SE: K-State Special Olympics a Mutually Moving Experience
Apr 01, 2019 | Sports Extra, Evans Student-Athlete Success Program
By Corbin McGuire
SueAnn Wanklyn feels like she gets asked the question earlier and earlier each year.
When is the K-State Special Olympics clinic?
"They look forward to it," said Wanklyn, head coach for The Road Runners, a local Special Olympics team. "They talk about it for a long time."
On Sunday morning, they got to do more than talk about it.
More than 100 Special Olympians from around the state took part in K-State's annual Special Olympics clinic in the football indoor complex. There, 100-plus K-State student-athletes worked 10 sport-specific stations that the Special Olympians took part in. The event ended with a walk up to K-State's baseball game versus Texas Tech, preceded by one Special Olympian throwing out the first pitch.
Wanklyn, whose son, Cody, is a Special Olympian, said she's been to the event about the last 10 years. She added that the Special Olympians, many of whom are K-State fans, feel the same way each time it's over: Elated and ready for the next one.
"They're floating. They're on Cloud Nine," she said. "It's fun to see the interaction between the K-State athletes and how much fun they have with this clinic as well."
The experience is definitely mutual.
Wildcats from nearly every sport took part in the event. They each left feeling better about their role as student-athletes and what they can give back to others, especially their fans.
K-State volleyball's Brooke Heyne said the "little moments" cued this feeling.
For her, that came in the form of a hug from one Special Olympian. This took place after one of the groups left her station, which consisted of a circle of people trying to see how many times they could bump a volleyball in the air without it hitting the ground.
"One group was constantly getting two or three, and then one time we got 23. Just to see that face of accomplishment from that group was super special," Heyne said. "Just to feel that love and joy from something that we do every day puts it in perspective and makes you realize this is super special, this is something that brings a lot of joy to a lot of people, and I get to do it every day."
Delaney Bird, a freshman for K-State rowing, helped run the obstacle course station. At it, Special Olympians ran over a cone, a hurdle and several other objects before they got to the end, which required them throw a soccer ball inside a tractor-sized tire before sprinting back.
"High fiving them after they run through the obstacle course and cheering them on was my favorite part," she said. "Seeing their smiles and encouraging them, it's really rewarding to see."
K-State men's basketball's Mike McGuirl posted up with a few of his teammates at a simpler station. There were trash cans and basketballs, and no rules. Other than: Go score.
"It's a free-for-all," he said. "You could shoot a fadeaway deep shot or do a 360 dunk."
Occasionally, McGuirl said he would see a Special Olympian who wanted to take a picture with him or one of his teammates but was too shy to ask. In these moments, McGuirl was not.
"When you ask them, they get really excited. Anytime you can make someone's day, it's a great moment," he said. "We're in a great position, a position that we're able to help people and really make people's days. That's important to me. Anytime I can help brighten up somebody's day and give them a great experience, it's worth it."
Heyne shared a similar experience. One Special Olympian told her that she watched her play on TV this past season. It took her by surprise at first and reinforced the importance of the event.
"For someone to come up and recognize you and say, 'Hey, I watched you,' it's super surreal. To be able to be part of two hours of their lives and help them with a sport that they look up to you so much for is super special," she said. "It makes you appreciate the game and everything else."
SueAnn Wanklyn feels like she gets asked the question earlier and earlier each year.
When is the K-State Special Olympics clinic?
"They look forward to it," said Wanklyn, head coach for The Road Runners, a local Special Olympics team. "They talk about it for a long time."
On Sunday morning, they got to do more than talk about it.
More than 100 Special Olympians from around the state took part in K-State's annual Special Olympics clinic in the football indoor complex. There, 100-plus K-State student-athletes worked 10 sport-specific stations that the Special Olympians took part in. The event ended with a walk up to K-State's baseball game versus Texas Tech, preceded by one Special Olympian throwing out the first pitch.
Wanklyn, whose son, Cody, is a Special Olympian, said she's been to the event about the last 10 years. She added that the Special Olympians, many of whom are K-State fans, feel the same way each time it's over: Elated and ready for the next one.
"They're floating. They're on Cloud Nine," she said. "It's fun to see the interaction between the K-State athletes and how much fun they have with this clinic as well."
The experience is definitely mutual.
"We're in a great position to help people, and really make people's days."
— K-State SAAC (@kstatesaac) April 1, 2019
Thank you to Special Olympics of Kansas and all our student-athletes for another great year! #CatsWhoCare @sokansas pic.twitter.com/EoY14AyiZ1
Wildcats from nearly every sport took part in the event. They each left feeling better about their role as student-athletes and what they can give back to others, especially their fans.
K-State volleyball's Brooke Heyne said the "little moments" cued this feeling.
For her, that came in the form of a hug from one Special Olympian. This took place after one of the groups left her station, which consisted of a circle of people trying to see how many times they could bump a volleyball in the air without it hitting the ground.
"One group was constantly getting two or three, and then one time we got 23. Just to see that face of accomplishment from that group was super special," Heyne said. "Just to feel that love and joy from something that we do every day puts it in perspective and makes you realize this is super special, this is something that brings a lot of joy to a lot of people, and I get to do it every day."
Delaney Bird, a freshman for K-State rowing, helped run the obstacle course station. At it, Special Olympians ran over a cone, a hurdle and several other objects before they got to the end, which required them throw a soccer ball inside a tractor-sized tire before sprinting back.
"High fiving them after they run through the obstacle course and cheering them on was my favorite part," she said. "Seeing their smiles and encouraging them, it's really rewarding to see."
K-State men's basketball's Mike McGuirl posted up with a few of his teammates at a simpler station. There were trash cans and basketballs, and no rules. Other than: Go score.
"It's a free-for-all," he said. "You could shoot a fadeaway deep shot or do a 360 dunk."
Occasionally, McGuirl said he would see a Special Olympian who wanted to take a picture with him or one of his teammates but was too shy to ask. In these moments, McGuirl was not.
"When you ask them, they get really excited. Anytime you can make someone's day, it's a great moment," he said. "We're in a great position, a position that we're able to help people and really make people's days. That's important to me. Anytime I can help brighten up somebody's day and give them a great experience, it's worth it."
Heyne shared a similar experience. One Special Olympian told her that she watched her play on TV this past season. It took her by surprise at first and reinforced the importance of the event.
"For someone to come up and recognize you and say, 'Hey, I watched you,' it's super surreal. To be able to be part of two hours of their lives and help them with a sport that they look up to you so much for is super special," she said. "It makes you appreciate the game and everything else."
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