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Mansfield ISD students with special needs have a way to participate in year-round sports.
With the help of staff members and volunteers, Mansfield ISD All-Stars provides children in the special education program sports training and athletic competitions.
The students can choose from aquatics, basketball, bocce, bowling, cycling, tennis and track and field.
“This allows our students to do an extracurricular activity too,” said Rebecca Poggensee, an MISD adaptive P.E. teacher. “Having this type of program allows our students to interact with other students throughout the district who are similar to them.”
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| The students and volunteers have fun socializing between practice runs. |
“[Ava’s] involved with a group of people who love and support her no matter what her abilities are,” Weete said about her daughter. "That's what I love about it."
Coaches said the excitement on the children’s faces as they push themselves to meet personal goals is the highlight of being a part of the Mansfield ISD All-Stars.
“The experience that you get to see on their faces is like they have won the most important thing in their life,” Poggensee explained. “Just to see them beaming with pride is amazing.”
The athletes and coaches are currently in the track and field season. The team will participate at the Special Olympics Texas in Arlington on May 24-27, featuring nearly 3,000 athletes from all around the state of Texas.
View more information about Mansfield ISD All-Stars here.