Iowa Wesleyan Prepares To Host 2018 Special Olympic Spring Games
Iowa Wesleyan University is excited to announce the Southeast Iowa Special Olympic Spring Games will be held at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex on April 7, 2018. This marks the fourth consecutive year Iowa Wesleyan will host the event.
"Iowa Wesleyan is graciously hosting our Southeast Area Spring Games for its fourth year. The teachers, coaches, and students on this campus do an amazing job of preparing and serving as volunteers the day of the event. Partnerships like this amongst Division 3 schools and Special Olympics allow for very successful events for our athletes. This year's event is also special because 2018 marks the 50th Anniversary of Special Olympics as an organization. We look forward to another fun day of competition and good weather on April 7th," said Erin Birkenholtz, Southeast Regional Director of Field Services for Special Olympics.
Each year, nearly two hundred athletes from southeast Iowa come to Mount Pleasant, Iowa to compete in track and field events during the Spring Games. Athletes participate in the Spring Games in hope of qualifying for the Special Olympic State Games in Grimes, Iowa.
"Special Olympics Spring Games is a great event where our Special Olympic athletes get to come out and compete and interact with our community and the students from Iowa Wesleyan. We are so grateful to get to host this event for the fourth year in a row and we look forward to carrying on that tradition. These athletes work year round to get ready for this competition for the chance to qualify for the state games," said B.J. Wagy, Assistant Athletic Director and Advisor of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
This event would not be possible without members of the Mount Pleasant community, as well as the student-athletes and faculty/staff from Iowa Wesleyan University.
Wagy continued, "As a volunteer, it's so rewarding to see the passion they bring on event day. Special Olympics is about inclusivity and I'm glad that Iowa Wesleyan can align some of its core values, like community, service, passion, and courage with this event and bring everyone together for one day. We could not pull this event off without all of the support of our sponsors and volunteers from the community."
To learn more information about this Special Olympics event, contact B.J. Wagy by phone at 319-385-6305 or by email at bj.wagy@iw.edu. If you would like to volunteer for the event or have a booth in the Olympic Village, sign up online at: https://www.iw.edu/calendar/iowa-special-olympics-spring-games/
Tiger Athletics: Iowa Wesleyan University strives to provide its student-athletes the opportunity to be successful in life and sports. Engaged in the SLIAC and UMAC Conferences, Tiger athletics is a proud member of NCAA Division III.
STORY COURTESY OF IOWA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
