BY CRAIG SHULTZ
Ariel Bollinger crossed the goal line, grasped a football in both hands, raised it over her head and spiked it into the end zone. Jesus Acevedo scored a touchdown and broke into a “Gangnam Style” dance, soon joined by a myriad of Hemet High School football players. It was all part of the eighth annual Super Kids Bowl on Friday, Feb. 1 at Hemet High. Lined up against Hemet High football players were110 middle and high school students from the Hemet Unified School District’s Severely Handicapped Special Education program. Each student was handed the football at the 20-yard-line and made his or her way into the end zone as players pretended to attempt to tackle them. Some, like Dartmouth Middle School seventh-grader Phoenix Serrato, sprinted into the end zone. Others — some of them in wheelchairs and a few with walkers — received assistance from the players. After they scored, the Hemet band played and cheerleaders offered high fives and other congratulations. “It was sweet, it was cool, it was amazing, it was awesome,” Phoenix, 12, said of his touchdown. Sarah Schmitt, an 18-year-old senior at Tahquitz High, said hearing the band was her favorite part. “I felt good,” Schmitt said of her touchdown. “It was a lot of fun,” added Bollinger, 19, also a Tahquitz senior. As for her monster spike: “I just wanted to do it,” she said. Acevedo, who danced not only to celebrate his touchdown, but to mark his 18th birthday, which fell on Friday, said he couldn’t pick out a highlight from his moment in the spotlight. “The whole thing,” he said. “It was great.” The Super Kids Bowl was created by Idyllwild School Principal Matt Kraemer when he held the same position at Little Lake Elementary. “We do this to break down the barriers that are there between our severely handicapped population and our general (education) population,” he said after the final touchdown was scored Friday. “The general ed kids will acknowledge the (special ed) kids when they see them at school.” Acacia Middle School special education teacher Nattira Suchoknand said her students enjoy the Super Kids Bowl. “They loved it,” she said. “They just have a great time. The music, the drums — they look forward to it every year.” Ken and Lorie Southern said the event is special for their son, Jamie, 21, a student at Hemet High. “He does feel that he’s a football player,” Lorie Southern said. “He gets to be the athlete.” Ken Southern appreciates the interaction with students that Jamie may not otherwise see. “He gets to be involved with general ed kids,” Southern said. “It’s good exposure for the general ed kids, too.” It was hard to tell who got more out of the event — the children participating or those supporting them. “It’s a tossup,” Kraemer said. “They both get a lot out of it. It’s great to see them showing so much compassion. The special ed kids just light up.” Hemet football coach Jeff Reitz said his players were excited to help. “They understand the depth of this,” Reitz said. “A lot of these kids live in the moment. If they can make this moment special for (the participants), they know it’s not about them, it’s (for) the kids they get to serve.” Boyd Beach, a 16-year-old sophomore, said seeing the struggles some of the students live with makes him appreciate his opportunities. “It helps us be thankful for what we were born with,” Boyd said. “I’m just glad I was able to help them have fun.” Follow Craig Shultz on Twitter @PE_CraigShultz and online at blog. pe.com/hemet