Diocese sponsors Special Olympics clinic

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Posted March 20, 2003

A day before the NAIA Women's Basketball Tournament started at the auditorium in Sioux City, athletes were showing their stuff on the basketball court. These were not just any athletes, they were persons with special needs attending a Special Olympics Clinic sponsored by the Diocese of Sioux City on March 11.

According to Chuck Reed, public relations director of the Special Olympics Iowa, about 120 special needs athletes participated in one of two 90-minute clinics. The athletes with special needs were from Sioux City Public Schools as well as area group homes.

About half of the 32 teams participating in the tournament worked at the clinics. The college athletes helped the Special Olympians work on shooting and passing drills.

"We couldn't do it without the diocese because they help offset the cost," said Reed. "The connection we have with Father Dennis Meinen, who is in a motorized (scooter), is great. He is a fantastic representative for the diocese."

Father Dennis Meinen, homebound contact person for the diocese, was on hand for the event.

"I was pleasantly surprised that several young 'athletes' came over to me and said they remembered me from last year," said Father Meinen.

He was told me that several college athletes told him that the Special Olympics memories would stay with them for a long time.

"I thought of our Lord's Words, "What you did/did not do to the least, you did/did not do to me!," said Father Meinen.

In the future, he would like for the diocese to give religious items to the athletes, if their supervisors/staff thought it was safe and they would appreciate it. He also wishes the diocese was more visible at the event - possibly with a banner or a statement on the outside marquee saying - "The Diocese of Sioux City welcomes athletes to the Special Olympics."

Summer Hughes, a basketball player from Tennessee Weselyn from Athens, Tenn. pointed out that it was good for her team to work with the special needs athletes. Her team has made it to the tournament for six years and has been involved in the clinic every year it was offered.

"They really enjoy it - it's good for everybody," she said. Hughes added that it helped to take the college athletes minds off the tournament.

One special athlete, Dan, said he liked the clinic. He especially enjoyed "shooting hoops."

"It is not everyday that we get a chance to do something like this, so I think it is really great that we get the chance," said Kayla Cox, a member of the team from Bethany College in Kansas.

This was her second year to work at the clinic. She said the clinic was great for the special athletes because it enabled them to see that they can do the basketball skills.

"It's been fun," said Bridget McClarin of Bethel College in Tennessee. "It's been a joy to work with them. It's been relaxing and a joy to help somebody else out."

Roxanne Ellis, who works with special needs students in Sioux City Community Schools, pointed out that her students have participated in the clinic since it was first offered.

"The students love it and they look forward to it every single year," she said. "They talk about it from the beginning of the school year."

In addition to participating in the clinic, she noted that they attend games and stay involved with the tournament throughout the week. Many of her students bonded with college athletes from Holy Family in Pennsylvania in particular as they worked together at the clinic. So they rooted that team on.

"The two groups blend together so well," said Ellis, who added that her students participate in an adaptive physical education program at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City. Students from BCU came to watch the Special Olympics athletes participate in the clinic.

She is impressed by the enthusiasm of the teams who volunteer at the clinic and by how the clinic continues to grow every year.

Reed said the clinic allows the college teams to do something positive with their spare time as they await tournament action.

"After working on skills and some fun drills, we do relay races at the end," he said. "I would like to thank everyone for participating. It is a great event."