Dawson Jones knows how it feels to have people supporting him when he's on the field. "I love it when people come to cheer me on," said Jones, a ninth grader who plays baseball and football at New Canaan Country School.
So Jones and other NCCS ninth graders knew what it meant Wednesday when they applauded and cheered visiting students competing in a Special Olympics event on campus.
The NCCS kids cheered loudly for the youngsters from Rowayton School in Norwalk, Washington School in Waterbury and John S. Martinez and Katherine Brennan schools in New Haven. They also gave them instruction while playing baseball, basketball, soccer and volleyball. They even offered hints on hitting the best basketball shot and setting up a teammate in volleyball.
Andy Morris, athletics coordinator at NCCS, said the school has hosted the event for six years to serve the community, to give kids a chance to have fun and to educate their students about children who may have disabilities.
"It provides a positive experience for the athletes as well as our students," he said.
Lou Pear, a director with Unified Sports, said, "When you look into the eyes of a person who performed to the best of their abilities, they feel just as accomplished as Derek Jeter."
Dajah Washington, a youngster from Brennan School, felt good after shooting baskets in the NCCS gym, though she had to watch out for others shooting at the same bucket. "I was scared that a ball was going to hit me in the head," she said.
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