Slippery Rock University hosts Special Olympics sectional
SLIPPERY ROCK — Hundreds of athletes from across Western Pennsylvania gathered at Slippery Rock University on Sunday, Sept. 27, for the annual Western Fall Sectional for the Pennsylvania Special Olympics.
An estimated 450 athletes, representing 17 counties, competed in six sports — soccer, flag football, long-distance running/walking, volleyball, powerlifting and bocce. The 17 counties make up two of the Special Olympics Pennsylvania regions: the Three Rivers Region, which includes Butler County, and the Northwest Region.
Top athletes in each sport earn a chance to compete at the state’s premier Special Olympics event — the Fall Festival at Villanova University in November.
One of the athletes representing Butler County is 42-year-old Brian Reinhart, who plays volleyball. Reinhart, who also plays floorball and tennis throughout the year, has been a Special Olympian for 14 years.
“I started playing because some of my friends played and they were like, ‘Wow, it's great,’” Reinhart said. “Once I got to see how everybody was and how everybody's like a family, it was awesome. I was like, ‘That's something I want to be a part of.’”
The fall sectional officially kicked off with an opening ceremony at Jack Critchfield Park, featuring the parade of athletes, the recital of oaths for both the players and coaches and the ceremonial lighting of the Special Olympic torch.
According to Andrea Patton, regional executive director for Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock University has played host to the Special Olympics for decades.
“We're just grateful that Slippery Rock, year after year, sees the value of bringing our athletes and our coaches here,” Patton said. “They clearly have an incredible facility, and it really does help that they are kind of a central point for both the northwest and the southwest, so it's kind of a beautiful meeting up point.”
Hundreds of volunteers — made up mostly of Slippery Rock University students — helped run the Special Olympics event, whether it meant serving as referees and officials for sports, taking sign-ups for events or simply holding up signs to encourage the athletes to do their very best.
“We’ve helped make posters to hype everybody up, and we’ve just been organizing everything and making sure everything's on task,” said volunteer and Slippery Rock student Kennedie Lewis.
Many of the coaches and other volunteers, such as Diane Myers, are part of the Special Olympics for personal reasons. Myers is the head coach for the Butler County Bandits soccer team, one of two soccer teams representing Butler County on Sunday.
“My daughter is one of the athletes, so I got involved to keep her active,” said Myers, who has been involved with Special Olympics for nearly two decades. “I was just a volunteer and then I became a coach.”
Another longtime Special Olympics coach is Renee Spohn, head coach for Butler County’s volleyball team. Spohn said she has been a part of Special Olympics for 24 years.
“I grew up volunteering with my parents. They volunteered for everything in our local community and so as an adult, I realized that was something I wanted to continue doing. So I volunteered for other things,” Spohn said. “My first child had Down syndrome, so I took her to one of the practices for track and field and I just fell in love with it.”
In addition to volleyball, Spohn also coaches floorball — a modified form of hockey — during the winter months.
“It’s like a big family,” Spohn said. “I've met some of the best people ever that are still my lifelong friends now. I love all the people I've met through this program, athletes and volunteers and fellow coaches.”
