"Christ is the perfect example of serving others, and that's what we try to instill in our athletes. This event helped them appreciate the opportunities they have and brought joy to everyone involved." - CUAA Director of Athletics Lonnie Pries
SEE THE FULL PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE EVENT HERE
(Ann Arbor, MI) - Concordia University Ann Arbor hosted a sports expo in conjunction with Special Olympics of Michigan on Friday, October 4th. The inclusive event brought together over 60 Special Olympic athletes and 180 Concordia student-athletes for a day of sports, teamwork, and character-building.
"It was fun to see our campus full of energy with both athletes from Concordia and Special Olympics of Michigan," said CUAA Volleyball Coach Danielle Cook. "To see the engagement between the athletes brought a lot of energy to all involved. We even had a few of the parents of the Special Olympians share how great it was to see their kids come out of their shells at the event. There's something special about being able to serve alongside each other and see the joy and smiles on everyone's faces."
The idea for the sports expo emerged after the success of a previous collaboration at the NAIA Cheer and Dance Championships hosted by Concordia at Eastern Michigan University last year. "The Special Olympics athletes at the event were loving it, the Special Olympics staff said they would be interested in doing another event with us," said CUAA Director of Athletics Lonnie Pries. "Our administration team decided to reach out, and after working through the details, we landed on a date that worked well for everyone."
"It was a very fun and special experience to get to work with those kids," said CUAA Softball student athlete Payton Lewis. "It was great to be involved with giving them an experience that they don't get to have everyday. I loved seeing everyone so excited and involved today."
The October 4th event saw Special Olympics athletes paired with CUAA athletes in a 3:1 ratio, with each CUAA team contributing approximately half their roster to support the event.
"I loved to see our athletes competing and experiencing the joy of success they earned from their hard work today," said CUAA Men's Basketball student athlete Mark DeVries. "Shoutout to Dani, hope she had as good of a time as I did."
The event took place across three main locations: Ferry Field at Cardinal Stadium, Thunder Sports Complex, and the Cardinal Fieldhouse. CUAA athletes worked alongside Special Olympics athletes across multiple sports, including football, basketball, soccer, baseball/softball, volleyball, lacrosse, and track. The approach was able to foster deeper connections between CUAA athletes and their Special Olympics counterparts. "Our athletes were able to not only teach sports skills but also build relationships. They learned about each Special Olympics athlete they were paired with, and that's something really special," Pries said.
"It was really awesome getting to work with the special olympians," said CUAA Women's Basketball and Track & Field student athlete Julia Hirt. "I loved being able to see how much fun everyone was having playing games and making new friends."
The experience was both fun and educational for CUAA athletes as they adapted their coaching styles to meet the needs of Special Olympics athletes. "It will help our athletes adjust how they interact with others, and it'll be a great learning experience for them," Pries said.
"I had a great time at the Special Olympics event today," said CUAA Baseball student athlete Macus Bugeja. "My athlete, Austin, was amazing to be around and seeing his face light up every time we would be playing a sport was a great sight to see. I am very grateful that we were able to make these kids' day through the sports we love."
This partnership highlights the core values of CUAA's athletics program, which focuses on Christ-centered leadership and servant leadership. "Our athletes took the time to serve others and give them a great experience," said Pries. "Christ is the perfect example of serving others, and that's what we try to instill in our athletes. This event helped them appreciate the opportunities they have and brought joy to everyone involved."
