PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Every year Coach Brian Hamel looks to community businesses and organizations for assistance in raising funds so that his Special Olympics Snowdogs basketball team can attend the Special Olympics Maine State Basketball Tournament at the University of Southern Maine Gorham campus in March.
This year the Snowdogs got a little help from three students from Presque Isle High School’s SkillsUSA team — Griffin Guerrette, Ryle Mortland and Randon Mortland — who raised funds for the team as part of their club service project for the semester.
Along with Hamel, the SkillsUSA team sent letters to various businesses, asking them to consider making donations toward the transportation, hotel fees and other expenses associated with the trip to the state tournament, which costs a total of $10,000 each year. Between the students and Hamel, they raised $16,000.
The students presented a $2,350 check, representing their own fundraising efforts, and water bottles to the Snowdogs during the team’s weekly practice on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Sargent Family Community Center. They returned a week later on Wednesday, March 7, with even more special news.
During the previous weekend, the students presented their fundraising project as part of the SkillsUSA Maine’s State Leadership and Skills Conference and took home first prize, earning a place in the national SkillsUSA conference in Kentucky in June.
“Remember how these guys came last week and gave us a check?” Hamel asked his team of 33 Special Olympics players, as they huddled on the gym floor and nodded in anticipation. “Last weekend, they went to their own tournament and became the champions. They wanted to come back to show you their gold medals.”
The Snowdogs cheered and clapped loudly as the students showed off their gold medals. Afterward, Hamel and the team gathered with the students for a group photo.
“It’s rewarding to give them the chance to go to the competition and know that the money we helped raise is going toward a good cause,” Ryle Mortland said.
The Snowdogs team is made up of students from the Central Aroostook Association’s Operational Training Center, a special-purpose private school for students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities from area school districts. From January through March, they practice every Wednesday at the community center with the goal of competing in the state Special Olympics basketball tournament. To qualify, each team member has to maintain good attendance for practices and show consistent good behavior.
Speaking before three Snowdogs teams competed in the Saturday, March 10, statewide tournament, Hamel said it didn’t matter if the players brought home gold medals, as they have in the past. Regardless of the outcome, he said, simply participating brings great memories and fun to his players.
“The tournament is what they strive for every year and they all have to earn the right to go on the trip,” Hamel said, after the visit from the SkillsUSA students. “They learn about teamwork and sportsmanship and for many of them getting to play builds their self-esteem and confidence. We’re grateful for the SkillsUSA students and all the businesses who helped us realize our goal again this year.”
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- Presque Isle High School SkillsUSA students, from left, Randon Mortland, Griffin Guerrette, and Ryle Mortland, talk on March 7 to the Snowdogs basketball team about winning a SkillsUSA’s competition at a recent state conference. The three also helped raise money for the Snowdogs to participate in a Special Olympics Maine State Basketball Tournament in Gorham and wished them well in the event. Snowdogs Coach Brian Hamel looks on. (Melissa Lizotte)
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- The Special Olympics Snowdogs basketball team, coached by Brian Hamel, listens during a visit from Presque Isle High School SkillsUSA students on Wednesday, March 7, at the Sargent Family Community Center in Presque Isle. (Melissa Lizotte)
