Special Olympians Gather At Gaither High To Test Skills
by COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR
Tampa Bay Online
Athlete Karlee Hayes, 18, who also sang the national anthem before the event began, and Taya Green, 17, are "Best Buddies." The two took part in Gaither High’s Special Olympics Stampede today.
Photo by Jay Conner |
TAMPA - Karlee Hayes looked out at the crowd in Gaither's football stands and steeled her nerves as the music began.
Karlee, 18, sings regularly in the high school's chorus and performed the national anthem for a basketball game with special-needs players. But this was her largest audience yet. Though she was a little bit nervous, she felt good as she started to sing.
"It was easy," she said.
Karlee helped kick off the opening ceremonies for Gaither's Special Olympics Stampede this morning, which gives local athletes a chance to practice their skills before the regional competition March 13 at the University of South Florida. Gaither High School has hosted the training day for about a dozen years.
Nearly 400 students from 20 Hillsborough County schools participated today. Gaither students paired up with Olympian buddies to cheer them on and escort them to different activities. The high school's clubs set up games, a photography booth and a petting zoo to entertain guests between competitive events.
Karlee and her buddy, 17-year-old Taya Green, posed for pictures and checked out the sights before Karlee's softball throw and 50-meter race. Taya met Karlee through Gaither's "Best Buddies" club, which pairs special-needs students with high school partners.
Taya, a junior, got interested in the club to relate to her cousin, who is autistic but lives out of town. Taya was matched with Daniel last year, and they began hanging out, going to movies and Disney. He brought her flowers on Valentine's Day. Since he graduated, Taya has told him he's no longer her "best buddy" but her best friend.
The friendships the Special Olympians and the Gaither students develop are the highlight for history teacher Mary Frances Granell, who helped organize the training day. She tells the students when they sign up as buddies that she doesn't care about their motivation – whether they want to do good or they want a day out of class.
"When you're done today, you're going to have a feeling that only you have ever felt," she told the volunteers. "It's going to be warm and fuzzy, and it's going to change your life."
The athletes from Gaither got a pep rally in their honor yesterday in front of the entire school. The students gave them a standing ovation.
Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (727) 451-2343.
SOURCE:
http://carrollwood2.tbo.com/content/2010/feb/19/191624/special-olympics-athletes-gather-train-today/ |
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