DePauw's campus will be filled with basketball and cheers this weekend as The Special Olympics take over the Indoor Track and Tennis Center.
The Annual Special Olympics basketball tournament is hosted by the Panhellenic Council and Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC). The event will take place this Saturday and Sunday. The 32 Special Olympics teams divide into 25 five-on-five teams and seven three-on-three groups to show off their skills in the game.
The event will open with welcoming speeches from Director of Athletics and Recreational Sports Stevie Baker-Watson and a Special Olympics Athlete, along with a performance by DePauwCapella.
Director of Sports Management of Indiana, Dave Breen has helped to continue the Special Olympics on DePauw's campus for 20 years, but added that the event has been going on before his time.
Between 25 and 30 years ago, Greencastle resident Dan Tegrottenhouse, who also worked for the organization, reached out to Panhellenic for support in the games. After the Council agreed to help, SAAC later joined in with the event, along with other DePauw student volunteers.
According to Breen, the all-women's tournament is the only event of its kind in the world within the Special Olympics. The event allows women ages of 16 and up to compete.
Senior Ben Hazen has been part of the Olympic tradition for four years. This year, Hazen has taken up the leadership role as President of SAAC where he helps provide volunteers with scoring and cheering for the game.
Although the event is intended to be fun and games, getting it all together had its difficulties, according to Hazen. He found it difficult to come by volunteers because some Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic social events clash with the Olympics this weekend.
"We've had more formals than normal on this particular weekend," Hazen said.
Amelia Marvel, director of service and philanthropy, also had problems recruiting student volunteers, but was happy when athletic teams leant a helping hand with setting up. Matthew Nealson, SAAC advisor and football coach, recruited his players to volunteer with setting up and cleaning.
Chelsea Pritchard, who is currently the intern at The Special Olympics, has also experienced difficulties with preparing the teams for the event because of the cold weather.
"It's been kind of difficult getting the teams motivated because they didn't have much of an opportunity for them to play practice games," Pritchard said.
Pritchard described how the scores from all the practice games help with determining the team's placing for the state tournament. Athletes' individual scores are also important since players are placed in groups with similar skills.
Marvel enjoys the support the special athletes receive from the cheer block of volunteers as they play in the game.
"My favorite part was seeing how happy the athletes were that people were showing up for them," Marvel said. "It was really motivating."
Breen describes how, this year, the special athletes will also receive the chance to support DePauw's women's basketball team during their tournament this weekend.
"If [DePauw] makes it to Saturday night we've been invited to cheer for them during their game, which is kind of nice because the Panhellenic council has always cheered for our girls during the tournament," Breen said. "So it gives us an opportunity to give back to the university".
At the end of the weekend tournament, the athletes will celebrate with awards and the Dance and Dinner party where they will eat pizza, receive manicures and possibly dance. Breen said the overall Olympics gives the special athletes a chance to engage socially with college students.
"Not only is competition important for our folks," Breen said, "but they enjoy the social aspect of what they do."