| VASS/Sugarbush athletes compete at 2009 Winter Special Olympics |
Sixteen Harwood athletes from the Partners Club participated in the Special Olympics. Between them they won 4 gold medals, 10 silver medals and 6 bronze medals as well as many fourth, fifth, and sixth place ribbons!
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This year a wheelchair bound student attended the games to cheer her teammates on. With a wheelchair donated by Home, Health and Hospice and modifications provided by Harwood teacher Steve Skilton's class, she was able to attend the competition on skis/in her chair. Skilton had two of his students who are on the team modify the chair so it is on skis. That allowed the girl to get into the woods with her teammates, although she could not compete because of the rules of the Olympic committee.
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The Harwood Union Partners club was started 11 or 12 years ago as a way for students with disabilities to learn to socialize with a variety of students and be a part of a Harwood team. It is a club based on fostering new friendships while offering the chance to help others and having fun through learning and helping. Partners Club puts students together who would not normally meet one another through their daily schedules.
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For many years the Partners Club has participated in the Winter and Spring Special Olympics and the Fall Unified Sports Competitions. The team has always followed the stringent rules of the Olympic Committee and always been in complete compliance. This team is the only Harwood team to bring gold and silver medals from this kind of unique competition to the school through the diligence and hard work of the athletes with as much diligence and hard work from the coaches.
2x25 meter race
Division One
Trey Winnicki
Matt Moulton
BRONZE
Division Two
Jeff Cove
Zack Humphrys
BRONZE
Division Four
Alex Keating
Torie Pelkey
SILVER
Division Five
Faith Defelice
Ben Peck
SILVER
Division Six
Jack Burfoot
Tymber Amon
SILVER
Division Seven
Tommy Johnson
Steven Peck
GOLD
2x100 Meter Race
Division One
Jack Burfoot
Tymber Amon
FIFTH PLACE
Trey Winniki
Matt Moulton
GOLD
Division Two
Jeff Cove
Zack Humphrys
FOURTH PLACE
Division Four
Alex Keating Torie Pelkey
SILVER
Faith Defelice
Stephen Peck
BRONZE
Division Five
Tommy Johnson
Tova Green
