Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information

WESTFIELD, MASS. – Special Olympians, cheerleaders, spectators, and student-athlete volunteers gathered at Alumni Field on Sunday to participate in the 2016 Massachusetts Special Olympics' Flag Football tournament games hosted by Westfield State University.

Special Olympics of Massachusetts has used the Westfield State hosted event for the last six years to obtain evaluations and assessments, placing each team in the appropriate tier of competition for the state championships, which is held later this year at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots.

About 100 Westfield State varsity student-athletes took part in this event, serving as volunteer referees, scorekeepers, ball chasers, cheerleaders, assessors and ambassadors.

Each of the 12 teams were recognized in an opening ceremony to kick off the games before 250 Special Olympians took to the field Sunday morning to compete in 12 games. Winning teams were announced in a closing award ceremony to conclude the day.

The Special Olympics flag football tournament allows Westfield State student-athletes and Special Olympians to connect with one another in a one-on-one competitive and enjoyable environment. The event continues to be a success each year.