Olympics bound: Local athletes compete in Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games this weekend

Pharos-Tribune - 6/9/2017

June 09--The hard clank of bocce balls hitting each other rang out from the lawn area of Peak Community Services Wednesday morning, as members of the Cass County Special Olympics team practiced for their upcoming trip to the Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games in Terre Haute this weekend.

This year, Cass County is sending more than 30 athletes to the annual event on the grounds of Indiana State University and the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. It's a feat that pleases Bonnie Bell, Cass County'sSpecial Olympics coordinator.

"It's a three-day weekend, and it's a blast," she said. "Athletes love it, and they're all excited."

This year's events run June 9-11. 2017 marks the 48th time Terre Haute has played host to the Indiana Summer Games, and Bell has been involved in at least the last 15 of them. Each year, Bell and her husband, Jim, travel down to Terre Haute a day before the games begin and set up the dormitory rooms the athletes stay in throughout the weekend.

"That way when they arrive on Friday morning, they just need to find the name badges on the doors and go into their rooms," she said. "Everything's set up for them. A card in their room tells them who their chaperone is, what events they're doing and what time."

While the Indiana Summer Games consist of nine sports, this year's Cass County team just has athletes in track and field, swimming and bocce.

One of those athletes is Josh Appleton, 31, who will be competing in track and field in the 50-meter dash, standing long jump and softball throw. On Wednesday, Appleton said the Indiana Summer Games is a personal highlight every year.

"I love going to Terre Haute," he said. "I've gone to the Special Olympics since 2003, and I love going and making new friends. Whenever I'm in the Special Olympics, it's not about winning or losing. I just try to have good sportsmanship. If I lose, I don't get upset. I just cheer the other person on."

Swimmer Suzy Fullmer, 28, agreed with Appleton, saying her goals for this weekend's games are pretty simple.

"I'm trying to get a medal," she said, "but I want to have fun and make friends too and just do my best in swimming."

It's those lessons in sportsmanship and dedication that Bell said she hopes all the Cass County athletes take away from the competition this weekend. After all, she said, the games are all about finding your own strength and overcoming perceived limitations.

"It's about like our everyday normal life," Bell said. "They realize it's a competition. If they got a silver medal last year, they want a gold this year. And then they can come back and show everybody what they've done."

It's also about enjoying every second of the experience. It starts with the opening ceremonies that will take place tonight. More than 2,800 athletes from across the state will walk into the Hulman Center in Terre Haute and hear announcers call out their county's name. Along with all the pomp and circumstance, including an appearance from Indiana Pacers' mascot Boomer, Bell said the athletes will have an opportunity to feel just like Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt.

Because anything is possible, Bell said.

"People with disabilities can do anything they put their minds to," she said. "This gives them the opportunity to venture out to bigger and better things. If you can do this and make a gold, you can go out and do whatever your dreams are."

Bell also had a message for those who might doubt that philosophy.

"A lot of people look at them [the athletes] and think they're just mentally challenged or whatever, but you have to get to know the athletes because they're just as human as you and me," she said. "And all they want is a friend and people to see that they really can do it."

Reach Kim Dunlap at kim.dunlap@pharostribune.com or 574-732-5150.

COMPETITORS

Cass County athletes competing at the 2017 Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games: Jamie Ackerman, Josh Appleton, David Baker, Buddy Barnett, Kevin Bell, Chris Brettin, Anthony Byarline, Anthony Cascio, Jason Conrad, Faith Etzwiler, Trevyr Farnham, Sam Fowley, Aaron Fleming, Lynn Frye, Tom Frye, Suzy Fullmer, Blanche Gwin, Ashley Jones, Kenny Knickrehm, Michael McManus, Brad Moss, Jacob Mullet, Angel Philson, Joy Pugh, Jennifer Rombold, Drew Siddall, Brittnee Waller, Kristina Weese, Scott Yulkes