Special Olympics Rhode Island’s 55th annual Summer Games, held at the University of Rhode Island this past weekend, led to some special experiences for some Warwick residents.

Warwick’s team- the Warwick Superstars- consisted of 21 members from ages 8 to 22. In total, the team brought home eight gold medals, nine silver medals and eight bronze medals, alongside seven fourth-place finishes.

SORI President Ed Pacheco said that this year’s Games nearly left him at a loss for words.

“What we witnessed the last few days was the celebration of the most inspiring athletes in the world for what can arguably be described as the most amazing annual sporting event held on an annual basis in Rhode Island,” Pacheco said. “We know firsthand that we changed lives this weekend.”

Over 1,500 volunteers showed up for the Games, according to Pacheco, and were instrumental in making the weekend special for the athletes.

Superstars head coach Melissa Sicco, a teacher’s assistant with Warwick Public Schools, first got involved with Special Olympics in 2004, when Mary Townsend, then the team’s coach, asked if she wanted to be an assistant. She has been the team’s head coach for the past two years.

“I had been working with children with disabilities as a TA and with special needs programs,” Sicco said. “Helping work with kids with special needs was how I got started.”

Preparing for the event, Sicco said, consisted of practices held Tuesdays at Lippitt Elementary School where athletes learned how to run within their lanes on a track and the best form to throw a ball.

The team, Sicco said, improved over the course of practices, especially given that many athletes were being introduced to the Summer Games for the first time.

“We had a lot of new athletes this year,” she said. “The opening ceremony, there were a lot of tears from the parents and from the athletes of excitement and happiness, of just getting to be a part of it. They were so proud, whether getting a medal or not getting a medal, they were just tickled pink.”

One athlete making his return to the games for the first time in five years was fourteen-year-old Logan Zawislak. Zawislak took home a gold in the softball throw and a silver in the 50 meter dash.

He followed in the footsteps of his brother, Ryan, who had run the 50 meters for the Superstars in the past and was an inspiration for Logan.

What he enjoyed most about the weekend, though, was winning the gold in the softball throw.

“I threw it really far,” Zawislak said. “All the way to the fence.”

Another Warwick Superstar, nine-year-old Zain Rohena, saw success over the weekend as well, picking up two silver medals in the 50 meters and softball throw.

What Rohena is really taking home from Kingston, though, is much more than two medals.

“I got to do stuff I never get to do,” Rohena said. “I can’t wait to turn 10, because then I get to do it again.”