The time for Special Olympics action is now, and Plant City will be well-represented in this weekend’s activities.
Six total teams will compete in the soccer, track and field, and volleyball events with hopes of improving upon last year’s success: five gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
The athletes represent Plant City by way of the high school, donning Raider colors and training at the school’s athletic facilities. The Raiders have more volleyball teams than anything, bringing orange, teal and black squads to Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex, and are also fielding orange and teal soccer teams. Track and field will only have one team, but it was also the only squad to win gold in the 2014 competition.
Replicating last year’s success will be no small feat, but with the way these local athletes have been talking, it sounds as though they’re up for the task.
SOCCER
Last year’s Unified soccer teams brought home bronze medals, and many of the players are returning to play this weekend. That bodes well for Plant City’s chances, and the team’s newer players have been positively affected by that presence.
One of those new players is Trey Givens, who recently moved to Plant City from Brandon. Givens, a center back, joins the Raiders after spending four years in the Brandon TOPS Soccer program. He says that the transition between programs has been easy, thanks to the Plant City players’ skill and sportsmanship, as well as some past experience.
“I knew a lot of them from TOPS Soccer, and it’s good to see some friends I knew here,” he says.
After the teams’ last practice, in which the players polished their corner kicks, coaches and players felt these squads were ready to go make some noise. With the experience gained from the 2014 Games, it’s hard not to like this team’s odds going into the competition.
As for Givens, it’s his first time competing in the State Summer Games. But, he’s been mentally preparing himself for the task.
“I’m a little nervous,” Givens says. “I don’t know what to expect, but I’m ready to do it.”
TRACK AND FIELD
The most successful group of 2014 was the track and field team, which took home all four of Plant City’s gold medals and one of the silver medals. Naturally, this team has the highest expectations going into this weekend’s slate of action.
Tori Selph, who will compete in the long jump and 100 meter race, is competing for the Raiders for the second year. She also played basketball and volleyball last year, but decided to focus solely on track and field in 2015. If anyone would know what the 2015 squad is capable of, it’s her. And she says her three teammates have some wheels.
“We have a lot of fast runners on the team,” Selph says.
This will be Selph’s second time competing in track and field in the State Summer Games, and she’s happy to be able to make the trip again after doing so well last year.
“It was really good,” she says. “We beat all of the teams.”
This year, she won’t be running in the Unified 4×100 Relay.
In addition to competing, Selph is looking forward to taking in the whole Disney experience and hanging out with her friends. And, of course, she wants to leave with something to show for her efforts.
“We’re gonna win this,” Selph says.
VOLLEYBALL
With three teams entered, it appears that Plant City volleyball will have the most chances to win some gold in Orlando.
Jamesha Roper played last year, when both volleyball teams won silver, and has high hopes for her teammates. Roper, a member of the Black team, will be sidelined this weekend due to injury. She was playing basketball five weeks ago, working out with the Special Olympics All-American team, and suffered a stress fracture in her foot. Still, Roper has attended every team practice to cheer on her friends.
“I’m gonna be there for my team,” she says.
To improve upon last year’s performance, the teams have been working on one-handed hitting, calling for the ball and court movement. They’ve been working on the sand courts at Mike Sansone Park to improve movement, even though this weekend’s games will be played on a hard court. Roper says that the Black team’s strength is its attacking ability.
“We know how to spike,” she says. “We spike really hard.”
Roper and the volleyball teams know that, when it comes to the State Summer Games, nothing is ever easy. But they’re ready to put in the work to get the desired results, and have fun while doing it.
“We are hoping that we all get gold this year,” Roper says. “It’s going to be hard, but we’re going to try.”
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
THE GAMES
The State Summer Games, held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex May 15 and 16, is comprised of events in bocce, cycling, soccer, tennis, track and field and volleyball. Every sport but cycling will begin competition Friday, from 1 to 5:30 p.m., and everything will resume tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. After competition ends at 5:30 p.m., the teams will enjoy dinner, closing ceremonies and a “victory dance” to wrap things up.