Success isn’t measured by the scoreboard for McGregor’s Ruban Ghanges at the Special Olympics Ontario School Championships.
Success isn’t measured by the scoreboard for McGregor’s Ruban Ghanges at the Special Olympics Ontario School Championships.
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The Panthers bocce player had a good time Tuesday as play got underway at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown campus.
“Winning is fun, but having fun is nice, too,” Ghanges said. “I know I lost, but it was quite fun. I like to throw balls.”
The annual two-day provincewide event brought more than 750 high school athletes to Chatham-Kent for five sports: bocce, basketball, track and field, floorball and soccer.
They gathered at the John D. Bradley Convention Center for the opening ceremonies after the first day of competition.
“We are celebrating the extraordinary talents, dedication and spirit of our Special Olympic athletes,” Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff said to the crowd. “You are not only athletes, you are inspirations and role models for our community and beyond.
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“Your perseverance, courage and determination remind us all of the potential within each of us.”
Former NHL forward Todd Warriner, an Olympic silver medallist, spoke to the athletes about his experience at the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway.
After Chatham-Kent police Chief Gary Conn lit the flame with a Chatham Christian high school athlete, Warriner declared, “Let the Games begin.”
These are the first Special Olympics Ontario provincial championships in the municipality since 1997.
“This is the best of the best coming together,” Ursuline Lancers basketball coach Jeff Teeuwen said.
The Lancers earned their berth by doing well at a qualifier on their home court in April. They’re happy to be playing close to home.
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“It’s fantastic,” Teeuwen said. “They get to come out and represent their school and Chatham. The big part is they get to see other kids from around the province come around here to play. It’s good for them to see that people travel all this way to participate.”
It’s also good for the Lancers to see high-level teams they don’t normally face, he said. They learn what’s possible if they work hard and practice.
The Lancers went winless on the opening day, but forward Christian Konstantinou still sported a big smile. He was eager for better results Wednesday.
“Maybe one game to win,” he said, laughing. “One game.”
While basketball and bocce were held in Ridgetown, the three other sports took place in Chatham. Track and field was at the Chatham-Kent Community Athletic Complex. Soccer and floorball were at St. Clair College.
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McGregor bocce player Tamarra Moor-Donais had a cheering section with her mom, dad, uncle and best friend.
“It’s pretty fun,” she said. “I like having my family to watch me.”
The Panthers were scheduled to have even more fans Wednesday. Their entire alternative learning and life skills program was coming to lend support.
“We’ve got a bus so that they can all come and cheer on the kids that qualified,” Panthers coach Jeremy Rogers said. “They’re all pretty excited to get to leave the school and go on a field trip for the day.”
That’s one perk to having the championships so close to home.
“It’s great because they get to have their family and friends here to cheer them on,” Rogers said. “It changes the atmosphere versus some of the away teams that have driven five, six hours, but they get their family and friends right here to support them.”
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