Mission, Texas- Special Olympic athletes from Mission CISD (Consolidated Independent School District) partnered with volunteers from their schools through their Meet in the Middle clubs to participate in the Area 1 Special Olympics Bocce Tournament. This is the first year that Mission CISD has paired Special Olympic athletes with other student volunteers from their campuses to play together in a unified sport. The Meet in the Middle clubs are designed to promote social inclusion and unified activities for the special needs students at Mission High School (MHS) and Veterans Memorial High School(VMHS).
The Bocce Tournament was held this past Saturday, October 17 at UTRGV. More than 150 athletes from 10 school districts participated in the general tournament.
Here are the Mission CISD results for the unified doubles competition (Special Olympian/student volunteer): VMHS females division 1, Elidia Garcia/Shakira Miranda, second place; VMHS females division 2, Emily Perez/Vanessa Cabrera, second place; VMHS males division 3, Cesario Pena/Jaime Lopez, second place; VMHS males division 4, Sebastian Llamas/Eric Garza, second place; MHS female division 7, Ana Villarreal/Yasmine Rodriguez, first place; MHS division 8, Raylene Vela/Brittaney Farias, first place; MHS female division 9, Jaquelyn Porcayo/Kayla Muniz, second place; MHS mixed division 10, Joel Bravo/Martha Rodriguez, second place; MHS mixed division 11, Brandon Garza/Julissa Perez, second place.
In the singles competitions, Ethan Linares from VMHS earned first place in the male division 1. Second place went to Pedro Ruiz from MHS in the male division 14.
Pictured are the participants from MHS and VMHS in the Area 1 Special Olympics Bocce Tournament.
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