Wildcats team competes at Orange County Elementary Special Olympics
On Saturday, April 13, a Warwick Valley Wildcats team made up of third, fourth and fifth grade students from Sanfordville Elementary and Warwick Valley Middle school competed in the 8th Annual Orange County Elementary Special Olympics!
The event, which took place at Presidential Park Elementary School in Middletown, saw the Wildcats taking on competitors from Middletown, Chester, Cornwall, Eldred, Marlboro, Monroe-Woodbury, Port Jervis, Valley Central, Washingtonville, and Orange-Ulster BOCES.
From the Special Olympics New York website… everyone is included. Athletes with intellectual disabilities have the opportunity to challenge themselves in fair and even competition. Win or lose, they develop their own character, make friends, and find unknown wells of determination within themselves. If you’re a fan of unity, acceptance, empowerment, dignity, pride and fun, you’re a fan of Special Olympics New York.
The Wildcats competed in basketball and soccer skills events.
Basketball skills included a timed 10-yard dribble, a chest pass accuracy test into a 3′ x 3′ box, and shooting skills. Soccer skills also included a timed 10-yard dribble, passing accuracy, and goal kicking from distances of 10 to 15 feet.
The day culminated in a recognition ceremony, during which the athletes were awarded with medals and ribbons, and given the opportunity to stand on the podium.
Prior to the event on Saturday, Warwick Valley held an in-school pep rally to celebrate the team and send the athletes into competition knowing that their school was routing for them… Go, Wildcats!!
