The 2025 Titan Games took place on Oct. 3 on the stadium field, providing students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to compete in athletic events such as running, throwing and long jump to win medals while students, parents and teachers cheered from the sidelines.
The Titan Games are an annual event that includes all 10 schools in the Northborough-Southborough school district. Before the District Student Support Administration started hosting the games as its own event, the schools would participate in the Metro West Field Day games, a Massachusetts Special Olympics run event. As it became increasingly difficult to commute to the stadiums where the games were hosted, Algonquin became a suitable location for them to continue.
The first Algonquin-based Titan Games were back in 2022, and have since become a yearly tradition during the school year. Frank Nellenback, an organizer of the event, emphasized the importance of the games as they give a unique chance for disabled students to participate in activities they otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
“It gives them a chance to compete and to do something that helps show off all their skills,” Nellenback said.
Student volunteers from the middle schools and student support staff assisted with running the events. While teachers brought their classes to the bleachers to support the participants; some spectators even made signs to cheer them on. On top of the opportunities it brings, the Titan Games foster a sense of community within the districts.
“It helps us recognize that we all have different abilities, but we can all still perform and do things for competition,” Nellenback said.
Post-graduate Norah Shaikh has been participating in the games for a few years now and enjoys the support that is provided by the students who watch from the stands.
“[My favorite part is] everyone that came here, that came to cheer,” Shaikh said.
Post-graduate Catie Campbell also emphasizes the importance of the games’ inclusivity and that participating with her peers is what she loves most about them.
“Everyone gets to be in the Titan Games,” Campbell said. “It’s so exciting to see everyone.”
