A North Country native has a shot at taking home the award for New York Special Olympian of the Year on Friday.Erik Viscardo, a 25-year-old from Bloomingdale, New York, was one of eight nominees for this year’s New York Special Olympian of the Year. In addition to his skills on the field, Viscardo is involved in a number of different sports and competes for the North Country Special Olympics Area 27 team in softball, bowling, bocce, downhill skiing, and snowshoeing. He also is a council member of the Statewide Athlete Leadership Council. “It’s a huge opportunity I get to be a part of,” Viscardo said. “I would feel really accomplished, and I would feel happy for myself .” Donna Walsh, one of the coaches for Area 27, has worked with Erik for all six years he has been a part of the team. Walsh said that after 45 years of coaching for Area 27, this is the first time one of her athletes has been nominated for the prestigious award. She credits Viscardo’s commitment to consistently improving and getting better in everything he does as one of his best qualities. “I really appreciate that he keeps motivated and keeps going,” Walsh said. “It’s his continuous hard work of wanting to be a part of everything surrounding the New York Special Olympics that gives him a chance to win, and something his family appreciates about him.”Viscardo’s mother, Kirsten, said her son has a general love for participating and being involved in every type of sport. “I tell him to just stay busy,” she said. “He works hard … we always are the believers that anything is possible.” Through it all, Viscardo said he always makes sure to keep a positive attitude and focus on the team first, as any good athlete should. “I’m a people person in general,” he said. “Being a good person and being there for your friends … I can always ask what’s right and what is a good amount of time for myself to be there for my team and also be a very good athlete for my team.” The winner for the New York Special Olympian of the Year will be announced at Ithaca College on Friday, June 9, at 7 p.m.
A North Country native has a shot at taking home the award for New York Special Olympian of the Year on Friday.
Erik Viscardo, a 25-year-old from Bloomingdale, New York, was one of eight nominees for this year’s New York Special Olympian of the Year.
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In addition to his skills on the field, Viscardo is involved in a number of different sports and competes for the North Country Special Olympics Area 27 team in softball, bowling, bocce, downhill skiing, and snowshoeing. He also is a council member of the Statewide Athlete Leadership Council.
“It’s a huge opportunity I get to be a part of,” Viscardo said. “I would feel really accomplished, and I would feel happy for myself [if I win].”
Donna Walsh, one of the coaches for Area 27, has worked with Erik for all six years he has been a part of the team. Walsh said that after 45 years of coaching for Area 27, this is the first time one of her athletes has been nominated for the prestigious award. She credits Viscardo’s commitment to consistently improving and getting better in everything he does as one of his best qualities.
“I really appreciate that he keeps motivated and keeps going,” Walsh said. “It’s his continuous hard work of wanting to be a part of everything surrounding the New York Special Olympics that gives him a chance to win, and something his family appreciates about him.”
Viscardo’s mother, Kirsten, said her son has a general love for participating and being involved in every type of sport.
“I tell him to just stay busy,” she said. “He works hard … we always are the believers that anything is possible.”
Through it all, Viscardo said he always makes sure to keep a positive attitude and focus on the team first, as any good athlete should.
“I’m a people person in general,” he said. “Being a good person and being there for your friends … I can always ask what’s right and what is a good amount of time for myself to be there for my team and also be a very good athlete for my team.”
The winner for the New York Special Olympian of the Year will be announced at Ithaca College on Friday, June 9, at 7 p.m.
