April 28, 2007

CONTACT: Luke Brymer, Sports Information Assistant, Wallace State
Community College, luke.brymer@wallacestate.edu, 256/352-8231



Participants Shine in Day of Champions



HANCEVILLE, Ala.- Bright green shirts could be seen swarming the track
Wednesday morning as athletes from the Cullman County Center for Mental
Disorders arrived for the Day of Champions. The event is synonymous with
the Special Olympics and Wednesday was Wallace State's fourth time to
host the annual event.


Good luck rub - CCCDD clients get in a good luck rub from volunteer
Jimmy Dale Burgess' head before their next event.

"This is a great way for the clients to have a lot of fun and
participate in events that they didn't have the opportunity to do in
high school," program coordinator Tina Bennett said. "We have about 90
athletes here today that will be competing in about 10 events including
relay races, the long jump and the discuss throw. What excites me is
that this is the biggest year yet. We are really hoping that this event
continues to grow."



The Cold Springs marching band performed as the event kicked off, and
West Point Middle School sent students in its community service program
to assist the participants.



Wallace State track coach Stan Narewski said, "The band was phenomenal
this morning. They did a great job, and we're so glad they could come.
It was also great to have West Point here helping us out. They did a
great job taking care of the athletes and making sure they got what they
needed and where they needed to go."

Carl Brasher - Cullman County Center for the Developmentally Disabled
client Carl Brasher, right, injects some humor in the form of trash-talk
to members of the Wallace State track team during the Day of Champions.

The Wallace track team and cheerleaders were also present for the event
as they helped out with the competitions. Michael Chapa, a runner in the
1500-meter event for the track team said, "It's awesome to see how
excited they are to be here. It's also a big encouragement for me to
continue to work hard. If they can get out here, compete and have a good
time, so can I."



"Wallace State is a community college and this is a great way to be
involved in the community," Narewski added. "The students are able to
interact with the athletes from the Center and it's a great experience
for them. The National Guard is here along with the Marines, and we even
have a Humvee out here. And it's just a great experience for all the
clients. They look forward to the event all year."



David Lowry competes in the javelin throw for the Lions, and he said,
"This has been a wonderful experience. It's refreshing because the
athletes from the Center don't care about winning. All they want to do
is have fun and cheer for each other."


Willard Hudson - CCCDD client Willard Hudson races with track member
Michael Chapa during the Day of Champions held at Wallace State
Community College.

"It's awesome and really exciting to see how they support each other,"
Wallace hurdle competitor Glenn Fowler said.



Rita Miller is the sister of one of the Center's athletes, Regina
Miller. She said Regina competed in the standing long jump and the
discuss throw, and she had a wonderful time. "Regina loves it. She has
been so excited about today. She loves the chance to compete and have
people cheer for her. This event is a wonderful way to give the students
at Wallace and the community a first hand look at what the clients at
the Center can do. They are just as capable as we are and today is their
time to prove it."



"I want to thank Wallace for sponsoring the event," Miller said. "It
really shows the school, staff and students care."



Plans are already being made for next year's event, and Narewski said he
is looking for an even bigger turnout with more participating high
schools next year. "We just want to see the event continue to grow."



For more information about Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu.

  Kristen Holmes
  Director, Communications and Marketing
  Wallace State Community College
  P.O. Box 2000
  Hanceville, AL 35077
  256/352-8118
  E-mail: Kristen.Holmes@WallaceState.edu