When most people are focused on winter school sports like basketball and volleyball, something else is going on as well: the Special Olympics.
Children in the Springs School who are part of the special education program competed in the Special Olympics Long Island Regional Under 21 Bowling Tournament on March 2 at All Star Bowling in Riverhead.
Prior to this event, the students sharpened their skills at the Clubhouse bowling alley in Wainscott. In a recent interview, Whitney Riedlinger, the school’s occupational therapist and head coach for the Special Olympics bowling team, said
she thinks this program is important because “it provides an opportunity for our students who have some motor difficulties to get a chance to compete in sporting events against people with similar difficulties.” She has been doing this program for 20 years, since 2005, and added, “Our team is very grateful for all of the support from the Springs community.”
All students competing from the Springs School won a medal. Hudson Mclear, Charlie Feyh, and Randy Coyago won gold medals. Justin Coyago won a silver medal and Matthew Chuqui and Silas Rogoski won bronze medals.
By Saoirse Quinn, Grade 6