46 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com our sports an collective manner. And it gets our adaptive players and regular players together ... It’s trying to be inclusive.” The Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympictype sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Its athletes participate in 23 sports, which all have a unified component. There are unified leagues as well, said Macfarland, whose daughter Kylie is special needs. Kylie, who participated in the COCO event, is also involved in bowling, sailing and kayaking. She has taken part in the Special Olympics for 35 years and has gone to the World Games for tennis and the USA Games for both tennis and sailing. “They are just as competitive as you and I are out on the court,” stated Macfarland of the Special Olympics athletes. “But one thing that they probably do better than you and I is that they are outstanding sportsmen. And they are so sincere.” Following unified play, Rogers and Keys played a fun racquet game with the athletes where the object is to hold the racquet with one hand while one person calls out a body part. You then must touch that body part with the same hand holding up the racquet without letting it drop to the ground. A lot of smiles, laughter and cheering ensued and Keys and Rogers graciously signed autographs and posed for pictures with athletes and their family members. But it wasn’t just the Special Olympics athletes who had a blast. “The clinic was so fun,” shared Rogers. “One, it brought a smile to my face—but just to see their skills as well and how much they love the sport of tennis and how they are able to be active.” She added that athletes shared stories with her about participating in the USA Games and talked about their trips and gold medals and how the sport of tennis has influenced their life in such a positive way. “And it’s so inspiring to see them and being able to hit back and forth and rally with them, it’s just so awesome,” beamed Rogers. “And we got some really fun pictures, you know, shared a bunch of laughs out there. Honestly, the best way to start my day.” If you would like to get involved, Mount Pleasant Tennis Complex will be hosting a unified play team concept tournament called Bandana Team Tennis the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend featuring approximately 50 athletes. For more information, call the MPTC at 843-856-2162. BISHOP ENGLAND HIGH SCHOOL Catholic Education Since 1915
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