Swinging for inclusion in Special Olympics Fall Classic

RAPID CITY, SD (KOTA) – The Summer Olympics may be over but there was one more sporting event to watch this past weekend, the Special Olympics South Dakota’s Fall Classic.

More than 700 athletes from across the state participated in the Fall Classic, the state tournament for the Special Olympics bocce and softball teams.

Bocce kicked off the annual event with a record-breaking 176 teams participating on Thursday and Friday. The fun continued Saturday with a softball tournament that ran through Sunday afternoon, with 26 teams competing for first place.

Special Olympics athletes are eligible to compete starting at age 8, and many return season after season, such as David Tanner, a pitcher and occasional catcher for the Rapid City Storm. Tanner has been playing for about 12 years and said his team has been training all season for the fall classic.

Not only do the athletes return each year, Dennis Thompson has been an umpire for Special Olympics softball for the past 47 years and says he enjoys mentoring others and working with volunteers.

“They do everything great. Even if it’s a small task like cleaning up or getting the score books, it’s exciting to work with them. If they have any questions, they come to me or someone else who knows the answer,” Thompson said.

Thompson added that it could be back for years to come.

Special Olympics South Dakota has had a strong statewide presence since 1969 and currently serves approximately 2,700 athletes with programs in all major cities and smaller communities.

One of the organization’s missions is to organize sports competitions throughout the year in bocce, softball, bowling, basketball, swimming, track and field, equestrian and many more sports.

Cathy Grubb, Special Olympics South Dakota’s Black Hills region athletic director, said these opportunities provide important lessons and development for athletes.

“We get the opportunity to showcase our athletes, we love the opportunity to show everyone what our athletes can do and not focus on their limitations but what they can do. They get the opportunity to be the stars and come here and show everyone that they can do anything really well and get the recognition and recognition that they deserve,” Grubb said.

The fall classic rotates every two years in terms of venue and will return next year in Rapid City.

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