By AMBER PATINO
Bonifay K‑8 fourth‑grader Peyton James McAdams will represent Holmes County at the Special Olympics Florida State Games in Orlando this weekend, competing in the Basketball Individual Skills division, which includes shooting, dribbling, and passing.
“Peyton has always loved sports and has become a huge fan of basketball. He stays outside after school until dark almost every evening, perfecting his dribbling and shooting. His work ethic goes beyond that of most high school athletes working toward a scholarship,” said Bonifay K‑8 teacher Mikayla Wood, who teaches seventh‑grade English and coaches girls basketball at the school. “His goal is to get gold at state and move on to nationals.”
This marks Peyton’s second year in the Special Olympics program, and Wood says his improvement has been significant. According to Wood, last year he struggled to reach the rim; this year, he consistently makes his shots.
School officials estimate this to be the first time in roughly 20 years that a Holmes County student has advanced to the state level of Special Olympics competition. The county’s Special Olympics basketball program, launched last year, is a hybrid of school‑based and community‑based participation, offering opportunities to all Holmes District School Board students with intellectual disabilities.
This year, five Holmes County athletes participated in the Special Olympics program, with three competing at regionals. Organizers hope to see even more students join next season as the program continues to grow. For information about the Holmes County Special Olympics program, contact Mikayla Wood at mikayla.wood@hdsb.com. To learn more about statewide opportunities, visit Special Olympics Florida.
Staff Report 