Approximately 100 Special Olympic student athletes participated in soccer games on September 12 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. The athletes split into teams and played several round-robin games throughout the morning, with winning teams recognized at the end of the event. For 27 years, UMPI has had an association with the Special Olympics. It has been a wonderful relationship and something that UMPI is very proud to be a part of, according to long-time Owls men’s soccer coach Alan Gordon. He said the Special Olympics soccer championships held at Park Family Field on the UMPI Campus has been an event that he and many others look forward to each fall.
Coach Gordon and his men’s teams have volunteered to coach the Special Olympic soccer teams since they began competing here at UMPI 27 years ago. UMPI women’s soccer team members have been involved for the last several years, as well as student volunteers from the Exercise Science and Physical Education Programs most recently in the past five years. MMG Insurance has also had employees who have volunteered their time to help with the Special Olympic soccer games in Presque Isle for approximately 18 years now.
