Special Olympics spreads smiles through the community

Wednesday, Special Olympics athletes came from across the area to attend the Special Olympics Great Northern Area Spring Games, competing in track and field events in the morning followed by bowling and a celebratory dance in the evening.

Special Olympics Local Program Coordinator Brandon Berreth said the day went well. The track and field events at Havre Middle school ran smoothly and allowed all the athletes to have fun.

"Just seeing the smiles on all the kids' faces when they went down," he said. "The pure excitement and joy when you call their names when they won a medal, it really makes it worth doing this."

Volunteers and Athletes

Havreite Keeley Wilson earned three gold medals and one bronze medal in this year's games.

She said that she received a bronze medal in one biking competition and a gold in another biking competition, as well as gold medals in the 50 meter and 100 meter dash. Wilson said she was having a lot of fun at the event and was having a good time catching up and seeing friends.

Her favorite events were earlier in the day because they were outside, but she is a good bowler and was excited to compete, she said. She added that she was also excited for the dance that evening.

Athletes Justin Konesky and Lance Seely were sitting with Konesky's parents Ron and Barb, waiting for their turns to come up for the bowling competition.

Justin Konesky said that he was having fun at the event and was seeing a lot of his friends. In the bowling competition, he said he was doing well. He added that earlier that day he received three golds and a bronze medal, for 100 and 50 meter dash, softball throw and the long jump competition.

Barb Konesky said that Justin Konesky threw 88 feet and six inches, winning him gold.

Lance Seeley said he also received a gold for the running event he competed in.

Volunteers Missy Boucher, Emily Riggin, Shannon Chambliss, Toni Pedersen and Gordy Thompson were all there with Anderson Zurmuehlen, volunteering for the day.

Thompson said that they volunteered because the company strives to have a day out to help the community.

Boucher said that everything was

exciting that day and she was glad to be there. She added that her favorite part of the day was seeing the athletes smiles during the award ceremony.

Chambliss agreed.

"It's contagious," she added.

A rewarding day for all

Special Olympics Local Program Coordinator Stephanie Berreth said her favorite thing was seeing how happy the athletes were, adding that they were just as happy to receive an eighth-place ribbon as they were winning a gold medal.

"All I kept hearing every time somebody got an award was, 'Happy day! Happy day!'" she said.

Brandon Berreth said that they had several athletes at the awards who, when coming down to accept their awards, would be dancing or striking poses for pictures.

"Normally you don't see that out of them," he said. "... It's just those little moments like that which just will stick with you."

Event organizer and volunteer Ann-Marie Carlson said she and her husband, Dave, have been volunteering with Special Olympics for a number of years, creating area games for the athletes who wouldn't be able to attend the state competition.

She said, the athletes are excited for the event, adding that the athletes are supportive of each other and celebrate even if they only competed. Some of the athletes look forward to this event all year.

"It's their day to kind of be in the limelight that so many of us don't realize that they don't get," she said.

Carlson said that although the event was a little smaller than last year, the bond between the athletes was still very present.

"It's very much a family," she said.

Berreth said that Havre Police School Resource officer and the Havre Fire Department also attended the event, bring the fire truck, ambulance and patrol cars and opening them up for athletes and volunteers to see.

Brandon and Stephanie Berreth said they wanted to extend a huge thank-you to everyone who helped with the event.

Brandon Berreth added that he also wanted to thank the Jesse James Foundation and donations through the fundraiser in honor of Delores "Kay" Cichosz, who died in February of this year. Cichosz was the mother of Special Olympics athlete Becca Buskirk. The Jesse James Foundation and the Buskirk family have also donated to purchase uniforms for the athletes who will be attending the state Special Olympics in May in Great Falls.

He added that 14 athletes will be attending the state games this year.

Stephanie Berreth said that they had a massive Number of volunteers and people who have donated to the event this year. She added that, though the year of planning was a lot of workand they had to think about things in a new way because they were first-year coordinators, she thinks they would be interested in doing it again.

"We really enjoy it," she said.

Brandon Berreth said that, in the past, they have been involved with organizing the dance after the events, and is looking forward to next year.

He added that all the events were great, but his favorite event was the bowling.

"I'm always a fan of bowling," he said. "I'm a bowler myself so, yeah, this is my favorite part of the day."

Berreth also coached the Havre teams this year, he said, adding that he coaches the athletes like he would coach anyone else.

"They all deserve to be treated that way," he said.