The 40th Annual Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) State Indoor Sports Tournament will kick off at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Kolf Sports Center at 10:30 a.m. April 9 with an opening ceremony.
The tournament will continue on Sunday, April 10 with nearly 600 athletes competing. More than 300 volunteers, many of them UW Oshkosh students, will help run the event.
Each year, the Gruenhagen Conference Center (GCC) helps SOWI run the event. Marc Nylen, director of the GCC, said he was excited to host SOWI at UWO for the 40th year.
“The privilege of welcoming athletes, coaches, family members and more than 300 volunteers each and every year is something we look forward to,” Nylen said.
SOWI athletes will work on gymnastics and basketball skills and will play the UW Oshkosh men’s basketball team in a friendly competition following the opening ceremony on Saturday.
Juckem
“Our players loved interacting with the athletes at last year’s event and were impacted by the experience. We are humbled to be asked to participate once again this year,” said Pat Juckem, UW Oshkosh men’s basketball coach.
The SOWI athletes will not only compete in the tournament but will receive free health screenings on Saturday in the GCC thanks to the Healthy Athletes program. Any SOWI athlete with a valid medical form is able to participate in the program.
Admission is free and all are welcome to attend and cheer on the athletes at the tournament.
“If you have never had the opportunity to attend the event in person, take an hour out of your day to come and see the tournament in action in the Kolf Sports Center and Albee Hall. You will cherish every moment,” Nylen said.