Atlanta Public Schools’ Special Olympics master’s level softball team brought home gold medals by winning the state championship held Oct. 2-4 in Statesboro. After a grueling three-day competition, the team ended up No. 1 in the state of Georgia. APS Special Olympics athletes also competed in the softball-skills competition, winning gold, silver, bronze and fourth-place ribbons.
The winning team was comprised of student athletes from North Atlanta and Mays high schools, and the Bobby Dodd Institute (BDI). Other APS athletes from these schools also participated in the softball skills competition and were awarded a total of five gold medals, two silver medals, one bronze medal and two fourth-place ribbons. The list of APS student athletes who participated in the state championship were:
Team Players: Skills Players:
Brandon Black Grace Ashby
Kirby Broughton Nikki Brown
Shonta Campbell Carrie Crayton
Travis Greene Tioka Harris
Mike Hightower Ashley Martel
Lloyd Howell Nasha McCoy
Jermaine Parks Catrina Perdue
Robert Perdue Jasmine Spencer
Jermaine Russell Mamie Strickland
Aquinas Tolan Faith Williams
The team coaches are Patricia Merkerson from BDI, Lisa Oglesby and Mike Slack from North Atlanta High, and pitching coach Wendell Hale from Washington High School, who was an integral part of the team’s success. Student chaperones included Dondra Perkins, Natalie Jefferson and Mike Sullivan. The APS Program for Exceptional Children Special Olympics program is under the direction of Regina Gennaro.