Greene County brings home gold at Special Olympics

Six special needs students from the Greene County School System recently brought a pair of gold medals back to Greensboro in two different sports from the Special Olympics Winter Games.

Greene County’s students won gold medals in the 3-on-3 basketball and assisted ramp bowling events.

Greene County School System Adapted Physical Education (P.E.) coach Amber Conoly was proud of the athletes. She said they represented their community well over the weekend at the games.

“It’s super exciting for them,” Conoly said. “This is the first year we’ve had full-time adapted P.E. throughout the entire county. So, I am getting a chance to work with our special needs population. It’s for students who need a modified curriculum, so I’m working with them every week.”

Conoly’s main focus is getting all of her GCSS students to play a variety of sports at various levels.

“Even if they aren’t at a certain skill level and not at a game-play level yet, they’re still able to compete and show off their skills,” Conoly said. “Like their dribbling, passing, or bowling skills. That’s what I love about the Special Olympics. It offers so many avenues for different skill levels. But this team in particular, I’m just so proud of them. They’ve been practicing since late August.”

Before competing last weekend, Conoly took her students to a local event in Athens, where six qualified for the next level. So, all six made the trip this past weekend to take part in the Winter Games.

Two students from Anita White Carson Middle School and three students from Greene County High School made up the 3-on-3 basketball team, which took first place and won all five of its games.

Those students were Nelson Martinez, Cassie Warwick, Luis Lucio-Gomez, Tyreese Hill, and Marques Stembridge. They played well together as a team and crushed their competition on the court.

While three of the players were on the hardwood, the two others cheered their teammates on, and vice-versa. Their skills and stamina proved to be too much for their five opponents at the Winter Games.

Conoly highlighted the 3-on-3 basketball team practiced against other students from the high school.

“What helped them as a team was every week they were competing against some of the general education students,” Conoly said. “They would come in and do a 3-on-3 scrimmage with them. That was just so fun. It was the whole school coming together. They got to see these athletes shine. The other students at our school helped play a big part in helping this team prepare for the state games.”

GCSS student Alivia Jones also took home the gold medal in the assisted bowling competition.

Jones shined by outscoring every other student she competed against in the Winter Games on Friday.

Conoly acknowledged how talented Jones’ game is when she’s attempting to knock down pins.

“It was cool because (Alivia) trained all season, too,” Conoly said. “She brought home the gold.”

Conoly added that assisted-ramp bowling takes a lot of skill because it’s an individual sport.

“She was in complete control in the placement of her ramp,” Conoly said. “As her assistant, I can never look at the pins. I couldn’t even look at them to cheer her on. I had to be facing her at all times with my back to the lane. So, if she knocked down three (pins) and had seven left, she would have to physically tell me with her hand gestures where she wanted me to move her ramp.”

Conoly and assistant coach Brad Evans worked hard with their students leading up to the Winter Games. They are now starting to train for the Spring Games, which take place in March and April.

“Now, we are gearing up for the spring,” Conoly said. “I can’t wait to see these kids excel more.”