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Golden Opportunity
Coaching Special Olympians challenging and rewarding
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By Jeff Reynolds
The Leader-Herald
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Fulton, Montgomery and Hamilton County athletes medaling in team volleyball at
the New York State Summer Special Olympics are, back row, from left: David
Lopez, Ed King, Joe Green, Shane Kilinski. Middle row: Traci Czelusniak,
Shannon Blankenbaker, Leeann Simzer, Monserrate Mato. Front row: Jennie Jones,
Steve MacPhail.
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There's something special about getting that feeling of
satisfaction.
A sense of accomplishment and a boost in self-confidence come
along with any satisfying experience.
For one group of local people, their accomplishments have come on
the volleyball court.
Over the summer, the Special Olympics volleyball team, made up of
players from Fulton, Montgomery and Hamilton counties, came home with the gold
medal at the June games at Hofstra University on Long Island.
Now, in the off-season, players and coaches are itching to get
back on the court to defend their hard-earned title.
"There is just so much enthusiasm," said Mike Houghton, who
coordinates the team with his wife, Diane, and a number of volunteers. "There's
so much satisfaction in doing something well. They set their bar high."
Over the summer, the Houghtons watched their players win the gold
medal, capping off an 11-3 season, not to mention remarkable improvement by all
of their players.
"There were so many tears when they found out they had won the
gold medal," said Mike Houghton.
"This year, they were just thrilled," added Diane. "I was really
glad to be there."
The couple also coaches the girls modified volleyball team at
Duanesburg, and Diane admitted she was leery of taking on the responsibility of
coaching a group of mentally and physically-challenged players.
"I had never done something like this," she said. Before long,
though, the players had won her over.
"Every week, they're glad to see you, and you get hugs," she
said. "They just love it, and they love you, and they accept you for who you
are. They're a great group."
The program was started by the people at Liberty, which provides
the transportation and helps organize the games, practices and tournaments. The
season begins in early March and concludes with the Special Olympics eash
summer.
But the achievements of the players last year-round and, for many
of them, an entire lifetime.
Every practice (the team practices once per week wherever it can
find court time) is met with anticipation, every game met with excitement.
"Even once a week, they just can't wait to get back," said Mike
Houghton. In one game, a player suffering from severe back spasms came to him
and wanted to get back on the court.
"He was back in the game before I was really ready to let him
back in," Mike Houghton said.
Splitting time between the gymnasiums at St. Mary's School in
Amsterdam and Canajoharie High School, Mike Houghton said the team has grown to
as many as 30 players at times since the program began four years ago.
The players learn about teamwork, dedication, physical fitness
and how to have fun.
Those players unable to compete in the actual games take part in
the skill competition, in which they compete for medals in serving, passing and
setting.
Mike and Diane Houghton, residents of Charleston, say they get as
much satisfaction out of helping their players learn the game of volleyball as
the players do learning it.
"My wife and I are a team, just as much as a volleyball team,"
said Mike Houghton. "We're in our 50s and still play volleyball competitively,
and I hope it will catch on with them."
And even those players with severe mental and physical
limitations manage to grasp the basic comcepts and pick up a few of the
fundamentals.
"It's tough for some of them," said Diane Houghton. "But they
really work at it, and they've surprised us."
For more information on the volleyball team and a link to the
Special Olympics Web site, check out Mike and Diane's Web site at
www.volleyballworld.org.
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