Special Olympics benefits athletes and volunteers

Students from Granby, Ware, Northampton and the high school shot hoops, bowled and stacked cups in the annual Special Olympics Winter Games hosted by the high school.

The event was led by members of the Best Buddies Club and the girls and boys basketball teams. Senior girls basketball captains Danielle Miele, Sam Gawron and Tara Bainbridge helped run the stations at the event. The girls said they found their involvement in the event to be very rewarding.

Miele said that participating in the activities with the athletes throughout the day was fun and made her feel fulfilled. “It made me feel good because they were so excited,” said Miele.

Gawron agreed and said, “Seeing the smiles on their faces was just the best feeling.”

The basketball teams said they saw this event as an opportunity to help out in the community as well as bond with one another.

“It’s nice to know how close both the boys and the girls basketball teams are,” said Miele. “It gives us a really good bonding experience.”

Health and Physical Education teacher Tania Chrzanowski who helped organize the activity-filled day said the entire experience of volunteering for the Special Olympics is rewarding. “When students volunteer at these events, it’s very meaningful to the athletes,” said Chrzanowski. “The volunteers motivate and cheer on the athletes which they love.”

South Hadley has held the Special Olympics at the Michael E. Smith Middle School gym in past years, but the venue was changed now that most of South Hadley’s Special Olympics athletes are students at the high school. Chrzanowski also said the larger high school gym can hold more teams, allowing more athletes to participate.

Nelson may be reached at [email protected]