Aggie athletes prepare for statewide Special Olympics competition
Winning isn’t everything for some Aggie athletes, especially those preparing for the Special Olympics on Oct. 18-19. The event will be hosted at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
“I hope to take first but even if I don’t, it’s not about the medals,” said Jason Greenhalgh, a Special Olympics athlete and employee at the Marketplace in the Taggart Student Center. “It’s about being down there and doing my best.”
These special-needs athletes are more focused on having fun and enjoying themselves in their preparation for the upcoming state competition. USU Special Olympics is an entirely student-based organization, and because of this, the organization is always in need of student volunteers who are willing to help coach the athletes.
“It doesn’t require any previous experience with sports or with special needs for you to join,” said Jeffrey Bradshaw, a senior majoring in exercise science and director of the USU Special Olympics team. “The best way to get involved is to show up to practice. Before I started four years ago, I had no past experience.”
Practices are held at the HPER building on Saturdays from 9-11 a.m. There will be three events the athletes will have an opportunity to participate in during the state level of competition: basketball, bocce ball and swimming.
Although cycling is his favorite sport, Greenhalgh is looking forward to the upcoming competition.
“The competitions can sometimes be intense, but the coaches are really helpful,” said Greenhalgh, a competitor since age 11. “It is a great opportunity for me to do the sports I love.”
Katie Moore, a sophomore studying elementary and special education and Special Olympic swimming head coach, is excited to see the athletes perform in the state competition.
“Even if we don’t win, we always have good sportsmanship, which is more important than winning,” Moore said. “They give out medals and ribbons to all of the athletes and they love getting these awards. Seeing them up there on the winning blocks is the best thing ever.”
As a coach, Moore has been helping the athletes to improve their swimming skills and get ready for the state competition. She will be in charge of her team and distributing snacks to the competitors during the event, making sure all of the athletes get to their events on time and ensuring everyone always has a buddy to be with.
“State competitions are the best part of being involved with the program,” she said. “We get to spend a lot of time with the athletes, helping them as well as seeing them succeed. It is a really good atmosphere to be involved with.”
Bradshaw said he and the other team organizers have a lot of pride in the competitors.
“I have benefited from being volunteer, as far as resumes and job positions go,” he said. “The Special Olympics is an internationally-recognized program, so with that kind of exposure, it looks great on applications.”
While being a volunteer may look great on a resume and job applications, Bradshaw said there is more to take away from volunteering.
“It is one of the best things I’ve done with my college education,” he said. “Being involved with the Special Olympics program has been very rewarding.”
Moore’s favorite part is working with the athletes, but she has also made new friends of the other student coaches.
“It is always a good time,” she said. “Just come out; you will fall in love with the athletes and won’t be able to stop coming.”
The Special Olympics program is year-round and competitions also include downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, track, soccer, golf and cycling. With competitions at the end of each season, coaches always need help organizing the events. Students interested can visit the Val R. Christensen Service Center.
“Bowling is where we have the most athletes, so we will need more help then,” Bradshaw said. “During bowling season, we have all ranges of those with special needs, from high-functioning to very low-functioning.”