This summer will mark the first time Thomas County Central High School will send five special need students to represent the Thomasville YMCA in the swimming competition at the Georgia State Special Olympics Summer Games.
The swimmers competing in Atlanta are Skylar Leach, Ricky Hobbs, Carlos Battle, Inkosi Davis and Kira Barnett. They will be participating in the 25 meter freestyle, 50 meter freestyle, 200 meter freestyle, 50 meter butterfly and the 4 x 25 meter freestyle relay.
“I’m a little nervous and excited at the same time,” 11th grader Inkosi Davis said. “I always have a good time when I participate in the state games.”
The swimmers are coached by Jack Howell, a retired marine, and TCCHS Adaptive Special Education Teacher Todd Wilson.
“As their coach, I realize that this fulfills their desire to compete in organized athletics,” Wilson said.
Several years ago Todd Wilson noticed a need for his students to learn how to swim.
“Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in special need children,” he explained. “Providing this service could save their life one day.”
Not only are they learning how to swim, but they are learning how to swim competitively with the Special Olympics.
Wilson’s class has been training all school year. They started in August, evaluating the kids on their swimming, interest and physical abilities within the pool.
The class has community-based instruction two times a week. One of those days is spent at the YMCA.
“The YMCA has done a wonderful job providing free swimming, instruction and life guards for my class,” Wilson said. “They deserve a lot of credit for their success.”
To advance to the Georgia State Special Olympics Games an athlete must have participated for a minimum of eight weeks in an organized swim training program. They must also have placed first, second or third in their event in a lower level of Special Olympics competition. They must also be able to swim the full distance of the pool with no physical assistance and have general knowledge of the rules and skills of the strokes.
“It makes me feel proud of myself,” Kira Barnett, ninth-grader at TCCHS, said of her advancement to state competition. “I have worked hard. I really like it when I beat the boys.”
More than 1,800 Special Olympics athletes and over 600 coaches will be at state competition. They will compete in aquatics, soccer, badminton, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics and table tennis.
“I’ll be real happy because I’ve worked hard at swimming all year,” senior Ricky Hobbs said of the possibility of winning a medal.
This year the Georgia State Special Olympics Games was held on May 29-May 31 at Emory University in Atlanta.
“Mr. Jack and Coach Wilson have been really hard on us at practice this year,” 11th grader Carlos Battle said. “I feel we are ready for the challenge. We are ready for the gold!”