All About Recreation's Special Needs Program

One of the most exciting recreation programs is our “Special Needs Sports”.  This program has grown over the past few years and it is due to the volunteers that administer and help these sports run so smoothly.

Over the past few years Ken and Michelle DeGennaro have been directing the football and cheerleading programs; which goes by the name Oakland Achievers.  With the start of the school year until Thanksgiving a crowd of Achiever athletes gather at Indian Hills High School to play football and cheer.  The Achievers program gets better each and every year; this year a special thanks belongs to GalaxE Systems who donated brand new uniforms for all the athletes. As the program has evolved, the players now participate in away game, which allows everyone a unique opportunity to enjoy friendly competition with other towns.

The Bowling program, which is only a couple years old, has also been growing in popularity. Gary Pinckney, our bowling director manages the sport on Monday afternoons at Holiday Bowl. Once a week the participants enjoy friendship and rooting for each other while having fun at the lanes. Gary took the imitative to begin the program and has enjoyed great success with its expansion.

We are pleased to announce that this winter a new basketball program will begin.  Ken and Michelle are organizing the sport, which will include stretching, calisthenics, drills and some live scrimmages. Basketball Commissioner Danielle Walker secured gym time at Manito School so the program has it’s own full court space every Sunday morning. Like the football, cheerleading and bowling programs all ages and abilities are welcome. Volunteers are always welcome and encouraged to help make the program fun and rewarding for all.  

If you would like to help with any of these programs, or if you have a child that would enjoy participating in any of these sports, please reach out to either Recreation Chairman Mike Guadagnino at MikeGuad1@gmail.com or Special Needs Commissioner Bob Scalabrini at oakcommtennis@msn.com.  Thank you to Ken, Michelle and Gary for their tireless volunteer efforts!

Permission has been granted by all families/parents/guardians for use of these photos.