CASPER – The pandemic didn’t stop Goshen County School District No. 1’s Special Olympic athletes from bringing home some hardware from the fall state games in Casper Oct. 8-9.
Craig Schadwinkel, Goshen County Schools’ adapted physical education teacher and local Special Olympics coordinator and coach, brought three of their athletes on the trip and they all made it to the medal stand. In their respective divisions of the soccer skills competition, Anneke Kramer won the overall gold, Ty Haeffelin won overall gold and EJ Haas took the overall silver.
Schadwinkel said there are normally roughly 1,200 athletes at this particular competition, but due to COVID-19, just 40 participated.
“But the Wyoming state staff did an awesome job,” he said. “The 13 kids that participated in soccer, it was a tremendously skilled group of kids and very competitive, so the medals the kids won made it an even neater experience.”
The games were Haeffelin’s first, which made the 11 year old’s win even more impressive for Schadwinkel. Haeffelin’s mom, Cassie, said they recently moved to Goshen County from Scottsbluff, where Special Olympics has a big presence, so she knew she wanted Ty to be involved.
Never having attended a statewide Special Olympics competition before, Haeffelin said she was nervous, but was glad she went after seeing how much fun everyone had.
“Those kids, I never thought they could do what they did and they did great,” she said.
Anneke also moved to Torrington last year after participating in Iowa’s Special Olympics program. The 14-year-old is in her sixth year, according to her mom, Stacy Kramer.
“It’s another opportunity for her to do something outside the regular school day that’s safe,” she said.
According to Schadwinkel, the athletes start practicing roughly six weeks ahead of a scheduled competition, usually two days per week for 45 minutes at a time. In addition to statewide games, they also participate in the Area 3 games that include teams from Cheyenne, Pine Bluffs, and more.
The athletes are competitive, but are encouraging of one another, including those not on their team. Schadwinkel said Goshen County’s athletes spent time with and grew close to the team from Cody.
Ronda Haas, whose 15-year-old son, EJ has competed with the team for five years, said the Special Olympics is a valuable activity for both kids and parents. Schadwinkel said Haas’ husband, Ed, is a typical soccer dad at events, going from laid back to an enthusiastic cheerleader in an instant.
“When we go to any of the events, even the kids root for each other, not just their teammates,” Ronda Haas said. “It does wonders for your heart.”
Kramer said their kids’ attitudes fit their oath: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
“You can’t really leave with a bad attitude, because you see these kids who nothing comes easy to have to work twice as hard cheering each other on,” she said.
With just six kids involved, Haas said she hopes more will join. Schadwinkel agrees, calling his team and their families “a little family.”
Those interested in getting involved can contact Schadwinkel or the Office of Special Services to see if their kids qualify. Spring competition will start sometime in March, Schadwinkel said.
GCSD also has a “masters program” for anyone over the age of 21.
“That’s a neat thing for our community, to give those with special needs the opportunity to compete,” Schadwinkel said.
Parents of athletes said they are thankful for Schadwinkel and assistant coach Sage Fields, who also teaches kindergarten at Lincoln Elementary School.
For Haas, the Special Olympics goes beyond just her son, as it is a community staple.
“I want to be involved even after EJ gets out,” she said. “I’d still like to be involved with it and just keep it going.”
