Special Olympics

Special Olympics basketball players and coaches with Board Vice President Deanna Olson

School Board Honors Special Olympics Athletes

The Board recognized the Special Olympics basketball teams for success at the state tournament last month in St. Louis. The teams brought home two gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze medal. Two Ray-Pec Unified Partner 3-on-3 teams ended up playing each other for medals in the finals.

Gold medalists:

  • Mia Benson won the gold medal in Individual Wheelchair Skills. (Teacher Emma Howlett was Mia's coach.)

  • 3-on-3 Team: BreAunna Ruiz, Trey Gethers, Elijah George, and Caleb Nelson. Patron Aaron Howlett coached the yellow team. 

Silver medalists:

  • Team: Shawn Hunt, Dustin Haning, Ryan Hilliard (Unified Partner), J'Qwan Blackmon, and Jag Davis. Teacher Cara Hornbeck coached this team.

  • Team: Phoebe Benson (Unified Partner), Emery Vaughan (Unified Partner), Kendalynn Torrance, Liam Lambertz, Owen Vanzandt, and Owen Vaughan. Teacher Catie Howlett coached this team.

Bronze medalists:

Team members: Mallory Anderson, Sabrina Peek, Carter Nussbeck, and Grant Hornbeck (Unified Partner). Teacher Lora Kurzweil coached this team.

Ray-Pec Teams Win Medals at State Basketball Tournament

Ray-Pec Special Olympics basketball teams competed last weekend at the state tournament in St. Louis and brought home two gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze medal. Two Ray-Pec Unified Partner 3-on-3 teams ended up playing each other for medals in the finals.


Special Olympics Teams

Names of athletes and Unified Partners, from left to right: Team in Yellow earned Silver: Phoebe Benson (Unified Partner), Emery Vaughan (Unified Partner), Kendalynn Torrance, Liam Lambertz, Owen Vanzandt, and Owen Vaughan. Team in Black earned Bronze: Mallory Anderson, Sabrina Peek, Carter Nussbeck, and Grant Hornbeck (Unified Partner). Teacher Catie Howlett coached the yellow team. Teacher Lora Kurzweil coached the black team.

Mia Benson in wheelchair

Mia Benson won the gold medal in Individual Wheelchair Skills. Teacher Emma Howlett was Mia's coach.

Special Olympics Teams

Names of athletes and Unified Partners, from left to right: Team in Yellow earned Gold: BreAunna Ruiz, Trey Gethers, Elijah George, and Caleb Nelson. Team in Black earned Silver: Shawn Hunt, Dustin Haning, Ryan Hilliard (Unified Partner), J'Qwan Blackmon, and Jag Davis. Patron Aaron Howlett coached the yellow team. Teacher Cara Hornbeck coached the black team.

Ray-Pec Basketball Teams Qualify For State

Congratulations to the Ray-Pec Special Olympics Basketball teams on qualifying for the state tournament March 15-16 in St. Charles! In order to qualify for State, teams had to earn gold or silver medals at the St. Joseph Regional Tournament on Feb. 3. Every Ray-Pec team qualified.

This 3 on 3 team won a silver medal. From left: Kyndalynn Torrance, Owen Vaughan, Liam Lambertz, Emery Vaughan (Unified Partner), Owen Vanzandt, and Phoebe Benson (Unified Partner). (Coached by Catie Howlett)

This 3 on 3 team won a silver medal. From left: Dustin Haning, J'Qwan Blackmon, Ryan Hillard (Unified Partner), Jag Davis and Shawn Hunt. (Coached by Cara Hornbeck)

This 3 on 3 team won a gold medal. From left: Caleb Nelson, BreAunna Ruiz, Eli George, Kendyll Gethers (Unified Partner), and Trey Gethers. (Coached by Aaron Howlett)

This 3 on 3 team won a gold medal. From left: Grant Hornbeck (Unified Partner), Sabrina Peek, Mallory Anderson, and Owen Hamm. (Coached by Lora Kurzweil)

Mia Benson won a gold medal in Individual Wheelchair Skills. (Coached by Emma Howlett)

Special Olympics Bowling Tournament

Congratulations to Ray-Pec Special Olympics athletes who competed at the bowling tournament on Nov. 11, 2023, in Raytown.

Each of the pictured teams placed first in their categories.

Three athletes

Shawn Hunt, Grant Hornbeck, and J'Qwan Blackmon

Trey Gethers, Ean Csukker, and Caleb Nelson

Kenneth "Trey" Gethers, Ean Csukker, and Caleb Nelson

Four athletes

Phoebe Benson, Rue Clausing, Kendie Torrance, and Zaiden Hill

Matthew Scarborough, Liam Lambertz, Carter Nussbeck, and Emery Vaughan

Matthew Scarborough, Liam Lambertz, Carter Nussbeck, and Emery Vaughan

Adam Doss and Cara Hornbeck

Adam Doss and Cara Hornbeck

Owen Vaughan, Owen Hamm, Kendall Gethers, and Bre Ruiz

Owen Vaughan, Owen Hamm, Kendyll Gethers, and Bre Ruiz

Sabrina Peek, Mallory Anderson, Elana Csukker, and Mia Benson

Sabrina Peek, Mallory Anderson, Elana Csukker, and Mia Benson

What is Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO)?

Special Olympic Missouri’s mission is “to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community” (somo.org). 

At Ray-Pec, Special Olympics is a place for student athletes to come together to practice, play, and compete with other athletes and unified partners. We offer three sports: bowling in the fall, basketball in the winter, and track and field in the spring. Athletes can choose to participate in any or all of these sports! There are different levels of competition, and all students who meet the requirements are welcome!  

How can I volunteer?

Volunteers are an important part of Special Olympics because they help the athletes feel successful and are a positive role model. Volunteers help out and participate in practices. They do not have to be amazing at or know everything about the sport that they are helping with. At meets or tournaments, volunteers can just come to cheer, help work the event, or participate in the sport as a Unified Partner.

Unified Partners are volunteers that help out and compete with the athletes. In bowling, they partner bowl with one of the athletes and compete against other athletes and their unified partner. In basketball they may compete in a 3 on 3 half-court team against another 3 on 3 team. They make sure the athletes are involved in the game and give them passes to allow them to shoot. In track and field, they can be on a relay team with the athletes.

Who do I contact if I am interested?

Ray-Pec has three SOMO coaches. If you are interested in joining as an athlete, unified partner, or volunteer they would love to talk with you and answer any questions you may have! 

Forms:

Special Olympics Oath:

(Repeat each line after a leader speaks)

Let me win,
But if I cannot win,
Let me be brave in the attempt.