Swimmers, SAAC members volunteer at Special Olympics swim meet

The Student Athletic Advisory Comittee and the CSB/SJU swim and dive teams hosted a Special Olympics swim meet for two local teams, the Monticello Mavericks and the St. Cloud Community Team on April 9.

For many of the athletes, it was their first meet since the beginning of the pandemic.

Incoming SJU SAAC President and swimmer Ethan Huber and CSB swimmer Mary Ridgeway coordinated this event with their fellow teammates.

“Our CSB and SJU swimmers are active in SAAC and volunteering on and off our campuses. They were truly the ones that made the connections and led the way for the event to be hosted at SJU… they all recognize the importance of being a part of our swim community and supporting all athletes,” CSB head swim coach Mandy Wolvert said.

Huber, who has been involved with the Special Olympics since high school, was looking forward to continuing his passion but was restricted by the ongoing pandemic for the last two years.

“This year we were finally able to host a Special Olympics event here on campus. Hopefully, this was the beginning of a long-standing relationship with Special Olympics Minnesota to continue this event for years to come.” Huber said.

Each swimmer played a role in hosting the meet.

CSB swimmer Molly Johanson and SJU swimmer Colby Kern were lifeguards for the event.

Along with other swimmers, they helped set up the pool by putting out lane lines, posted event schedules, timed swimmers and decorated the whiteboards in the facility.

“My favorite part of this event was seeing the smiling faces of the swimmers and members of the Special Olympics community. Knowing that what we do here at CSB and SJU is able to make people this happy is something very special to me,” Kern said.

Johanson also enjoyed the event.

“I think it is important to take part in these events because it helps to foster a community of inclusion. The Special Olympics emphasized how important it is to recognize that these athletes are athletes, and their skills and abilities should be recognized just as much as anyone else,” Johanson said.

For some of the swimmers, their reach in the Special Olympics Association extends further than just the event on Saturday.

“I am part of the Special Olympics Association at school, so I have been attending the weekly practices with the athletes. At these practices, a group of us go to the St. Cloud YMCA, and for a little over an hour, we swim with the athletes and help them with their strokes and give them tips and advice,” Johanson said.

CSB swimmer Maria Beck was involved in a similar organization in high school.

“Personally, I was involved with the partners club all through high school… So, when I heard about the event, I thought that this would be a wonderful opportunity to get more involved,” Beck said.

Overall, the event was successful, and all of the athletes enjoyed bringing Special Olympics to campus.

“My favorite part was when one of the athletes asked to wear an SJU swim cap. It was super cool seeing the athletes wear CSB/SJU apparel and it was a great ‘we’re all one team’ moment,” SJU swimmer Joe Koller said.

To Huber, the event was a reflection of what it means to be an athlete at CSB/SJU.

“A family atmosphere surrounded everyone on the pool deck that day, and it was a great reminder of our mission as Bennies and Johnnies to welcome the community to our campuses through the Benedictine value of Hospitality… [and] paying that blessing forward to the surrounding community and being advocates for change and communal prosperity,” Huber said.