Skills competition attracts
more than 160 Special Olympians
By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The shooters touch, the hard-push up the court with the ball and the on-target pass, these were but three of the skills on display at the annual Special Olympics Basketball Skills Tournament held at the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Gentile Hall on Wednesday.
Staff photo/Jon Gulliver
BRADLEY CYR 
takes part in the 10-meter dribble event at the Special Olympics Basketball Skill Competition held at the University of Maine Presque Isle last Wednesday. More than 160 athletes participated.
More than 160 Special Olympians from Presque Isle, Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Fort Kent, Limestone, St. Agatha, Madawaska, Danforth and Hodgdon participated.
“This year was definitely one of the biggest groups we have ever had,” said Carl Michaud, who was one of the organizers of the event.
Athletes could take part in up to four events.
Basketball skills included three different measurements that all attending athletes are asked to complete. Scores were taken from the three different skills — target pass, spot shot and 10-meter dribble to determine the athletes’ placement in their division for which they receive a placement ribbon.
Three-on-three games were played with 12 teams and three different age levels.
Twelve different teams competed in five-on-five and the Aroostook County Special Olympics basketball team, the Snow Dogs, scrimmaged against the Caribou High School varsity boys basketball team.
“My Snow Dogs team was honored to be the featured game at the end of the skills competition,” said coach Brian Hamel. “I was so proud of the way they represented themselves.”
Hamel had high praise for the entire experience.
“Participating in this event with 160-plus Special Olympians and countless volunteers was very heartwarming and powerful,” he said.
Michaud said this day of fun and competition wouldn’t be possible without the work of many people.
“We had dozens of volunteers,” he said. “Coaches, the Caribou boys varsity team, the Easton Varsity Club and their advisers, Gentile Hall staff and others from UMPI, Maine Public Service and the Central Aroostook ARC all provided assistance.”
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Upcoming events include the area winter games at the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle this March and the spring games at the Presque Isle Middle School in May.
