The Event
SPECIAL OLYMPICS JOHNSON COUNTY (SOJC) hosted its first swim meet at Franklin Community High School (FCHS), made possible by Kip Staggs, Athletic Director; David Clendening, Superintendent of Schools; and Jobea Trefny, who provided guidance to SOJC’s event leaders. Sharing facilities and assisting with Special Olympics (SO) sports is just one example of IHSAA’s implementation plans since developing a partnership with SO.
The Athletes
Special Olympics athletes came from as far north as Valparaiso at the Michigan line, Terre Haute to the west, and Lawrenceburg, neighboring Cincinnati. Teams represented SO programs in Cass County, Hancock, Porter, Ripley-Ohio-Dearborn, Shelby, and Vigo Counties, in addition to our Johnson County team. Athletes ranged in age from 8 to 81. Vigo County traveled all the way to Franklin with a single swimmer, and Porter County crowded onto a school bus with 59 athletes. Other county programs had 7-10 participants.
Formed 3 yrs ago, Johnson County’s team is the newest. Struggling to find a coach this year, SOJC has had only 3 practices. With the help of Dave Kuhns, Swim Coach at Greenwood Middle School, and Niki Morrison, Pool Director at Whiteland High School, 4 swimmers participated in the meet.
Upon arrival, all athletes received goodie bags and were catered to by a host of volunteers. Porter County athlete Lauren Bettenhausen sang the National Anthem, and SOJC’s own Ryan Abell led the Special Olympics Oath. All athletes did their best and thoroughly enjoyed competing, receiving gold participation ribbons.
The Volunteers
Although the athletes had so much fun, the volunteers may have had an even greater time, many specifically asking to volunteer again, because working with this special population is so very rewarding. Smiles abound.
Sportsmanship is unparalleled. Results are viewed so positively. (Yeah…I came in 6th…although only 6 swam the heat.)
Andy Hendricks, Franklin College (FC) Head Swim Coach, led the efforts to assure the meet was successful. He lined up the officials: the renowned Kurt Hass, John Bonsett, and Barb Chambers, who all volunteered their time. Assisted by his swim team who spent hours prior to the start, readying the pool and setting up the meet, Andy worked closely with Mary Helak, Assistant Director of Athletics and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Sponsor at FC.
SAAC supports SOJC on an on-going basis, and 24 FC students volunteered at the swim meet. Franklin College has long supported SOJC, begun many years ago by Mike Leonard, FC Head Football Coach, and his football teams, who have raised funds via the Polar Plunge and Plane Pull, served at SOJC’s spring awards banquet, and hosted SOJC exhibition teams during FC sporting events. As a result, FC is leading by example, benefitting other schools that are beginning to reach out to local programs, nationwide, since NCAA formed a partnership with Special Olympics in 2011.
Volunteering to coordinate food-related functions was Jill Robbins who serves in the same capacity for Center Grove Aquatics Club, CGHS, and CGMS swim meets. She oversaw everything from free lunches for all 101 athletes to setting up the hospitality room for coaches/officials and concessions for spectators. She even had runners distributing water and snacks to volunteers as they worked.
Over 60 volunteers served throughout the meet, in addition to others who purchased food and drinks to defray any expense for SOJC. The SOJC Management Team gratefully acknowledges the hard work and teamwork put forth by so many, without whom success would have been impossible.
If you have someone interested in participating in Special Olympics, please email specialolympicsjc@gmail.com or leave a message at 317.738.7038. Use these same contact methods if you’d like to volunteer…on a one-time basis or for a 2- month sports season.
Written by Diane Knipe, Swim Meet Coordinator, SOJC Management Team. Thanks to Rita and Roger Abell, Special Olympics Johnson County Coordinators. Gratitude also is expressed to the SOJC Management Team for their tireless efforts…Kevin Aders, Linda Boothe, Sue Koch, Becki Miller, Kelle Pitrelli, and Lezlie Wood.