Music and cheers welcome students to Newport-Mesa’s first Special Olympics Soccer event

Special needs students participated Monday in Newport-Mesa Unified’s first Special Olympics Soccer event at Costa Mesa High School.

Players from Adams, Eastbluff, Kaiser, Killybrooke, Paularino and Victoria elementary schools were welcomed to Mustangs Field with live music and cheers from Costa Mesa High’s band and cheer troupe. Team members paraded down the track with posters illustrating their school names and waved to their parents in the bleachers.

Audri Gomez, special education coordinator for the district, said the event allowed “moderate to severe students, with various disabilities, (to) build foundation skills” for sports.

“Our students can’t be involved in soccer the way some of their peers are,” Gomez said. “We’re preparing them for high school sports, if they’re interested once they get there.”

Students prepared by playing soccer during physical education, said Sandee Gordon, special education teacher at Victoria.

“They’re running in the right direction and are staying inside the area, and they all look so excited to be kicking the ball,” Gordon said.

Parents snapped photos and sometimes pointed their children toward the correct goals.

Olivia Millan and Ernesto Alvizo cheered on their autistic son, Ernesto Nixon Alvizo, 8, who they said expressed excitement on the way to the tournament.

“I love that he’s wearing a jersey with the No. 8,” said Millan. “It’s perfect because it’s his birthday today, and he’s turning 8.”

After halftime Ernesto played goalie. Alvizo stood behind the goalpost, encouraging his son to “keep his eyes on the ball.”

“My son can’t play competitively with other typical children, so it’s great to have a group of students come together and play and enjoy the game,” Alvizo said.

Ernesto said he enjoyed playing soccer and “liked kicking the ball” most.

Students were awarded ribbons courtesy of the Special Olympics Southern California and participation certificates.

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