LA PLATA, Md. (May 24, 2010)—The Unified Track and Field team from Maurice J. McDonough High School won first place among the yellow division at the Special Olympics Maryland 2010 Unified Track and Field State High School Invitational meet held May 12 at Coppin State University.
The team earned a total of 140 points at the event, which featured track and field events ranging from the 100-, 400- and 800-meter dash races and shot-put throw to the long jump, turbo javelin throw and relay races.
Students from all other Charles County public high schools competed in the event, and teams were separated into three levels of competition – yellow, black and red divisions – based on the number of students participating on each team. Schools from Baltimore City, and Frederick and Prince George’s counties also competed at the event, and a total of 23 student teams participated.
North Point High School’s team won second place with 57 points in the black division, and Thomas Stone High School’s team earned fourth place in the same division with 51 points.
The team from Henry E. Lackey High School was awarded third place among the red division with 54 points, and Westlake High School’s team scored 42 points in the same division, which resulted in a fourth place award.
Additionally, the team from La Plata High School earned fifth place in the yellow division with a total score of 57 points.
Members of the McDonough team are: Carson Bartlett, senior; Justin Brooks, junior; Brianna Butler, junior; Mario Coleman, senior; Rashawn DePamphilis, senior; Quinton Dillard, senior; Ismael Diago, senior; Derrick Dudley, sophomore; Charles Elam, senior; Ryan Gant, junior; Joshua Gauvin, sophomore; Deyon Greenfield, senior; Derion Green, sophomore; Deshona Green, sophomore; Devonte Hagens, sophomore; Aiesha Leath, junior; Earl Jamison, junior; Tajae’ Johnson, sophomore; Megan Keesee, junior; Alexandria Lee, senior; Kristina Mason, senior; David McGhee, senior; Eric Moseley, senior; Kyle Mower, junior; Andrea Muschette, senior; Robert Mullins, freshman; Muhammed Sulemana, freshman; Levi Nicholson, junior; Halston Noel, freshman; Joe Proctor, junior; Louis Robinson, sophomore; Sarah Rowe, senior; Kelli Smith, senior; Marcus Teamer, junior; Thomas Vargo, freshman; Edwin Willie, senior; Jeffrey Willie, senior; Jessica Wilson, senior; Devante’ Yates, sophomore; and Jordan Zeitler, junior.
Students from North Point that participated include: Shantell Springfield, junior; Brandon Richardson, junior; Stephanie Barlas, senior; Sara Akers, sophomore; Khrystan Green, junior; Matthew Lorman, senior; Sarah Infante, senior; Kevin Gascon, sophomore; Rosemary Crowl, sophomore; Joseph Evans, junior; Chris Blancaflor, junior; Dominic Mostella, senior; Mike Jones, freshman; Tony Garner, junior; Greg Fuksa, junior; and Anthony Zoscak, junior.
Thomas Stone’s team includes the following students: Anthony Quick, sophomore; Breanna Kelly, sophomore; Carl Parker, sophomore; Darren East, junior; Devonte Ferguson, sophomore; Devante Phillip, sophomore; Drevon Vance, junior; Jonathan Sharp, junior; Kevin Lopez, junior; Lamon Ford, sophomore; Mike Halmon, sophomore; Ronald Brooks, junior; Sean Short, sophomore; Stephon Yates, junior; Truman Hancock, junior; and Tyler Windsor, freshman.
Lackey’s team is comprised of the following students: Marvin Johnson, junior; James Andrews, senior; Rose Lynch, junior; Malek Stover, senior; Mike Sartori, freshman; Lacey Creelman, senior; Jayla Green, senior; Kendra Mosley, senior; Matthew Sheehan, freshman; Shawn Duker, sophomore; Emily Dickey, senior; Tegan Bratcher, senior; and Thomas Cole, junior.
Student members of the La Plata team include: Kyle West, senior; Nicholas Adriani, sophomore; Candice Wedding, freshman; Kyle McCloskey, junior; Lindsey Watson, junior; Amber Langston, junior; Lisa Marie Watley, sophomore; Taylor Morgan, sophomore; Nicole Crutchfield, junior; Rebecca Sanford, sophomore; Kelsey Welch, sophomore; Cassady Howard, sophomore; Michael Murphy, freshman; Erica Young, senior; Derek Harrison, senior; Jenna Reyes, senior; Marsha Forbes, senior; Charles Binger, senior; Cheyenne Goldsmith, sophomore; and Kaylee Timmermann, freshman.
Westlake’s team includes the following students: Kendra Boone, freshman; Hakeem Bridgewater, sophomore; Bria DuVall, senior; Leena Neeb, sophomore; Anthony Anderson, senior; Alexander Johnson, senior; Brittany Morgan, senior; Reginald Wall, junior; and Eric Montague, junior.
Charles County Public Schools partnered with Special Olympics Maryland in 2008 to offer high school students of all abilities and backgrounds the opportunity to participate on a track and field team. Unified sports teams are composed of a combination of students with and without disabilities who train together and compete against other schools.
The goal of the partnership is to provide students with disabilities opportunities to explore their athletic abilities and social, communications and relationship-building skills. The partnership also provides students without disabilities the opportunity to work with students from diverse backgrounds, learn about teamwork and communication, and participate in a rewarding sports program.
The school system also launched the program to comply with regulations outlined in the Maryland Fitness and Athletics Equity for Students with Disabilities Act, which mandates that all students receive access to sports and fitness opportunities. The program is supported with grant funds from the U.S. Department of Education and Special Olympics Maryland.
Source: Charles County Public School System