Adaptive P.E. Highlighted at Annual Coach’s Choice Track Meet
A late April storm couldn’t dampen the atmosphere at the 40th annual Coach’s Choice Track Meet held Friday at McKinley Elementary in central Bakersfield. Cloudy skies and a chilly breeze greeted more than two dozen students from Bakersfield City School District’s P.R.O.U.D Academy and student-athletes from Bakersfield High School, who were partnered with students with disabilities for a morning filled with relay races, ball and frisbee tosses, and a whole lot of smiles.
The event was the vision of James “Coach” Wooster, who started the Bakersfield City School District tradition to celebrate students receiving adaptive physical education services. Students from KCSOS’s programs also participate.
Wooster opened the celebration by addressing the student volunteers, highlighting their crucial role in the event. He expressed his hope that they would leave a lasting impression on the younger students they were paired up with.
“Make this their day, and they will make this your day,” Wooster encouraged.
BHS senior Brooklyn Scott was among the many who took Coach Wooster’s words to heart.
“It’s honestly so much fun,” she said. “I love kids. Just being able to see their excitement is amazing.”
Scott, who has played softball for more than eight years and is currently on the BHS squad, says it is extremely rewarding to give back to someone who is differently abled than she is.
“I’m so happy to see them doing the kind of things that you love doing,” she said.
Coach Wooster
Brooklyn Scott poses with the student she was teamed up with.
By Robert Meszaros
Rob Meszaros is Director of Communications for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, where he has served since 2012. In his role, Meszaros oversees media relations, internal and external communication strategies, publications, Marcom, branding, and multi-media content creation. Before joining KCSOS, Meszaros was the PIO for CSU Bakersfield and earlier worked for seven years at The Bakersfield Californian.