Nearly 100 Student-Athletes From Fisher Take Part in Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies
Nearly 100 student-athletes and several teams from St. John Fisher braved the cold in late February as athletes from across eight regions in New York State came together for the annual Special Olympics opening ceremonies at the Riverside Convention Center in downtown Rochester.
"It was a wonderful experience to be a part of the opening ceremonies," commented
Bari Mance who has piloted the Cardinals' softball program for the last six seasons. "Watching the athletes get excited and ready for their competition, and listening to their stories was special. Anytime you can bring people together in the spirit of competition and sportsmanship, it's a great thing!"
For nearly two decades, the Fisher community and its athletic department have been involved with Special Olympics. Members of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee routinely take part in, and help to organize, the annual Rochester Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics while several teams often volunteer their time in support of various charitable endeavors linked with Special Olympics and its athletes.
"We were all opening ceremony cheerleaders," added head women's lacrosse coach
Linda Michele who has guided her team to seven straight Empire 8 Conference Championships. "Teams from all regions of the state entered the ballroom of the convention center and looped around the outside with their seats for the ceremony being in the middle. We were all positioned on the outside to cheer, high five, and celebrate them as athletes as they went by."
Together, with members of the surrounding Rochester community and beyond, Fisher has helped to raise millions of dollars for Special Olympics. Every year, members of the College's athletic department embody its mission of being Good, Smart and Talented as they volunteer hundreds of hours in support of various community service initiatives including the Giant Read, Camp Good Days and Special Times, Ronald McDonald House, Wheels 'n Steals, Donate for Life, Luau for Lustgarten, Foodlink and more.
"Spirit is defined by perseverance and Special Olympics is the embodiment of that," Michele explained. "By volunteering our time, we attempted to provide every athlete there with the time of their lives! For our athletes to experience the pure joy of competition was awesome and contagious. It helps us remember why we play the game and to be forever grateful for that opportunity!"
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com and
https://youtu.be/wzL4HcDoUUQ