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Special Olympians gather at Gaither

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

cpastor@tampatrib.com

Published: March 3, 2010

NORTHDALE - Karlee Hayes looked out at the crowd in Gaither's football stands and steeled her nerves as the music began.

Karlee, 18, sings regularly in the high school's chorus and performed the national anthem for a basketball game with special-needs players. But this was her largest audience yet. Though she was a little bit nervous, she felt good as she started to sing.

"It was easy," she said.

Karlee helped kick off the opening ceremonies for Gaither's Special Olympics Stampede Feb. 19, which gives local athletes a chance to practice their skills before the regional competition this month at the University of South Florida. Gaither High has hosted the training day for about a dozen years.

Nearly 400 students from 20 Hillsborough County schools participated. Gaither students paired up with Olympian buddies to cheer them on and escort them to different activities. The high school's clubs set up games, a photography booth and a petting zoo to entertain guests between competitive events.

"It's an education about students with disabilities - that they're amazing people once you get to know them," said Sara Kleiner, a special-needs teacher and one of the organizers.

Karlee and her buddy, 17-year-old Taya Green, posed for pictures and checked out the sights before Karlee's softball throw and 50-meter race. Taya met Karlee through Gaither's "Best Buddies" club, which pairs special-needs students with high school partners.

Taya, a junior, got interested in the club to relate to her cousin, who is autistic but lives out of town. Taya was matched with buddy Daniel last year, and they began hanging out, going to movies and Disney. He brought her flowers on Valentine's Day. Since he graduated, Taya has told him he's no longer her "best buddy" but her best friend.

The friendships the Special Olympians and the Gaither students develop are the highlight for history teacher Mary Frances Granell, who helped organize the training day. She tells the students when they sign up as buddies that she doesn't care about their motivation, whether they want to do good or they want a day out of class.

"When you're done today, you're going to have a feeling that only you have ever felt," she told the volunteers. "It's going to be warm and fuzzy, and it's going to change your life."

The athletes from Gaither got a pep rally in their honor the day before the event in front of the entire school. The students gave them a standing ovation.

The area games start March 13. Special Olympics organizers will use the competition times from Gaither to group similarly skilled athletes.

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (727) 451-2343.

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