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Special Olympics: Providing Medal-Worthy Experiences

thepurpleonion

By Molly Burken



What is Special Olympics?

Special Olympics can fit many descriptions, and mean different things to different people. One possible description is a place for athletes, with or without disabilities, to come together and compete in sports and events they enjoy. The mission statement for Special Olympics mentions “year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.”

This is not only accomplished through athletic events but also through the group of students who comprise the Best Buddies. These children and adults pair up with the Athletes for events and compete alongside them.

Pictured left is Athlete Ryland Taylor and Buddy Adriana Curtner competing in State Pickleball.


What’s a Best Buddy?

Now, what is a Best Buddy? Megan Jackson and Terri Smith, two of the Special Olympics coaches at DeWitt, defined buddies as compassionate, empathetic, caring, friends, advocates, upstanders, and just a peer.

Izzy Heitz, a sophomore at Central DeWitt, has been a Buddy for 2 years, and she says to be a Buddy you “have to be kind and patient. They need to be able to have fun and enjoy what they’re doing [be]cause then that makes the kids have fun as well…be nice, be kind…just know that you’re making their day when you hang out with them, whether that be during our activities or during our events.” Best Buddies not only participate in athletic events, they also do fun activities throughout the year with the Athletes and fellow students. There are several times a year when Buddies and Athletes do a fun craft or game. In the past, students have made turkey cupcakes, gingerbread houses, and waffle cone Christmas trees. One time, our team even hosted other schools for a Halloween party in the Auxiliary Gym.


Available Events and Recent Achievements

Aside from these in-school activities, the main events are the sports and competitions that our Buddies and Athletes participate in. Events such as bocce ball, golf, bowling, pickleball, volleyball, dance, basketball, track, cornhole, cycling, and soccer are available according to Smith and Jackson.

At the 2024 Fall Classic, the Central DeWitt pickleball teams advanced to the state level. Placings are as follows:

Gold: Cole Michelsen/Finnley Smith and Chris Shenker/Blaire Kueter (pictured right)

Silver: Jack Burken/Izzy Heitz (pictured right) and Ryland Taylor/Adriana Curtner

Bronze: Gage Heston/Abbie Thole

Additionally, two individuals placed first for Pickleball Skills: Marlee Michaelsen/Nora Ubel and Joslynn Mulholland.

The Unified Volleyball team also advanced to State and earned a silver medal. These players were Evalyn House, Kennedy Lackas, Ayana Gooch-Sims, Amya Gooch-Sims, Skylar Raymond, and Tatiana Raymond.


Impact

Do these organizations positively impact students and their relationships with others? “Absolutely,” said Ms. Smith, “I think we have kind of erased some of the [stigma]... I feel like at our school it’s not uncommon for people to just mesh and mingle and do whatever with everyone, and I don’t feel it’s like that at every school.” 

Heitz shared that she thinks, “It can be a whole range of people you didn’t even realize could enjoy this, and you get to meet people of different, like, groups and different interests but still come together for the kids.”



Between kids forming strong friendships through these events or simply seeing less division in our schools, it’s clear that Special Olympics and Best Buddies reach further than just sports. The impact is seen in our hall every day when students greet each other and treat everyone with respect. It’s also seen in how our schools regularly receive recognition for being a 2024 National Unified Champion School, and the Central DeWitt Middle School was accepted as the 2023 ESPN Honor Roll for the Midwest region, the only school in the state of Iowa to receive this award for the year. Pictured left is Jack Burken holding the Honor Roll plaque. Whether it’s winning medals or simply waving hello, everyone can be a Buddy to someone.

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The Purple Onion | School Newspaper | Central DeWitt High School | DeWitt, IA

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