Local Olympic torchbearers have connections to university
Eighteen individuals were nominated from Cache Valley to be Olympic torchbearers. The Statesman found six with ties to Utah State University.
Barbara Corcoran
Barbara Corcoran felt surprised when she found out that she was picked to be an Olympic torchbearer. She was nominated by a close friend.
“She said she nominated me because I like to run,” Corcoran said.
Corcoran just recently competed in the St. George Marathon. However she said she’s not positive if she plans on running in more marathons.
A stiff competition exists in the picking of the torchbearers, and Corcoran said she’s not sure what her friend wrote in the essay required in the Chevrolet nomination process.
“We’ve been through a lot together,” Corcoran said.
Corcoran is the wife of Chris Corcoran, professor in the mathematics and statistics department at USU.
She graduated from USU with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication with an emphasis in public relations. She is currently a homemaker.
She said, “I feel extremely honored. Especially when I see who else was nominated.”
Steve Reeder
An anonymous person wrote an essay to get Steve Reeder nominated as an Olympic torchbearer. He said he’s tried to find out who wrote the essay but hasn’t had any luck.
Reeder is the assistant coach of the USU track team and works with the distance runners. He also teaches physical education at Mount Logan Middle School as well as being involved in youth track.
He graduated with a master’s degree in exercise physiology with an emphasis in physical education. He is married and all his children have either attended USU, are currently attending or are planning on enrolling at the university.
Reeder said, “At first I thought it was a marketing ploy of some kind.”
When he found out he truly was nominated to be a torchbearer, he said he was excited.
“I was stunned,” he said.
Barry Beutler
Community service is a key reason Barry Beutler was chosen as an Olympic torchbearer. He’s contributed to many organizations in the valley.
Beutler is a senior at USU, majoring in biology as a pre-med student. One of the organizations he’s involved in, Operation Smile, has helped motivate him to become a doctor, he said.
“In Operation Smile we raise money for kids who need surgery, such as a cleft pallet. Doctors also donate their time to go on these medical missions to help kids all over the world,” he said.
Beutler said he has been involved in Special Olympics and recently helped donate 21,000 pairs of eyeglasses to kids who can’t afford them.
“I feel very humbled. There’s a lot of other people who deserve [the nomination] more than I do,” Beutler said.
Matthew Maw
Matthew Maw, a sophomore at Utah State University, will have the opportunity to bear the torch at the Salt Lake Winter Olympics.
He was nominated by the youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ North Hyrum ward after a fireside he spoke at, by his Motor Learning class from last semester and by his mother, he said.
Maw is a quadriplegic due to a tumbling accident last year. His dream was to one day compete in the Olympics with either tumbling or the trampoline, he said. He is excited to have the opportunity to still be a part of the Olympics.
Maw now speaks at many church congregations and schools in the area on topics that he describes as “overcoming trials and adversity with a smile on your face.”
Becky Landa
Becky Landa was nominated by both her mother and sister. Both wrote essays describing why Landa was an inspiration to them.
“My mom wrote about how I’ve changed my life around since I was younger, [after having been kidnapped as a child,]” Landa said. “I didn’t let it affect me.”
Landa’s sister also nominated her. Her sister was inspired by Landa’s commitment to going back to school while raising three children.
Landa is in her first year of studying elementary education at Utah State University. She is married and has three children ages 11, 4 and 6. Her hobbies include reading and cooking.
Landa said she is honored to have the opportunity of bearing the torch at the Olympics.
She said, “I feel there are people who deserve it more than I do.”
Brent Carpenter was unavailable for comment.