photo by Hannah Reel

Natchez High School junior Toya Marsaw, 17, pushes athlete Veronica Nickelson across the finish line for a first place finish in the 25 meter wheelchair race during the Special Olympics Friday at Natchez High School.

High school holds Special Olympics event

By Krysten Oliphant (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Saturday, April 18, 2009

NATCHEZ — There were some special athletes competing on the Natchez High School track Friday.

Natchez High hosted the Mississippi Area 7 Special Olympics, and children and adults with physical and mental disabilities competed in nine events.

There to cheer on the athletes were volunteers from Natchez High, Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Respiratory Care Program and the Natchez Civitan Club.

“The Civitan Club has an outreach to physically and mentally disabled kids and adults,” president Carolyn Couch said. “The Special Olympics is our local club’s main outreach. We provide the ribbons, we pin the ribbons on. This is why our club exists — it’s our favorite part.”

Couch and Walt Wilson, who is part of the Civitan Club and also leads the Respiratory Care Program, were in charge of handing out awards to third through first place winners.

One of those winners, 26-year-old Britni Welch, received a red second-place ribbon for the 25-meter wheelchair race.

Welch and her volunteer, Alicia Jordan, were all smiles as they received the ribbon and competed in the tennis ball throw.

“We’ve both been smiling since we got out here,” Jordan said. “We’re having a lot of fun.”

Other events Friday included a 50-meter wheelchair race, 50- and 100-meter walks and runs, tennis and softball throws and a long-jump competition.

The first, second and third place finishers from each competition will travel to Biloxi May 15 for next level of competition.

Natchez-Adams School District Director of Special Education Adrienne Bushell said the track and field events are like the Super Bowl of the Special Olympics for her students.

“It’s everything for them,” she said. “They plan ahead of time, and they come out and practice. It’s a culmination of their extracurricular activities.”

Area 7 Director Tommie Jones said the event could not succeed without the volunteers.

Jones said she loves to see the athletes having fun and smiling, whether they’ve won first or seventh place.

“It enhances their self-esteem,” she said. “They get to compete with peers with similar disabilities as theirs. It helps them form friendships, and it helps their family members form friendships.”

While no money was raised at the Special Olympics event, Jones said there will be a golf tournament at Duncan Park May 9 to raise funds for the trip to Biloxi.

Bushell said Friday’s event was special even if no one advanced to the next round.

“The kids are excited and happy, and everybody’s coming together to make this fun for the kids,” Bushell said. “It means my children are included and that they’re an integral part of this community. In the bigger picture, these kids are every part of this community.”