Regional meet gives homeschoolers an outlet to channel their athletic energies

Mae Li Wilcox is legally blind, but that hasn’t stopped her from participating in the Christian Homeschool Athletic Association Saints program.

Wilcox, 7, of Dania Beach, was among an estimated 1,300 youths from Broward and Palm Beach counties who recently participated in the annual Saints International Track and Field meet atTradewinds Park in Coconut Creek.

“Saints is super cool,” said Wilcox, who was born with albinism, which affects her vision and her skin. She said her association with the organization is a blessing. “I love it. I love doing sports.”

Mae Li’s farther, Mark, learned about the Saints through his church.

“This helps her a lot with her coordination and things of that nature,” he said. “( Because of her condition), we have to protect her fromthe sun and she can only see things really good up close.”

MarkWilcox said the Saints staff, led by founder and athletic director Rick Andreassen, is “awesome, friendly, kind and helpful.”

Parkland’s Matthew Cole, 13, is a relative newcomer to the Saints, having been with the program for less than a year. He is at the seventh- grade level in his home- school studies.

“Everybody is nice. I like the way people act around here,” Cole said. “Nobody brags about anything. I didn’t knowthat everyone was going to be so kind.”

Weston’s Nelson Telemaco, 11, his first year with the program.

“I like that I am able to be in a positive environment with other kids,” he said. “We all have a lot in common. I get to be withmy best friends, and I get to make a lot of new friends.”

His mother, Lissette, said home- schooling her son was a big adjustment, but the opportunity for him to also be involved in sports through the Saints provided a wellrounded lifestyle.

“I think just knowing that he is in a Christian environment with these awesome coaches who really care about them ( makes itworthwhile),” she said. “( The coaches) are so supportive, and Nelson loves them. He is very athletic, so this has been great. He still plays on teams at the ( YMCA) in Weston, and it’s been really good for him.”

During the meet, the youths took part in 10 challenges: the long jump, 50- yard hurdles, 100- yard hurdles, 50- yard dash, 100- yard dash, standing broad jump, softball throw, shot put, discus and one- mile run.

Andreassen, 53, of Fort Lauderdale, also put together a diaper dash, toddler trot and pre- kindergarten quick kick for ages 1- 4.

At day’s end, everyone received a commemorative completion certificate and track and field medals.

Along with programs in Florida, Texas, Nevada and California, Saints International also operates out of Africa and Guatemala and is nearing expansion toHaiti and Thailand.

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in Two former National Football League players, Tyrus McCloud and Michael Basnight, were on hand to sign autographs and mingle with the players.

“This is a beautiful thing,” saidMcCloud, who played two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens ( 1997- 98) and briefly with the Miami Dolphins( 2001). “It providesanopportunity to minister and speak within an environment that you don’t see every day — kids at home, not at public schools.”

Basnight, who played three seasons with the Bengals ( 1999- 2001) and Texans ( 2002), was impressed with the “positive energy” at the event.

“For ( Andreassen) to have this program for home- schoolers, it is like light years ahead,” Basnight said. “Just to have the opportunity to start developing the child at an early age is great.”

The Saints’ program includes 70 coaches who oversee about 3,500 youths eachweek.

“It is a great team effort. We have great coaches and a great staff,” Andreassen said. “We use the platform of sports to enrich the lives of kids.”

Andreassen said the program offers a wide array of activities. Along with themore traditional sports, the Saints also provide archery, kite flying, Frisbee, horseshoes and the Presidential Fitness Challenge.

Along with seven- hour daily sessions, the Saints also offer half- day alternatives: 9a. m.noon and1- 4 p. m.

“The benefit of the program is to provide a safe environment to learn and grow without any fear of being teased or picked on,” Andreassen said. “The greatest thing for me is to see the happy, smiling faces of the kids.”

For more information, call Andreassen at 954- 494- 6812 or Kelly Nevius at 954- 6465903 or visit Chaasaints. org.