Our Kids Have Heart: APS Competes in the 2015 Special Olympics State Indoor Winter Games

Congratulations to our APS Special Olympic athletes that participated in the State Indoor Winter Games last weekend!

Richard Hannor from Carver competed in singles bowling and brought home the gold medal!  He encountered some really tough competition, but rolled enough strikes and spares to come out in first place.  His coach is Janis Richards of Carver Science & Technology. Way to bowl, Richard!    Special Olympian RH Bowler

We had two unified Special Olympic basketball teams that competed as well. Games were held at the Smyrna Community Center in Cobb County. Coached by Head Coach Lisa Olgebsy, Special Education Teacher at North Atlanta High and Assistant Coach Nicholas Hill, Special Education Paraprofessional at North Atlanta High, these teams had an awesome showing at this year’s Winter Games.

They faced tough competition going up against teams from Gwinnett, Forsyth and Carrollton.  After a long weekend, both of our teams placed—bringing home the bronze and the silver!  Way to play ball!    Silver Team Pic

Atlanta Public Schools has been participating in the unified basketball competition for four years.  Each team is comprised of an equal number of athletes with a disability and athletes without a disability.

On the basketball teams this year, ten Special Olympians from Maynard Jackson, Booker T. Washington, North Atlanta, Carver, and Therrell earned a spot on a team through competitive tryouts. Additionally, ten general education athletic partners were selected from North Atlanta High School by the team coaches.

Bronze Team PicThis type of competition gives our Special Olympic athletes possessing high athletic skills the opportunity to participate and gain the life skills that team sports teaches.

According to Coach Oglesby, the players room, eat, and play together for the entire weekend; each bringing their own unique skills and qualities to the team. She says the wonderful thing about unified sports is that any classifications such as disabled or non-disabled fades away and all that remains is a team that plays together with a lot of heart and with one goal in mind, which is to win.

Please mark your calendars for April 1, 2015 and come out and support our kids as they participate in Special Olympics Track & Field at Lakewood Stadium at 10:30 a.m.

Visit our website for a complete schedule of APS Special Olympics events.

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