As the spring sports season comes to a close, the PHS life skills class traveled to compete in the annual Special Olympics.

Three Powell students participated in the Olympics, bringing home several medals and successes from their competitions.

“I used my Maddie powers and walked from the tiger school and back,” senior Maddie Tyrney said. “I got three medals, bronze, silver, and gold.”

In any sport, having a good support system is key. Whether that be a student section cheering or a coach being there for you after a game, support can make or break your experience.

“We do a lot of cheering for the students, we’re loud, and we are excited,” life skills teacher Mrs. Shelby Moore said. “We make sure that we’re putting most of the focus on the things that went well and making sure that they remember that we are proud of them no matter what.”

The Special Olympics is a wonderful example of a good support system in sports; from the staff hosting the event to your competitors, everyone is rooting for the participants’ success.

“They get to do something that is designed for them to be successful,” Mrs. Moore said. ”They’re always going to be able to feel like they have accomplished something and done well at something.”

The support for our life skills students doesn’t stop after the games; teachers, students, and the community all help motivate the athletes to continue in the Special Olympics.

“It was really cool watching the students come back with their medals and want to tell everyone about them,” Mrs. Moore said. “Wanting to go into their general education classes and show their general education teachers and the students in there, and having their teachers brag about them to the other kids, it felt really good.”

The PHS life skills students participated in several events ranging from track and field, all the way to bowling.

For the Special Olympics, they break up each sport into its individual parts to make sure it is accessible for everyone to participate in.

“In basketball, we did passing, shooting, and dribbling the ball,” freshman Alex Bradshaw said. “I had 80 points and got silver.”

The setup of the Special Olympics sports is constantly changing to make sure it is as fun and as safe as it can be for the participants.

“This year for the Special Olympics basketball, we only worked on skills,” Mrs. Moore said. “So each student showed their individual skills at shooting hoops or dribbling or passing the ball,  next year we’re going to include three-on-three basketball, where they’re working with each other and doing something in a more team environment.”

A huge part of the Special Olympics is teaching the students valuable life skills such as sportsmanship and communication.

“I learn sportsmanship from the Special Olympics,” Spiering said.“I get to see my friends, and it makes me happy.”