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Viera High School’s Special Olympics Volleyball Team Takes Bronze at Summer Games In Orlando

By  //  May 20, 2019

Games held at Disney's Wide World of Sports

CHAMPIONS! Viera High School Hawks volleyball team members are, from left to right, Front row, Katherine Crawford, Victoria Mitchell and Daliana Valezquez; middle row, Roy Livermore, Isaiah Oneto and Valeria Hurtado; and back row, Coach Robert Dillon, Ethan Hoffman, Aidan Hoffman, John Snyder, Joshua Dillon, Ariana Dorney, Halley Palleti, Coach Debby Dillon and Coach Brian Dillon. (Image for Space Coast Daily)

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Viera High School’s Special Olympics Unified Sports Volleyball team brought home the Bronze Medal in the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games held last weekend.

After losing a heartbreaking first-round match to eventual champion Palm Beach County, the Hawks fought back to win the Bronze medal match in a thrilling four-set match against Polk County.

The Games were held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando and brought out many prominent people in the state of Florida, including Sen. Rick Scott.

“Great evening meeting incredible athletes at the Special Olympics opening ceremony in Orlando last night,” said Scott.

“I am grateful for everything Special Olympics Florida does to help transform the lives of so many individuals with disabilities through sports!”

Senator Rick Scott attended the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando. Viera High School’s Special Olympics Unified Sports Volleyball team brought home the Bronze Medal in the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games held last weekend. (Brian Dillon Image)

Also in attendance at this weekend’s festivities was Orlando City Soccer Club’s Dillon Powers.

Viera High School is one of four high schools on the Space Coast that actively participates in the Special Olympics Florida Team Unified Sports program.

The Viera High School Hawks Unified Sports flag football team also won the Bronze this past November in the Special Olympics Florida State Fall Games at Disney.

Viera High School’s Special Olympics Unified Sports Volleyball team brought home the Bronze Medal in the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games held last weekend.  The Games were held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando. (Brian Dillon Image)

Many of the athletes on the flag football team are also on the volleyball team.

Special Olympics Unified Sports brings together athletes with intellectual disabilities and athletes without intellectual disabilities, to train and compete on the same team.

A primary goal of Unified Sports is to equalize the ability level of Special Olympics athletes with their partners and to promote inclusion through team practice and competition.

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About 1.4 million people worldwide take part in Unified Sports, breaking down stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities in a really fun way.

ESPN has served as the Global Presenting Sponsor of Special Olympics Unified Sports since 2013.

Orlando City Soccer Club’s Dillon Powers attended the events last weekend to support the Special Olympics. (Dillon Powers Image via Twitter)

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