About 80 developmentally disabled youth from Granby, Northampton, Ware and South Hadley schools took part in the four-town winter Special Olympics this year. Watch video
SOUTH HADLEY — Steve and Patty Pittsley, of Ware, watched from the stands as their son Maxwell, 19, practiced throwing a ball and dribbling at the winter Special Olympics on Thursday in the gym at Smith Middle School.
“He loves basketball,” said Steve. “He’s been looking forward to this.”
Maxwell was among 80 developmentally disabled youth from Granby, Northampton, Ware and South Hadley schools taking part in the four-town Special Olympics this year.
Founder and director of the event is Michael Topor, an adaptive physical education teacher based at the Collaborative for Educational Services in Northampton. He organizes three Special Olympics programs a year for his towns, under the auspices of Special Olympics Massachusetts, West Branch.
“I work with some of the greatest kids in the world,” said Topor, who has been teaching intellectually disabled students for 28 years. His winter program features basketball and bowling. A fall program of soccer takes place in Granby, and a spring track-and-field program meets in Northampton.
Diane Rivard, of Ware, watched as granddaughter Brittany handled a basketball. “She’s got some moves!” said Rivard. Another grandmother, Janet O’Brien, of Holyoke, was cheering for Anna, 12, daughter of Stephen and Erin O’Brien, of South Hadley, who were also looking on. All the athletes would get gold medals in the end.
An army of mainstream students served as volunteers, including the entire basketball team of South Hadley High School. “I enjoy it,” said sophomore Samantha Gawron, 16.
“It’s nice to help people who don’t have the same opportunities I have,” said Smith Middle School student Allison Bergeron, 13. “This is their special day.”
Like Bergeron, sixth-graders Jacey Rondeau and Ryan Moynihan, both 12, had also volunteered in support of a friend with autism. “Nice shot, James!” Jacey called out as his pal sank a basket.
The opening segment of the event included a rendition of the national anthem by A.J. Strack, 11, of Florence. The child has no sight, but he has perfect pitch, explained his mother, Heidi. “I’m going to JFK next year,” said the cherubic A.J., a student at Leeds Elementary, “and someday I’m going to be a man!”
The segment also included rousing theme music from the movie “Rocky,” performed by Smith Middle School musicians.
As the four-hour program wound down, amid the clatter of voices and bouncing balls, the crowd suddenly gasped and burst into applause.
Zack Seiffert, a developmentally disabled student from Granby, had made a half-court shot, sinking a basketball into the hoop from the middle of the gym. Even the high school team was wowed.
He had never done it before, Zack said.