Special Olympics Pennsylvania in Crawford County held its 39th
annual Track and Field meet on May 8th at the Crawford County Fairgrounds. Over 350 athletes participated in the event and
Heather Clancy Young, CEO of the Meadville Area Federal Credit Union, served as
emcee. The first event of the day was the parade of athletes. Classrooms and groups lined up and marched to
the front of the grandstand. Joyce
Seeley of Maplewood School led the group in the National Anthem.
Meadville Area Senior High (MASH) students provided music
while each of the schools and agencies marched in for Opening Ceremonies. Crawford County athletes Kyle Miller and Cody
Hubert carried the torch and lit the Olympic cauldron; while, Bill Shaulis led
the group in the Athlete Oath – “Let me win but if I cannot win let me be brave
in the attempt.”
After opening ceremonies, each participant began their first
competition event and could also participate in several fun activities like the
Frisbee or bean bag throw, or participate in Olympic Village where carnival style
games were set up and run by Thurston House staff, MASH students and volunteers. The event would not have run so smoothly without
support from local tool and die shops,
schools, agencies and businesses that came out to help make the day
special. AVI Food Systems Inc., Nutrition
Inc, and Mc Donald's provided lunch items for the 350 athletes.
This is the second year that Crawford County presented the
Danny Zirkle Spirit Award. Danny
participated in many local, sectional and state competitions. In 2008, he was awarded a special trophy for
his sportsmanship at Fall Festival, which led to his induction into the Special
Olympics PA Hall of Fame later that year.
Danny exemplified the “spirit” of Special Olympics. The Spirit Award
winner for 2013 is Tanner Holabaugh, a school aged athlete who helps out at the
practices and encourages others to do their very best.
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