Marietta’s Special Olympics athletes are fresh off of a great showing at the Area
Games, held April 1, and ready to head to the state games May 13, 14, and 15.
“All of our athletes qualified for the state games by placing first and second in their
events,” said Coach Hope Willis.
Placing first in the softball throw were junior Aaron Austin and freshman Stetson Willis;
in second place were second grader Hudson Perkins, fifth grader Alex Greenwood, and
sixth grader Branson Willis; and in third place were seventh graders Jaxon Maldonado
and Tommy Greenwood.
In the Turbo Jav competition, junior Kyle Austin finished in first place, while juniors
Aidan Sanders and Wyatt Drain and seventh grader Josef Fraire finished in second
place.
First place finishers in the 100 meter run were juniors Aaron Austin, Kyle Austin, and
Wyatt Drain. Freshman Stetson Willis and fifth grader Alex Greenwood also finished in
first place. Second place finishers were seventh grader Branson Willis and second
grader Hudson Perkins. Junior Aidan Sanders and seventh graders Jaxon Maldonado,
Josef Fraire, and Tommy Greenwood finished in third place.
And as if the team’s success isn’t enough, a Marietta family came home with a special
honor: Family of the Year for Special Olympics. The family of student Jaxon Maldonado
was honored at area with a plaque and ceremony.
Knowing the family and their contribution to her team, Willis nominated the family.
“They support us in every way they can,” Willis said. “They show up at practice to help,
they make sure we have what we need – they see what needs to be done and just do it.
And most importantly, they never bring a negative attitude. They are good for our kids,
and they are a blessing for me. We are so excited that they were honored.”
Jaxon’s family members include parents Kyle and Kashlee Kelley, brother Emmett
Kelley, and grandmother Christy Hammett.
Another point of pride for Indian Special Olympics, one of their athletes, Stetson Willis,
was privileged to carry the torch for a leg at the Area Games.
The Indians’ team is working hard to prepare themselves for the State Games, where
there are already more than 8,000 athletes registered to compete, not that they’re
intimidated by that.
“Being at the State Games is amazing,” Willis insisted. “But what is most amazing about
them is they way the athletes are supported. Everybody in attendance cheers on every
athlete. And it’s not just about winning. You can have an athlete in last place, but they
never stop – they never give up.
“The athletes support and celebrate each other, and they are supported and celebrated
by the volunteers and fans. The kids don’t always want to compete, and they may have
a meltdown once in a while, but they learn to go on and finish what they started.”
There’s a trainload of life lessons to be learned there, ones that many of us could stand
to absorb. And then there’s one more.
“These kids have more struggles than I can understand,” concluded Willis, “but they do
everything with a happy heart. I wish I could be more like them.”
Willis is the head coach for the Indians’ Special Olympics athletes, assisted by Sheri
Willis, Kassie Drain, and Amanda Sanders.