BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted its Annual Special Olympics Basketball Tournament in Timothy Breidegam Fieldhouse on Sunday, April 14 with more than 60 participants from the Lehigh County Special Olympics, Bethlehem City Special Olympics, Northampton County Special Olympics, Monroe County Special Olympics and Berks County Special Olympics and over 75 Moravian student-athletes.
This marked Moravian's seventh year of hosting the Special Olympics Basketball Tournament at Moravian. SAAC advisor and Head Field Hockey Coach Kristen Gillis met with local Special Olympic coaches to help organize the tournament.
"Special Olympics is an event that I always look forward to," stated women's basketball junior guard Karlie Brogan. "It is truly inspiring to see individuals who are told that they are different and yet they beat all odds. Moravian does an amazing job hosting this basketball tournament, which gives all the participants a place to shine."
The day began with an opening ceremony with the Special Olympic athletes parading through a tunnel of the Moravian student-athletes from various squads before Lehigh County athlete Cheyenne Burton sang the National Anthem, Kathy Kucey from Bethlehem City recited the Special Olympics oath.
Several games of both five-on-five and three-on-three were played with Greyhound athletes officiating, cheering, keeping score and playing some games with the Special Olympians, and there were also special skills activities and individual events. Moravian also had a pizza lunch for all of those in attendance after the games were finished for the afternoon.