LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Monmouth University sophomore soccer player Alessandra DeTata (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) was one of the keynote speakers at the Ocean/Monmouth High School Challenger League kickoff celebration on Tuesday evening at the Woodlake Country Club in Lakewood. DeTata spoke about the importance of programs such as the Challenger League for all parties involved in the newly formed league.

“The new challenger program will not only benefit children with disabilities, but also high school student-athletes who will act as ‘buddies,” said DeTata. “I know from personal experience working with disable children and from having a sister with special needs that the ‘buddies’ will undoubtedly be inspired by the perseverance of the challenger participants.”

The “buddies” DeTata spoke of are high school students that will assist with the Challenger League and its participants. The league helps give special needs students a chance to participate in athletics among their peers.

High schools will now sponsor Challenger League teams to play competitively. Southern Regional assistant prinicipal Joe DiPietro, who is the coordinator of the school's autistic program, has spearheaded the creation of the league along with Brick principal Dennis Filipone and Ocean County Council PTA president Cathy Lindenbaum in an attempt to give disabled athletes a chance not only to participate in athletics, but to do so with the participation of their peers from the corresponding varsity teams, the buddies.

DiPietro is DeTata’s former principal and he asked her to speak at the event. The Brick, N.J. native also has a sister with special needs. The participating schools are all in Ocean County at this time, but the goal is to have all the schools that participate in the Shore Conference to be part of the Challenger League.

“It was terrific for the Challenger League to invite Alessandra to be one of the speakers at their kickoff event,” said Monmouth University head women’s soccer coach Krissy Turner. “She (DeTata) recognizes the importance of their program and the impact it will have on these high school athletes.”

“In her speech, Alessandra was able to relate her own family’s experience to emphasize all of the positive attention that the league will provide.”