ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus Athletic Department concluded the Special Olympics winter season by hosting back-to-back area competitions on consecutive weekends in February. On Sunday, Feb. 7, Gustavus hosted the Area 9 aquatics competition at the Vic Gustafson Pool and on Sunday, Feb. 14, it held the Area 9 basketball tournament in the Lund Center Forum.
“We feel very fortunate here at Gustavus to have a partnership with Special Olympics,” said Assistant Athletic Director Kari Eckheart. “This partnership benefits Special Olympics by giving them a regional venue to host some of their competitions and a place to showcase the talent of their athletes, but it also benefits Gustavus by connecting Gusties to the community. My favorite part of the day is watching volunteers interacting with the athletes and seeing firsthand how sports can bring everyone together.”
At the swimming meet held at the “Vic,” 40 student-athletes from the Gustavus men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams were in charge of set up and take down, timing, posting results, coordinating athletes, and running the award ceremony following the competition. To go along with their meet duties, the Gustie swimmers also served as the cheer squad and rooted on the participants for the entirety of the meet.
Twenty-five Special Olympics swimmers competed in races with distances ranging from 25 yards up to 200 yards. Aquatics, unlike other sports, is a life skill that is taught, first, to ensure safety and, secondly, for sports and competition purposes. Special Olympics aquatics covers a great variety of swimming skills, from short sprints to longer events and relays, perfect for all ages and ability levels.
At the Area 9 basketball tournament held on four courts spanning the length of the Lund Center Forum, 70 student-athletes representing men’s and women’s basketball, men’s soccer, football, softball, and baseball all volunteered their time. The Gusties assisted with setup and take down, first aid, officiating, putting together bag lunches, and scoreboard operation throughout the day. More than 500 athletes and coaches were involved in the event.
A large majority of the participants in both the aquatics and basketball events were members of Leisure Education for Exceptional People, Inc. (LEEP), a non-profit, United Way supported organization based in Mankato, Minn. LEEP provides recreational and sporting opportunities for people with developmental disabilities so that they might achieve optimal levels of socialization and independence in the community.
“Every year our team is lucky enough to attend Area Tournaments at Gustavus, and every year we leave very impressed and thankful for all of the hard work the volunteers put in to making the day so fantastic!” said Mandy Hunecke, LEEP Executive Director. “A big thank you goes out to all of the individuals who spend their weekends making our Special Olympic athletes dreams come true by giving them the opportunity to compete in some of their favorite sports. Keep up the great work, we look forward to seeing each of you this spring!”