While soccer fans around the world are watching the World Cup, two teams from Land O’ Lakes High School already are basking in victory.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)
Two squads, the Grey Team and the Gold Team, each claimed the gold medal in their respective divisions at the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games, May 16-17 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista.
The Grey Team is a Division 2 team with seven players per side, while the Gold Team is a Division 3 team with five players per side. Divisions are set up based on team skill levels.
Each team is unified, meaning athletes play alongside partners to help them and provide support. The Gold Team has four players and three partners playing at one time, while the Grey Team has three players and two partners.
While the players are happy to have achieved their goal, their longtime coach, Vicky King, is equally proud.
“It was a great accomplishment. Our teams have trained really hard this year,” she said.
The Gold Team had little knowledge of soccer before they started playing together a few years ago, King explained. For their first two years playing soccer, they didn’t score a single goal. Now they understand the game, talk about it, and claimed the gold medal in their division.
And the Grey Team has a chance to continue playing at an advanced level. They’re eligible to compete at the World Games, and if selected, they’ll go to Los Angeles to take part next July.
The keys to success are the same as they would be for any championship team, King said. Hard work, a balanced squad, and an emphasis on fitness and skills led the teams to victory.
But the Special Olympics is about more than competition. Land O’ Lakes resident Terry Ahearn said his son, Andrew, truly enjoys being a part of the team and competing in the games.
“He loves it. It’s been really good for him, too,” Ahearn said.
Andrew has participated in Special Olympics for years, and plays soccer for the Grey Team. He has autism, and is high-functioning. His father said that playing has given him more confidence, and even though he can be hard on himself, he always has praise and support for his teammates.
While playing on a unified team allows the athletes to get on-field support, it doesn’t affect the team dynamic. Ahearn said once they start playing, everyone is working toward the same goal.
“It doesn’t matter if they’re playing basketball, if they’re bowling or playing soccer, you really can’t tell the difference between any of the kids,” he said. “They’re just like any other team.”
And like any other athlete, Andrew is happy to have claimed the gold for his team.
“It feels good,” he said. “We did our best.”
The midfielder said participating in various sports — Andrew also competes in bowling, basketball and flag football — and having fun are the best things about the games. He was named Athlete of the Year for Pasco County.
For his father, coaches like King are some of the real highlights of participating in the Special Olympics. The teachers and coaches make the experience more valuable for the participants, he said.
“I’m proud of (Andrew) and how he competes and what he’s learned, but I’m also proud of the teachers and the coaches,” Ahearn said. “Because he would not be where he is right now if he didn’t have the teachers and coaches that gave so much of themselves.
“To do what these kids are doing and to reach them takes a special person. I could not say enough good things about them.”
For more information about the Special Olympics, visit SpecialOlympicsFlorida.org.
Published July 9, 2014
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