Spirit of Competition
Spirit of Competition
The cheers thundering in Steve Lopez Stadium at Merrill F. West High School paused as Yamilet and Audrey took to the microphone to recite the Special Olympics oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
The two students were among more than 100 students from special education programs across the county to compete at the event on Sept. 19. Students competed in soccer, running, throwing, and jumping events.
“We’re here to promote our students and really put them in the spotlight and watch them shine,” said Zach Franceschetti, coordinator with San Joaquin County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), a part of the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE)
The Tracy Special Olympics was organized through a collaboration that includes the SJCOE, Tracy Unified School District, and the Special Olympics of Northern California. It was the first time the district had put on such an event in recent memory.
The students came from district and SJCOE special education programs in Escalon, Lammersville, Lincoln, and Tracy unified school districts. Students from these programs also came to cheer on their friends and help the event happen. Students in young adult special education programs also handed out programs, helped run the events, and perform other tasks as paid support through the WorkAbility I program.
The student body at West High turned out in force. They filed into the stadium to watch and much more. When each team of competitors arrived, they entered on a red carpet flanked by West High cheerleaders.
West High leadership students had been planning for this event for months. They decorated the stadium with posters celebrating each participating school. They also ran the events, orchestrated an opening ceremony, handed out refreshments, staffed a quiet room, and much more.
Read more about the Tracy Special Olympics in the latest edition of the Outlook magazine, the SJCOE's quarterly publication.