OTTAWA – The Special Olympics bocce ball team from Wellington Heights Secondary School (WHSS) has brought home gold medals from the provincial championships.
The team travelled to Ottawa June 2 to 5 to participate in the 2025 Special Olympics Ontario School Championships.
Team members include Austin LaCombe, Macey McDermott, Wyatt Smaglinski and Nicholas Duxbury.
They were accompanied by peer helper Jayden Needham and teachers/coaches Christine Chambers and Brittany Heffernan.
Teams qualified from all over the province – from as far away as Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie – to play in a variety of sports.
“Teams from as far around Ontario as you can imagine,” Heffernan said, noting a total of 98 schools participated in the event.
Asked how team members felt after winning gold, Heffernan said, “They were elated, they were so excited and so happy.”
“We were shocked,” Smaglinski added.
He also noted feeling some nerves as the team went into the final game.
From left: coach Brittany Heffernan, Austin LaCombe, Macey McDermott, Wyatt Smaglinski, peer helper Jayden Needham, Nicholas Duxbury and coach Christine Chambers. Submitted photo
Smaglinski said he “needed a wake up call” during one of the games as he wasn’t throwing his best.
Ultimately, no bad throws stopped the team from winning the championship title.
“I would do it again,” Smaglinski stated.
The WHSS team had seven wins and one loss over two days of competition to claim the gold medal in bocce ball.
On the second day the Wolverines went on a winning streak, ending the day 5-0.
“The experience was incredible,” Heffernan said. “The Special Olympics event itself was so well run.”
She noted watching the team achieve “something so unexpected,” made the experience a memorable one.
“Bocce ends up being one of the biggest events,” Heffernan said.
She added, “The calibre of shots was mind blowing because if you weren’t essentially right beside the white ball, you weren’t getting a point.”
The team qualified a few months ago in Guelph and had been training on and off since.
“We’re very fortunate at Wellington Heights … to get access to the gymnasium site consistently,” Heffernan said.
Asked what advice he would give someone else planning to attend the Special Olympics, Smaglinski said, “Be prepared like I was.”
