It’s so much more than playing sports – or the score in the record books.
W-H students participating in the Special Olympics gave a presentation on the program to the School Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 13. The students earned a bronze medal in basketball (with a record of 6-2) and are now in the midst of floor hockey competition.
During the presentation, the team’s Inclusion ambassador, Eli, said Special Olympics was important for her mental health and social inclusion after students on her old, traditional sports teams had forced her to quit mainstream school sports.
A Hanson resident, Eli plays basketball, floor hockey, track and field, swimming, softball, soccer and flag football.
“I like being a part of Special Olympics because I get to meet new friends that become like family to me,” she said. “I get to play sports and have a chance in them since traditional sports are more difficult for me.”
She had tried traditional school sports but said coaches did not want disabled youths on their teams “because they thought it was not going to help the team in any way.
But Eli said her mom insisted she play, so she did.
“It was difficult to understand the rules and [disabled] athletes were not allowed any accommodations,” she said. “My teammates at the time told me I should just quit and they didn’t want anyone different on the team. That had affected my mental health badly and so, I quit sports, which was a difficult choice to make, since playing sports is how to help my mental health and social skills and try and make new friends,”
Eli said sports help her physically, too.
She joined Special Olympics in 2021 and gained more confidence, which helps her grow as a person.
Special memories from her Special Olympics participation include winning gold for softball, playing at Gillette Stadium and dropping the puck for a Northeastern University men’s hockey team.
“I am really proud of myself for becoming an inclusion ambassador for SOMA (the Special Olympics of Massachusetts) and want to have more people become aware of the Special Olympics so people with disabilities can be given the opportunity to participate in sports [which can] help them grow as a person in many positive ways.”
The basketball team’s Coach Leo said it was the first time the Whitman Panthers participated in that game.
“But we had a great year,” said, noting they collaborated with W-H basketball coaches Bob Rodgers and Tony Costa and their players for drills and practice games with the Whitman Panthers.
George Coffey, who recently retired from Special Olympics, said the towns of Whitman and Hanson have been so supportive of the local organization for about 25 years.
“Where I’ve been the most surprised for the support we’ve received, is – I don’t think you people know how many of the students have been assistant coaches on our teams.” he said. “They just show up and they’re really good.”
One such student, Isabel Baker, who graduated last year and is studying special education in Vermont because of her involvement with the Special Olympics here, is in the process of being hired as an intern at the Vermont Special Olympics organization.
He also noted former W-H special education teacher John Odom, who would switch schools whenever Coffey’s son, Jimmy, changed schools, to help him.
“John is now in the Hall of Fame with Special Olympics and I’m going to guess that no one on the School Committee or the school community is aware of that,” Coffey said. “John is one of my heroes because of this … everything he did was for the kids. He got nothing personally out of it, other than getting tired.”
Chair Beth Stafford confirmed that none of the committee had known about Odom’s Hall of Fame induction.
“We’re very proud to have the Best Buddies program up at the high school, and now we have it at the two middle schools,” Stafford said.
“I want to thank you very much for instilling in these kids the desire to become involved,” Coffey said.
School Committee member Dawn Byers asked what age students have to be to join Special Olympics and how interested families may reach out to join.
Coffey said the Panthers are a senior division program for students, but they can join the program age 6 to learn about the sports and go through pysical conditioning before they can play on a team or in an individual event. The age breakdown for teams is similar to that of a youth soccer program, he said.
The Panthers are 22 and up and was started specifically for former W-H students who had aged out of school programs.
“We’ve got some old people playing,” he joked.
“The more we do for you, the better it is for all of us – and I think it’s great for us, too,” said Committee member Fred Small, adding that he would like to see them come to meetings more often. “Let us share in your glory.”
Coffey went him one better.
The last Special Olympics floor hockey games worldwide will be played on Sunday, April 7.
“I think it would be great if, on the following week … the School Committee came down and played a game of floor hockey against our athletes,” he said.
Eli said she was aware there is unified track at the high school, but said she would like to see uniform sports in all seasons.
“Quite possibly it could be put in a league and we could go against other schools,” she said. “I just want to give more people an opportunity, not just track and field.”