The 32nd annual Special Olympics Track and Field Meet was held Wednesday at SUNY Fredonia for athletes of all ages from local school districts. The event returned after a three-year hiatus.

“It’s life changing. These guys are amazing,” said Amy Witkowski, a teacher aide at Wheelock School. “It’s a feeling that you can’t ever replicate, except for here once a year. I’m so happy they brought it back.”

Among the school districts to participate included the LoGuidice Educational Center (BOCES), Brocton, Dunkirk, Forestville, Fredonia, Gowanda, North Collins, Pine Valley and Silver Creek. The competitions were held exclusively inside Dods Hall and the Steele Hall Fieldhouse due to poor air quality conditions caused by the ongoing Canadian wildfires.

“It’s overwhelming. The energy is so positive,” said Nichole Dispense, nurse at Dunkirk School 7. “It’s just an amazing environment, and I’m so happy our students get to do this.”

Elliana Leone, a kindergarten student in Mark Putney’s Wheelock School class, throws a softball during one of her three events of the day.

Despite the challenging air quality conditions, the morning began with the Scott Kowalski Memorial Torch Run, which commenced at 9 a.m. at Dunkirk High School. Local law enforcement participated alongside Dunkirk students, who began the run outside of the school entrance, took a lap around the halls, then departed to commence their journey from the Dunkirk High School campus to the SUNY Fredonia Fieldhouse at Steele Hall. Since the Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1986, more than $14 million has been raised for Special Olympics of New York.

“I’ve never been part of a cadence before, so that was new. That was so much fun. It was a nice group of guys, they are here for a good cause … it was just fun. I got so much from it,” said Zach Zentz, a Dunkirk High School student who participated in the torch run.

Possession of the torch passed through hands of each runner until it wound up in the hands of Dunkirk student Gabe Valentine, who carried it as the runners took laps around the track following the parade of Special Olympics athletes during the opening ceremony. Valentine carried the torch last to honor members of his family who have served as corrections officers, just as Kowalski did before he passed away in 2017. Kowalski participated in the torch run for the Special Olympics during his time as a corrections officer. Flags to honor Kowalski and Donna Northrop, who served as a Department of Corrections Grievance Supervisor until her death in 2018, were carried alongside the torch throughout the route.

After the final lap was completed, Dunkirk students sang the national anthem on stage. Then, each school’s athletes were recognized prior to the commencement of the games.

Among the first competitions of the day was the wheelchair race, which featured a pair of kindergarten students from Wheelock among the participants. Jessi Blanco Pagan from Kathy Rush’s class and Elliana Leone from Mark Putney’s class competed in the race, as they were cheered on by their classmates, who made the trip in support, holding custom handmade posters.

Dunkirk student Gabe Valentine carried the torch last, as the runners took laps around the track following the parade of Special Olympics athletes during the opening ceremony.

“This has just been an awesome experience for our student, Elliana, and all the students in our classroom,” said Putney. “We’re cheerleaders for her today. This is her day.”

Elliana competed in the race individually as her aide, Witkowski, cheered from the sidelines along with the rest of the class.

“Watching her from the beginning of the school year to now, it’s like a flower when it blossoms,” Witkowski said. “It’s really amazing, I can’t describe the feeling.”

All throughout the events, students were seen celebrating their accomplishments. From Elliana proudly holding her red ribbon in the air after the wheelchair race, to athletes clapping and shouting after tossing a tennis ball or a softball, the pride shown in the participants’ athleticism was prominently featured throughout the day.

“It’s always fun to see the kids perform. I think we might be more excited than they are,” Forestville Superintendent Dr. John O’Connor said. “It’s nice to see the smile on their faces, and for them to compete with their colleagues and friends.”

Law enforcement officers and Dunkirk High School students participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics. The torch was carried from Dunkirk High School to SUNY Fredonia’s Fieldhouse at Steele Hall.

“We have some of, I believe, the most competitive athletes in the Special Olympics program — especially Mekiah (Sedlacek) — shoutout to you,” added Valentine in support of his Dunkirk classmates. “Like the Special Olympics motto says, I know that if they don’t succeed, they will still have lots of fun. I just think it’s great that they get to participate.”

Elliana Leone proudly displays her red ribbon for competing in the Special Olympics wheelchair race on Wednesday morning at SUNY Fredonia. Elliana is flanked by teacher aide Amy Witkowski and kindergarten teacher Mark Putney, while surrounded by her classmates who came from Wheelock School to support her. Photos by Braden Carmen