Hollister
– The usual sporting atmosphere was present on the last day of
the ‘Baler Gifted Games, San Benito High School’s nod to the
Special Olympics.
Hollister – The usual sporting atmosphere was present on the last day of the ‘Baler Gifted Games, San Benito High School’s nod to the Special Olympics.
There were high fives and pats on the back – and even a little friendly trash-talking.
“I’ll beat you, Jose.”
“Bring it on!”
Around 45 students from the special education program at the high school took part in the second annual ‘Baler Gifted Games, which were held over the past two weeks.
The program gave the students a chance to enjoy athletics and compete in a friendly atmosphere.
Malia Yoshikawa, 18, said she enjoyed the running part of the games the most.
“It’s fun to run and you lose your breath, but it’s good exercise,” Yoshikawa said. “(With the games) you feel like you can do anything you want.”
The high school’s special education staff started the games last year to give the students an opportunity to participate in a sporting event, which many had never done before.
“It’s so difficult for them to be on a regular sports team, so we’re just teaching them about athletics and health,” said Ramona Trevino, who teaches one of the sections of the special education class.
Mark Gaspar, 14, said he had participated in the track team at the high school, but he enjoyed participating in the ‘Baler Gifted Games much more.
“I like this better, because with track we ran in front of a lot of people and I can’t handle that. This is more fun,” Gaspar said.
For the ‘Baler Gifted Games, the students competed in a 20-yard dash, a long jump, a relay race and a competition throwing softballs and kicking footballs. On Wednesday, the students raced in an obstacle course.
The students jumped through hula hoops, hopped in potato sacks, kicked soccer balls into a goal and crawled over many other obstacles while their families and friends cheered them on. Most students had large grins on their faces as they crossed the finish line.
Fifteen-year-old Brandon Henry explained that he had a little trouble in the beginning because he fell, but he enjoyed the race and couldn’t wait to run it again.
Trevino said the ‘Baler Gifted Games were a good chance for the students to learn that athletics can be fun. Trevino pointed out that obesity is a huge problem in the U.S., and often students in special education classes are more susceptible to obesity because they do not get involved in sports or learn about health and nutrition.
“They want to be healthy, they want to be fit, they want to be strong, they want to be just like everybody else, and we’re helping them with that,” Trevino said.
The school is hoping to have some students compete in the Special Olympics in Monterey next year.
