STUDENTS at Dubbo College South are learning alongside some of the best boccia players in NSW, after the special education unit returned from the state championships with silver medals.
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Nine students from the special education unit travelled to Sydney to compete in the state championships earlier this month, and teacher and coach Paul Brandon said they had four very strong performances over the day.
"We won the first two fairly easily, and then we made a play-off and that was really close," Mr Brandon said.
"We were down 4-nil and Ryan Barwick said 'put me on, I want to win it!' And he got a point.
"We scored four points but their ball was the same distance from the jack, so they got a point too. At five-all, for the final ball we put Kesawa Bandara into the roll-off. He rolled in front of the jack and they rolled about five millimetres further away so we won it. But it was so close, I couldn't watch!"
The team faced the reining champions, from Killarny Vale, in the finals, and ended up going down 7-4.
"They actually had one student who was on a national team, so we were up against it. In the end Killarny Vale deserved the win," Mr Brandon said.
It was the team's third consecutive year at the state championships, and their best result yet.
The team spent a few extra days in Sydney either side of the competition, squeezing in some sight-seeing and went sailing with Sailors with disAbilities. The trip was funded by the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre Orana, which has been supporting the South Dubbo College special education unit students, teachers and families for about ten years.
Mr Brandon said the team did Dubbo proud.
"We train every day and the kids are outstanding," he said.
"We had a lot of positive feedback - they represented the school and Dubbo really well."