Tomorrow, Student Council (StuCo) will be welcoming roughly 200 local athletes into the FHC gymnasium to host a local basketball tournament for the Special Olympics. StuCo members will play a valuable role, organizing and helping out with the event. This is the first time the school has hosted the Special Olympics.

According to the Special Olympics site, their mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympics provides them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.

Assisting them in their cause, StuCo members will be attending the event to cheer on the team and to ensure everything runs smoothly.

“[The Special Olympics] came to me and said that they wanted to host the basketball tournament at Central and that they wanted StuCo to be the sponsoring club,” said Student Council advisor Mrs. Vicki Pohlman. “I’m very excited about it.”

For senior Evan Dwyer, his contribution to the games will be announcing the teams and the champions.

“I’m really looking forward to announcing the winners and seeing the teams play,” Dwyer said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Senior Jessica Hyde’s role at the games is to cheer on the athletes and to make sure that they’re having a good time while competing.

“I am going to be a fan in the stands, which means that I’m going to be able to follow a specific team and cheer them on throughout the day,” said Hyde. “I’m excited to see how happy they are while they’re playing. I know it’s a good feeling to have a crowd cheering for you while you’re doing what you love, and I’m pleased to be able to be a part of that.”

While StuCo members will be sure to be there to cheer on the teams, the games will be open for any fans who wish to attend and cheer them on as well. The game will be held in the gym, starting at noon on Jan. 17th.