YHS hosts Special Olympics

  • The opening ceremony of the 2022 DeWitt Lavaca Special Olympics included releasing balloons into the sky before commencing the contests.
    The opening ceremony of the 2022 DeWitt Lavaca Special Olympics included releasing balloons into the sky before commencing the contests.
  • The opening ceremony of the 2022 DeWitt Lavaca Special Olympics included releasing balloons into the sky before commencing the contests.
    The opening ceremony of the 2022 DeWitt Lavaca Special Olympics included releasing balloons into the sky before commencing the contests.
  • Andrew Yetersky and DLSEC Executive Director Brian Billstein pose for a picture after a 25-meter obstacle race.
    Andrew Yetersky and DLSEC Executive Director Brian Billstein pose for a picture after a 25-meter obstacle race.
  • Davon Williams of Yoakum sprints toward the finish line to earn his team first place in the 4x100-meter race.
    Davon Williams of Yoakum sprints toward the finish line to earn his team first place in the 4x100-meter race.

    Students from more than a dozen districts gathered at the Yoakum Bulldog Stadium for the first DeWitt-Lavaca Special Olympics in three years on Friday, May 6.

     

    Friday’s event started with an opening ceremony that welcomed students from DeWitt, Lavaca, Victoria and Gonzales Counties students. The Yoakum High School (YHS) Bulldog Band played their instruments while the participating students walked the track and waved at the audience in the bleachers.

     

    Students participated in several contests, including relays, wheelchair races, sprints, javelin throw, shot put, etc. 

     

    Friday marked the first Special Olympics event held at YHS since 2019 due to pandemic-related concerns. Students, volunteers, sponsors, and the audience in attendance all seemed to share feelings of gratitude to see the event return to the football field.

     

    “(Hosting this event) means the world to us. We’re just so glad we’re able to do it. Due to COVID, we hadn’t been able to have this event,” said YISD Superintendent Tom Kelley. “The excitement and enthusiasm of getting these kids together (to perform) in this track meet today is awesome. It’s very uplifting to everybody involved in it.”