A total of 38 student athletes participated in events such as bowling, basketball, soccer, a quarter-mile walk and a 40-yard dash in the school’s gymnasium. Cambria Heights, Conemaugh Valley, River Valley, Penns Manor, Homer Center, Marion Center and United were all represented.

The athletes were accompanied by a “student buddy” to provide support and encouragement while they engaged in the activities. A total of 20 student buddies participated, representing students from each district.

Cambria Heights junior Jack Sherwood was one of the mentors, which he said was a rewarding experience overall.

The athletes participated in two events that they were able to choose. Each received a participation medal at the end of the day. Winners for first, second and third place received a certificate and special recognition during the awards ceremony.

The Cambria Heights student athlete team was presented with the overall Heritage Conference games champion award Thursday. The athletes are pictured with their student buddy mentors. Courtesy photo

The overall conference champion award was presented to the Cambria Heights team during the ceremony.

Freshman Ryland Fogal was one of the Cambria Heights students who participated in the 40-yard dash, in which students ran diagonally from one corner of the gymnasium to the other side. He also participated in the basketball event.

Running the 40-yard dash felt “amazing,” he said.

“I was a little nervous, but I got this cool ribbon,” Fogal said, holding up a piece of the finish line ribbon he ran through.

When they weren’t participating in events, the athletes participated in several crafts, activities and games in the school’s cafeteria and auxiliary gym, where a bounce house was stationed. Those activities were presented by students in the Admiral Peary Area Vocational-Technical School’s aspiring educators program, high school Principal Eric Thomas said, adding The Nutrition Group provided a buffet-style lunch for the athletes.

The Heritage Conference medals for distinguished achievement were given to each student athlete as a participation medal. Winners for first, second and third place for each event received a certificate, and the overall conference champion award was presented at the end of the ceremony Thursday. Mirror photo by Matt Churella

The athletes were also able to listen to Synergy, Cambria Heights’ rock band, in the school’s auditorium throughout the day.

Last spring, physical education teacher Brian Lobick approached Thomas with the idea of creating the Heritage Conference games. Alongside Erica Lavely, the district’s special education director, they developed a committee that brought the idea to life, Thomas said.

The committee consisted of Lobick and teachers Amber Fees, Cheyenne Hayes, Michele Schirf, Rachel Manack and school nurse Jamie Burkhart, who met monthly in the first semester and weekly in the second semester to plan and prepare for the event, Thomas said.

The events were originally planned to take place outside, but the students and organizers didn’t let the rainy weather dampen their day, he said.

Rebecca Hildebrand, a senior at Penns Manor Area High School in Indiana County, said she had “a lot of fun” bowling and getting a “PM” painted on the back of her hand for school pride.

In support of Hildebrand, who uses a motorized wheelchair and was preparing to participate in the quarter-mile walk, her nurse, Clare Shulick, and her personal care assistant, Tina Janosko, painted their hands, too.

When asked if she was excited to do the quarter-mile walk, Hildebrand paused and said, “I don’t know.”

She later admitted to feeling nervous, turned to Shulick and Janosko and asked, “Are you guys going to be in it, too?”

After Shulick and Janosko assured her they were going to walk beside her, Hildebrand appeared to be relieved as Janosko was getting her hand painted in the school’s cafeteria.

Later, Hildebrand appeared alongside Shulick and Janosko, using forearm crutches to walk five laps around the gymnasium floor.

As Hildebrand made her way past the bleachers, other student athletes and buddy mentors were clapping and cheering her on, which brought a smile to her face.

Lavely said the event was “absolutely wonderful” because it allowed the student athletes to flourish and build relationships with students from other districts.

Officials hope the Heritage Conference games will turn into an annual event, Lavely said.

“We’re hopeful that the feedback we get is encouraging and positive that we’re able to do this moving forward,” she said.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.