Saturday's Internet Edition, October 11, 2008.
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Weston Stapp is mighty happy with his performance. He’s already sporting one medal and is well on his way to winning another.
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- Who: Special needs athletes from Junction and 12 schools from eight other area communities
What: Hill Country Special Olympics
When: Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Where: JISD Eagle Stadium
How: Total dedication
For ten years, I’ve been covering and then reporting on the events in Kimble County to the readers of The Junction Eagle, and this is the first time I’ve experienced what journalists refer to as “writer’s block”.
Usually, recounting the “who, what, when, where and how” is pretty easy to do. The most time-consuming part is checking all the data carefully to make sure everything we publish is accurate. (Since The Junction Eagle is the record of our lives in this community, I take the responsibility of recording it correctly very seriously.)
Maybe that’s why I have struggled so much writing this piece; because last week’s Special Olympics event just isn’t about the facts.
It is about so very much more.......things like fierce tenacity and perseverance, acceptance, tolerance, courage, and some amazing, indomitable spirits. It is about life lessons.
At the stadium last Wednesday, there were 125 people with varying degrees of mental and physical limitations, and then there were also their family members, friends, teachers and coaches, who live and work with them. Among this slice of humanity, there was such obvious and genuine compassion and warm-hearted kindness; such closeness, respect, and uninhibited joy. Where I had expected to feel sadness and sympathy, instead there was admiration and hope.
Welcoming and serving these visitors, were Junction Independent School District’s super superintendent Dr. Reneé Schulze and hard-working co-chairs Kathy Grendahl and Blenda Wright, who organized and coordinated the event.
Karla Boone had the mammoth responsibility of organizing and coordinating the entire high school student population to help with running the event.
For Junction’s students to have had this opportunity to participate in the Olympics event, with those special athletes, was one of the best “educational opportunities” they’ll ever have. Last Wednesday was a day full of heart-warming examples of bravery, strength of character, compassion and unguarded love.
There was an abundance of cheering and encouraging, but the competition wasn’t even a real issue. Yes, there were tennis ball tosses, wheelchair races and foot races. Measurements were taken; medals were awarded. But for some contestants, just being able to hold on to a tennis ball or manage a few labored steps was a major triumph.
The absolute joy the contestants expressed over these “minor” accomplishments was contagious. (I say “minor” because these are “skills” that are so simple and automatic, the rest of us never even have to think about them.) The competitors’ fans shared their excitement with applause and enthusiasm. There were lots of big ole bear hugs.
Our high school students were on hand to run the fun game booths in the “Olympic Village”. They also helped contestants get to their places, and assisted the JHS coaches with the track events, etc. They served as runners, timers and awards presenters, often helping the athletes get on and off the awards podium. Our kids were attentive, considerate, supportive and kind. The JHS students were awesome. Our community can be as proud of these young adults’ efforts helping at the Special Olympics games last Wednesday as we are when the Eagles win a ball game or UIL competition.
Businesses and individuals were, as usual, generous with donations.