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Field Day of Dreams
Smiles lit up the track and field Wednesday during the annual Citrus County Field Day at Crystal River High School. More than 300 participants with mental or physical disabilities came from the Key Training Center and Citrus Resources for Exceptional Students in Transition, also known as CREST, to take part in various physical events. Track and field, golf, softball and a Frisbee toss were set up outside while activities like bowling and basketball were set up in the gym. The event began with a parade around the track followed by the high school's chorus and the Pledge of Allegiance. One of the participants said the invocation and the school's step team provided some pre-games entertainment to liven up the crowd. There was also a torch run around the track. The Kiwanis Club of Homosassa has been putting together this event for 22 years. They raise money during the year to be able to have the enormous event.
"They look forward to this all year long. This is the highlight of their year," James Harris, field day committee chairman, said. Stephanie Hopper has been bringing her sons, Matthew and Michael Payne, to the field day for 17 years. Her sons first started coming out as a part of CREST, but are now a part of the Key Training Center. Matthew earned medals for bowling and golf and his brother, Michael, earned a medal for softball and was waiting to receive his medal in the three-wheel cycle race. Hopper said she used to try to hang up all their medals, but now they have so many, she only hangs up the new ones. Every participant earns medals for partaking in the events.
Sean Cooper's dad, Kay, beamed with pride as he watched his son cross the finish line for the 100-yard dash. "He's my hero," he said with a smile. Kay said he moved his family from Tampa to Citrus County for the special education program at CREST. "We haven't regretted it not one bit," he said.
He also said he enjoys what the day brings to the participants. "It gives them a sense of purpose. It gives them a sense of accomplishment," he said. Chris Dimitrion was also out representing CREST. He said his favorite activities are golf and running, especially the 100-yard dash. "It makes me proud," Dimitrion said. Mary Beth Hall was enjoying the indoor activities. "I like everybody here," Hall said. "I love field day." She won a medal for bowling and was waiting to receive one for basketball. When asked how many medals she has, Hall said, "I got tons."
Along with Key Training Center volunteers, students from the CRHS Health Academy and ROTC help with the participants. "We couldn't do it without their support," Harris said. Katelyn Bartley, 16, and Roger Thompson, 18, are members of the health academy and were out in the field helping escort the participants to their different events. Bartley said it was her first year, but Thompson said it was his fourth. For them, the best part of field day is watching people have fun.
"I like seeing how they enjoy themselves," Bartley said. "It's absolutely fantastic to see them having fun doing simple things," Thompson said. "It's heart-warming." Iris Whitaker, president of the Kiwanis Club, also enjoys watching the participants do the different activities.
"They make their dreams come true. They can say, 'I did it,'" Whitaker said. To her, it's all about the Key clients and the CREST students taking pleasure in the day. "The important thing is it's a day for them," Whitaker said.
"They look forward to this all year long. This is the highlight of their year," James Harris, field day committee chairman, said. Stephanie Hopper has been bringing her sons, Matthew and Michael Payne, to the field day for 17 years. Her sons first started coming out as a part of CREST, but are now a part of the Key Training Center. Matthew earned medals for bowling and golf and his brother, Michael, earned a medal for softball and was waiting to receive his medal in the three-wheel cycle race. Hopper said she used to try to hang up all their medals, but now they have so many, she only hangs up the new ones. Every participant earns medals for partaking in the events.
Sean Cooper's dad, Kay, beamed with pride as he watched his son cross the finish line for the 100-yard dash. "He's my hero," he said with a smile. Kay said he moved his family from Tampa to Citrus County for the special education program at CREST. "We haven't regretted it not one bit," he said.
He also said he enjoys what the day brings to the participants. "It gives them a sense of purpose. It gives them a sense of accomplishment," he said. Chris Dimitrion was also out representing CREST. He said his favorite activities are golf and running, especially the 100-yard dash. "It makes me proud," Dimitrion said. Mary Beth Hall was enjoying the indoor activities. "I like everybody here," Hall said. "I love field day." She won a medal for bowling and was waiting to receive one for basketball. When asked how many medals she has, Hall said, "I got tons."
Along with Key Training Center volunteers, students from the CRHS Health Academy and ROTC help with the participants. "We couldn't do it without their support," Harris said. Katelyn Bartley, 16, and Roger Thompson, 18, are members of the health academy and were out in the field helping escort the participants to their different events. Bartley said it was her first year, but Thompson said it was his fourth. For them, the best part of field day is watching people have fun.
"I like seeing how they enjoy themselves," Bartley said. "It's absolutely fantastic to see them having fun doing simple things," Thompson said. "It's heart-warming." Iris Whitaker, president of the Kiwanis Club, also enjoys watching the participants do the different activities.
"They make their dreams come true. They can say, 'I did it,'" Whitaker said. To her, it's all about the Key clients and the CREST students taking pleasure in the day. "The important thing is it's a day for them," Whitaker said.
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