Article reprinted from the March 23, 2000 Greenville Advocate with permission

Brave Victors

Success at the first annual Greenville College Special Olympics wasn’t measured in seconds or feet. It was measured in heart.

Some children fared better than others at the first annual Greenville College Special Olympics on Friday. But in the end, all of them were winners, say organizers.

“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,” read signs taped to the walls of the GC recreation center, displaying the motto for the event that featured six teams and 56 special education students from Greenville and Vandalia.

The competition, which was not affiliated with the national Special Olympics organization, was organized by GC men’s basketball Coach George Barber and his adapted physical education class.

OH, CHUTE! Mike Drumeller (right) of Vandalia enjoys the floor parachute event at the GC Special Olympics.

“We’re taking regular games and fitness activities, and modifying them so people with disabilities can participate,” said Barber.

The key focus of both event organizers and special education teachers was boosting the sense of self-worth of the children with disabilities. “For kids that struggle with academics, it was good for them to have something else to succeed at, to build self-esteem,” said Dona Harvey, special education teacher at the Greenville Elementary School. “It’s something they know they can do well.”

Added Barber, “They leave here, and say ‘I did it!’ ”

JAROD JONES (left), a freshman at Greenville College, holds up one of the participants in the GC Special Olympics on Friday.

Activities at the Special Olympics included a basketball shoot, floor parachuting, bowling with basketballs, a Frisbee toss, face painting, indoor fishing, a ball toss, a foot race, and a three-legged relay race. Ribbons were awarded for first, second and third place in each event, as well as participation in the Olympics.

Eight GES students attended the event, which was one of the first special education field trips in more than four years, said Harvey.

From his team, Alex Aubuschon, of GES, placed first in bowling, first in basketball, third in the softball throw, and third in the frisbee throw.

SUCCESS: Alex Lorton, a GES student, gives a high-five to Ben Ambuehl, a GC sophomore from Greenville.

Ashleigh Peacock took first place in bowling and third in the frisbee throw.

Jimmy Stief grabbed first place in the softball throw, first in the frisbee throw, second in basketball, third in bowling, and first in a foot race.

Kristina Matthews placed second in softball, second in frisbee, and third in a race.

Alex Lorton brought home a purple ribbon for participation.

Mary Potts came in second in a race, and received a purple ribbon for participation.

Samantha Riedemann also collected a purple ribbon for participation.

JIMMY STIEF (left), a student at Greenville Elementary School, gets his face painted by GC junior Heather Allen, a special education major.

Travis Crump placed first in basketball, second in the softball throw, and third in the frisbee toss.

The Special Olympics were facilitated by members of Barber’s class, as well as many volunteers, including 43 GC students and seven GC faculty and staff.

“I love to see how excited it gets them,” said GC sophomore Ben Ambuehl, of Greenville. “You can learn a lot from these kids. It doesn’t matter to them if they win, it matters just doing it as well as they can.”

Ambuehl said he is thinking of majoring in special education.

Barber commented that the college plans on sponsoring the Special Olympics annually. Next year, they will probably be held at the GC football field and track.

Last updated: March 24, 2000