Pictured, is the Tioga TNT 2015 Special Olympics Team. In the front row, from left, are Samuel Carter, Damian Forsyth, Aryan Peters, Brynn Hurd, Kayia Hadlock, Millie Grantham, Terynce Philhower, Steven Adams-Swansbrough, Trenton Adams-Swansbrough and Bryan Hurd. In the back row, from left, are Travis Adams-Swansbrough, Bradley Guiles, Jarom Williams, Shani Willis, Gabrielle Woodruff, Leslie Adams, Brandon Barney, Levi Isaac, Ty Middendorf and Thomas Hurd. (Photo provided by Sarah Conden)
Tioga TNT is closing the books on its seventh year. Tioga TNT is the name chosen in 2009 by the Special Olympians of the Tioga Central School District, according to Coach Sarah Conden. Conden is known in the community for her passion for her kids; and if sitting down to talk to her, it’s easy to see why.
“They’re my classroom family,” Conden said. She is the elementary school Special Education Teacher as well as Special Olympics coach, and spends quite a lot of time with the kids. The yearly Special Olympics competition give the kids a chance to display their unique talents and abilities, Conden said, but the games go far beyond helping them keep physically fit.
“It’s motivating to them,” Conden said. “We practice throughout the year.” Conden said that practice for the games give her a chance to work with the kids to identify their different talents, and teach them that if they want to be good at something it takes hard work and practice. It’s also an opportunity to talk about safety and rules. It’s also a chance to make life-long friends, Conden added, while giving them joy and building self-esteem.
“They’re just like other kids,” Conden said, “some of them want to push the boundaries.” Special Olympics reinforces that rules are there to keep them safe, while working on their ability to follow direction. As she said, they’re just like any other bunch of kids, and what parent hasn’t talked to their child about rules to keep them safe by following directions.
The games Tioga TNT participates in are the Spring Games, held on the first Saturday in May at Chenango Valley High School every year. While everyone gets a ribbon for participating, several of Conden’s students do very well, and bring gold back to Tioga Central. The Special Olympics team is open to special needs students age eight and up, Conden said.
“They wear their team t-shirts and medals on the first day back,” Conden said, “then they make an announcement about them on the speakers. You can hear all the classrooms cheering for them.” Conden became emotional about the recognition her kids get from their participation in Special Olympics.
“It’s wonderful, a lot of these kids don’t get a chance to shine. It’s very rewarding to see them, how proud they are of their accomplishments,” said Conden.
With the passage of the budget on June 16, Tioga Central will be saving money by keeping more special needs students in the district and establishing an 8-1-1 classroom. That’s eight kids for one instructor and one aide; and Conden said those kids will also have an opportunity to compete in the Special Olympics.
Conden said it was very generous for Jeff Gural, owner of Tioga Downs, to have made a personal donation to the district. If the budget had not been passed, money for extra curricular activates like Special Olympics would have dried up. She said that the district has been very supportive of her kids, providing lunch and snacks; but the biggest help is providing transportation to Chenango Valley once a year to compete.
If the budget had failed, the transportation funds would have been cut – leaving parents scrambling to find a way to get their kids to the games they so look forward to, Conden said. “If the budget didn’t pass, it would have affected participation,” she added.
“Tioga Central is a small district, I’m glad we have a program for them to excel and achieve,” Conden said, “it’s really nice to see the joy they have.”
Another source of joy for her kids were the donations from Williams Toyota in Sayre, Pa., Conden said. “Williams [Toyota] was very generous,” Conden added, “they donated sneakers to all the kids on the team. The students were very excited to get measured for their new shoes, and some of them thought they made them run faster or jump better.”
Conden was also very appreciative of the volunteers who make it possible for the kids to take part in the Special Olympics. Many high school kids volunteer, she said, as well as parents. “We would not be able to do it without their support,” said Conden.
Anyone is welcome to volunteer to volunteer, help out, or donate to the Tioga TNT Special Olympics team. Contact the Tioga Central School District for more information.
In 2014-15, the Tioga TNT Team was Leslie Adams, Steven Adams-Swansbrough, Travis Adams-Swansbrough, Trenton Adams-Swansbrough, Brandon Barney, Samuel Carter, Damian Forsyth, Millie Grantham, Bradley Guiles, Kayia Hadlock, Bryan Hurd, Brynn Hurd, Thomas Hurd, Levi Isaac, Ty Middendorf, Aryan Peters, Terence Philhower, Jarom Williams, Shani Willis and Gabrielle Woodruff.
