Edmonds School District’s Special Olympics program gives middle- and high-school students with developmental disabilities the opportunity to train and compete in sports, including track and field, swimming, cycling, bowling and basketball.
Special Olympics students in track and field train for several events, including running, long jump, shot put, tennis-ball throw and softball throw, and compete in the Northwest Regional and Washington State Special Olympics games.
Until last year, the Special Olympics team practiced alone after school on Edmonds-Woodway High School’s track. When scheduling changes put the team on the track at the same time as Edmonds-Woodway’s team, they moved their practices to the old Lynnwood High School.
But the track at the old LHS – which the district recently sold – presented some issues for the team. The track is old and in need of repair, has no cover for when it rains, and offers a Porta-Potty instead of restrooms.
“The track is buckled and has holes in it,” Bell said. “I was afraid the kids were going to get hurt, so the minute we started over there, we started looking for another place.”
The search for another track ended at College Place Middle School.
“What [this] does is give our kids an opportunity to shine in terms of the things that we’re trying to teach our kids at this impressionable age, which is how to be respectful, kind and helpful,” said Casey Campbell, athletic director at College Place. “So far, it’s just been very positive.”
College Place’s team held a welcoming assembly in the school gym for the Special Olympics team during their first shared practice, where students introduced themselves and learned about the Special Olympics program.
“Both teams were really excited to meet each other,” said Brandon Torrey, track coach at College Place. “They cheered and yelled for one another.”
The Special Olympics students start their practices at 1:50 p.m., while College Place students start at 2:30, and usually use the track in shifts. When the teams need to share the track, they divvy up the lanes.
Liz VanScoy and Stacee Hardin
“It’s a really cool program that they do, because these kids get to show their true athleticism,” Kettel said of Special Olympics. “I’m really happy we’re sharing the track with them.”
Eighth grader Theodore Lebesis said the Special Olympics team is an inspiration for the students in track and field at his school.
“They look up to us and we look up to them, because they’re another good track team,” he said. “It’s amazing what they do.”
The Special Olympics team competed in the 2010 regional track and field competition on May 2 at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, where 24 students qualified to compete in the 2010 Washington state summer games scheduled for June 4-6 at Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base.
One student, Allison McAfee, 16, qualified to compete in the National Special Olympics Summer Games to be held in Nebraska in July.