Amber Mazzola shares her experiences and life-long acomplishments

My name is Amber Mazzola and I am a Special Olympics of New Jersey athlete since November of 2007. I started competing in sports when I was only five years old because I was always told that I couldn't do this or that and because my brother kept winning stuff. So I started in Jackson Handicapped / Disabled Sports with my dad ( who helped the coach ). I competed in Soccer ( Fall ), Basketball ( Winter ) and Softball ( Spring/Summer ). I won about four to five trpohies within a three year period. By the time I moved to Howell in Christmas of 1999, I started in Howell Mania ( that is a year-round competition for elementary and middle school age children with disabilities up til grade seven who live in the Howell Township area ) with my Elementary school. My brother did the same with his middle school. He got first and I got last for two years. Then by the time I got to grade six, I fell further behind because I kept getting sick before the competition. So I got a mini last place trophy and I was ashamed of myself. I graduated middle school and went to high school. I had my friend come to my house on Halloween of 2007 and his mom offered me to join their swim team, the Area 6 Monmouth Marlins swim team. Without hesitation, me and my dad said yes. I felt as a new light came in because I haven't competed in anything since the seventh grade so I was out of shape. I went to the first swim practice I didn't know anybody. I made friends quickly after the first two weeks and my dad met their mom's and dad's. I competed in my first swim meet at the YMCA of Western Monmouth County for 25M Freestyle and 25M Breaststroke and got a good time. I went for my second swim meet at the YMCA of Ocean County and went for 25M Freestyle and 25M Breaststroke, I won first and third place there. My third and last swim meet was at the Glocester County Insitute of Technology (GCIT) and I went for 25M Freestyle and 25M Breaststroke, I won first and first place. The last thing is the Special Olympics of New Jersey Summer Games, I was whacked up nervous for two days. I couldn't bear to be away from my dad that long ! I knew it was time for me to suck it up and go for two night by myself and I knew my dad was a phone call away. On June 6th, me and my dad drove to Riders University and got unpacked and since we were early, we helped to put the shirts, shorts, pins and credentials in the dorms. My dad left to go down to the Standium for the opening ceremonies. I got changed and I went with the team down to the standium in a coach bus ! We were there, waited about 15 minutes then we marched in there. We got to say the athlete oath and a band played for us and we danced around until it was time to go. We got back on the coach bus and we watched "Night at the Museaum" and me and my other friends joked around with the one part we all loved. When it was time for bed, I sat up on my bed and watched the sun come up because I couldn't sleep because I was home sick.

The first competition I had was my 25M Freestyle. I won first place. I called my mom she was really happy. I had my Free relay two hours after and I was happy because I was in the cold pool (It was a heat wave at that time !) and my relay team won second place. I went to tent town with my dad and me and him ate lunch and tried to keep cool but it didn't work. I had to go back under the tent by the aquatics center, I moaned because it was over 100 degrees outside ! When it was time to go back to the dorms, we had to shower and get ready for a dance. I didn't really participate in that because I enjoyed my coaches and the team acting like idiots more ! On the way back, I got sick and started puking on the bus. The bus driver reconized me and said I am that student that always got sick on the big bus. I punched her in the face. I didn't fall asleep that night but I packed up early and took a shower early. I had my breaststroke heat and I won first place on them my medly relay my team won fourth (was kind of disappointed though). Me and my dad loaded my stuff in the car and we drove home. My mom was shocked and was happy. I went to softball and I won a trophy.


I went for the 2009 season for aquatics. I made the first, second and third place holder in two events, Freestyle and Breaststroke. I made a goal that I would try to get out of 25M before the Summer Games. I tried for the 50M Freestyle, I got fourth and third place in the Intrasquad, Area and GCIT Swim meets. At the Summer Games, it was a lot more fun. I stayed asleep this time. A big plus in my parent's lives. I made big time because I saw my Monmouth County Career Center teachers Mr. Collett and Mr. Dunphy at tent town ! At the first day of swimming, on my 50M Freestyle, I won first place. My medley relay team got third place. I dreaded after everyone was done because there was a big rain storm outside and the coach told us we had to run to the dorms. One of my friends ran into a truck trailer and I banged my ankle into the cement stairs and I couldn't walk. My friend helped me up to my dorm. Then the electricity went out. It was a fun day. The next day, I had to compete, I was in so much pain. I fell in the pool before the bonger went off. I had to rush my breaststroke without touching my foot which was extremely difficult. So I got 2nd place. And my Free relay was screwed up because I couldn't move my foot. But I ended getting 1st place, haha ! When I got home, my dad took me to the poditrist, I fractured my ankle. Nice memorable Summer Games !!!!!

I went for the 2010 season for aquatics, again ! Hopefully I won't fracture my foot ! It was a lot of training involved with a trainor I met at my school. Lol, he made me lift between 25-35 lbs ! Which it helped when the 2010 Summer Games came around ! My first heat which was 50M Freestyle, I won first place. It was no enjoyment to me because I beat a girl that was crying at the end. For my 50M Breaststroke, I won second place. I went to tent town, my dad was able to get me Crayola Twistables and a pack of Crayola Colored Pencils. I ate lunch and I met up with my best buddy that I met last year, yeah I was happy ! I made quick friends with his track team and we kept tabs on each other. But then I had to go back to the stupid aquatics center for my next heat and my dad refused to let me see him run. Maybe next year I will do track, haha ! I went back for the IM relay, I did breaststroke, so I got first place ! The next day I had my Medley relay, I got first place. I waited for my friend to be done with his 50M Butterfly but my dad staggered me to go get my luggage from the dormantry then I can call him and tell him we were outside. We ended up buying a shirt and talking to my friend from the Bergen Panthers. Then we decided to go home. I thought to myself on the way home that I will keep going to the Special Olympics. No matter what.