Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- In October, Westfield State University and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), working in conjunction the Athletics Department's graduate assistants Dan Brady, Erica Griffo, and Kristen Hoffman to organize the support staff, hosted 13 Special Olympics flag football teams on Alumni Field. This is the fourth consecutive year Westfield hosted the event with help from Owl student-athletes and Athletics Department personnel. In total, 250 Special Olympians competed in 18 games. In addition to the players and coaches, cheerleaders, spectators, and student-athletes filled the complex to cheer on the players.  

"The Special Olympic Athletes are very welcoming to us," said junior women's soccer player Amanda Magri. "They invite us to be a part of their team for the day, which is a rewarding feeling. It is an event that I love to be a part of each year!"

"This year's flag football tournament was a big success," said Dan Brady. "It was great to see so many of our student-athletes volunteer and connect with the Special Olympians."

Dan has worked the event as both a former student-athlete and now as an athletics administrator. "We have had a wonderful relationship with the Special Olympics for the past several years, and I hope we are able to host another event for them next year as well."                  

Special Olympics of Massachusetts uses this event to obtain evaluations and assessments to place each team in the appropriate tier of competition for the state championships. 

SAAC consists of two student-athletes from each of Westfield State's 21 varsity teams. The committee focuses on community service, student leadership and assisting the Westfield State administration with programming. They will now shift focus to their next annual community service project, which includes delivering Secret Santa gifts to Westfield elementary students in need.