Those who competed in Friday's Porterville AcCel Special Olympics at Jamison Stadium showed as has always been the case in any competition the most important muscle is the heart.
And make no mistake it was a competition. Maybe it's harsh to put it this way but there's really nothing special about the Special Olympics. It's a competitive event run in the same way any competitive event is run from a high school track meet all the way to the Summer Olympics.
P.A. announcer Tony Cavanaugh made that clear when he kept referring to the competitors as athletes and student-athletes.
He would have to give a message to keep the track clear because “our athletes are competing at this time.”
Before another race Cavanaugh said, “Do not blink when these athletes take off. You'll miss a good race.”
And before the assisted wheelchair race, Cavanaugh said, “Let's make some noise for these athletes here. Look at those smiles on those faces.”
And just like athletes in any competition have their training staff, PT-Pro was there on Friday to help the athletes with their warmups for their events to reduce the chance of injury.
The point Friday's meet was just like any other competition was made by Porterville College Psych Tech professor Janessia Leggs.
“It is so important for our community to see those with developmental disabilities, to see them in a better light. To see them have fun. To see them competitive. It's just so much fun.”
Leggs was with PC Psych Tech students who were volunteering at the event. The Psych Tech students work with the Tulare County Office of Education's special education program at schools throughout the county and with Promoting Self Worth, PSW.
“We want to support the participants,” Leggs said. “Most of our students have worked with the students who are participating.
“They are here to support the kids. We love to be a part of the community. It is so super special to our community to be here.”
There were 270 students and clients from Monache, Porterville and Granite Hills High Schools, other Porterville Unified School District schools, the Burton School District, Lindsay, Strathmore, Lillian B. Hill School, PSW, Social Vocational Services and Community Based Instruction who competed. Staff from all those organizations helped out with the event as well. Others who helped out with the event included the Central Valley Regional Center.
Others represented at the event were the California Highway Patrol and Porterville Police, including PPD's mascot Sgt. Shepherd. The Lillian B. Hill Lion was also there and L.B. Hill's Lion and Sgt. Shepherd helped award the medals to the athletes.
Dennis Smith made sure to get his picture taken with the L.B. Hill Lion after he won his race, the 25-meter walk. Smith from PSW won the race on his 64th birthday. “He reminds me of The Lion King,” said Smith about the L.B. Hill Lion.
There was also a photo finish in another one of the 25-meter walks as Erica Ramirez and Jahida Raya both of PSW tied for first.
The Mud House was also there to provide coffee and Sarbosa Pizza was there for those who were hungry.
Robert McCool, co-organizer of the event along with John Zano, said Jamison Stadium provided a more centralized location for all those who competed. “It's much better to have it here,” he said. “It's a beautiful stadium out here.”
He also said PUSD, the Burton District and PC provided a great deal of help in putting the event on. And of course there were all the volunteers.
“It's definitely a team effort to get everything going,” he said.