Mardela Middle and High School receives national banner recognition

WICOMICO COUNTY, MD. – The Mardela Middle and High School Warriors are celebrating a big accomplishment.

“We have the honor of being named a national banner school by the special Olympics,” Liza Hastings, the Mardela principal, said.

Principal Hastings said the school was recognized through all the different extracurriculars it offers.

“We have a special Olympics, and we have three sports- we have unified tennis, unified strength and conditioning, and unified bocce ball,” Principal Hastings said. “The whole goal of those three sports is to include disabled and non-disabled students.”

Sophomore Johnny Jamrok said playing tennis through the special Olympics program has brought him closer to his peers.

“It’s very fun and playing tennis is all about encouragement and happiness,” Jamrok said.

And sophomore Meaghan Shockley said participating in after-school sports has taught her some real-world skills.

“It gives people a good experience of teamwork, how to work together, and it helps you build more confidence,” Shockley said.

While Mardela Middle and High School hosts the sports teams, Unified Tennis instructor Denise Skeen said the students are the real backbone of the program.

“It’s just awesome to know that other people are going to be able to see how excited and how inclusive we are with all of our students, and how they just come together to do the best for everyone included,” Skeen said.

Skeen hopes her students can carry their love for the sports they play in whatever endeavor they take on, after their time at Mardela Middle and High School.

“It’s extremely rewarding to see them grow and know that they can continue later on if they choose to; or just play on a Saturday with a friend, because they have a new skill,” Skeen said.