Mercer County Special Olympics hosted basketball skills & cheerleading tournament
ATHENS, WV (WVNS) – Dozens of parents and kids flocked into Concord University Friday evening to witness the Basketball Skills and Cheerleading Tournament.
Organizers and athletes were pumped for the game, including the parents.
The event was hosted for the first time last year, thanks in part to County Director of Mercer County Special Olympics Megan Belcher.
Her own brother is a competitor, and it started as a way for him to have something to do.
“We’ve grown tremendously since last year. Last year, we had 16 athletes compete with us and we didn’t have a cheerleading team. This year, we’ve added a cheerleading team and we have 47 registered athletes,” Belcher said.
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The night kicked off with a performance for the cheerleading squad.
It then progressed to the skills competition, where athletes had to show their skills in different competitions.
This includes dribbling, passing, and even shooting into the goal.
Assistant County Director Myra Wright was the one managing the skills competition. Her own son is also a competitor and was happy for the turnout.
“They struggle to be in activities like band because they can’t always keep up with their peers, cognitively or physically. So, we’ve given them a place where it doesn’t matter which speed you travel on, you can fit into our group,” Wright said.
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When asked about the biggest takeaway from tonight’s event, Belcher said it’s a simple one.
Everyone can be a competitor at heart, you just need the right environment to prove it.
Both Belcher and Wright hope to host more events like this one in the future.
“There’s such a need in our area. Everybody deserves to have a place where they belong and something to be excited about and be included in. This gives everyone the opportunity to be excited and have a sporting event just for them,” Belcher said.
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