WESTFIELD, Mass. - Special Olympians, cheerleaders, spectators, and student-athlete volunteers gathered at Alumni Field on Sunday, October 22
nd to participate in the 2017 Massachusetts Special Olympics' Flag Football tournament games hosted by Westfield State University athletics.
Approximately 100 Westfield State student-athletes volunteered for the worthwhile cause, 20 of whom are members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB). Additional responsibilities for student-athletes included officiating, scorekeeping and offering general assistance.
Special Olympic teams from various parts of the state traveled to Westfield State's Alumni Field to participate in this event. The 14 teams and 250 Special Olympians were recognized in an opening ceremony to kick off the games before they took to the field Sunday morning to compete in 14 games. Winning teams were announced in a closing award ceremony to conclude the day.
Special Olympics of Massachusetts has used the Westfield State hosted event for the last seven years to obtain evaluations and assessments, placing each team in the appropriate tier of competition for the state championships, which is held later this year at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots.
The Special Olympics flag football tournament allows Westfield State student-athletes and Special Olympians to connect with one another in a one-on-one competitive and enjoyable environment. The event continues to be a success each year.
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