Marshall Starke Special Olympics launching new sports for EKS season

PLYMOUTH — Special Olympics Indiana Marshall and Starke Counties program is excited about launching not one, but two new sports for EKS Season.
Last year was our first year with the restart of the Marshall and Starke Counties program. Last EKS season they offered softball and cornhole. Those coaches came back again this year with softball picking up two additional coaches to coach an additional softball team this year. Plymouth Parks Department sponsors our fields for Softball. This year they have grown enough to be in multiple fields.
Cornhole will start in July and practices are held at the Plymouth Church of the Heartland. Cornhole was a very popular sport last year. MSSO is still looking for volunteers to help at cornhole practices as they expect to have a multitude of athletes in attendance.
The new ALC (Athlete Leadership Council) also launched this year. At one of their first meetings, they learned there was a large group interested in flag football. Our ALC lead the charge on this new venture. The ALC chair, Roger Stoner came back with a list of 8 athletes, the jersey numbers they wanted all within just a couple of days. MSSO will be working with Hard Knox Gym again with this new sport.
The start of the Marshall & Starke Counties restart started with the son of Joe Short and Jackie Ziaja, Asher Short. He was lucky enough to get involved with Laporte Counties Equestrian team a few years ago. This was Joe and Jackie’s first experience with Special Olympics.
MSSO will be working with a new venue the Golden Horseshoe Saddle Club. Members have agreed to bring horses out to their arena for practices starting in July. These same members have agreed to take their horses to the Special Olympics State Competition on September 28 in Danville.
This past winter we added Cheer and Powerlifting to the Winter season. Adding Flag Football and Equestrian to the EKS season this year.
“We are absolutely blessed to be in the community we are in,” said MSSO in a press release on Tuesday. “The support we have received is absolutely amazing. Adding 4 new sports in just our second year is not something we expected to do. We are definitely excited to see what the future holds.”
The group is looking for coaches and volunteers to help with the new expansion. If you are interested in joining the group and working with athletes you can call (574)-935-0513.
Along with the growth of our program comes additional costs as well. MSSO will need to purchase new uniforms for a second softball team, their flag football team, and their equestrian team. Additional equipment will also be needed. If you would like to make a monetary donation to support the local program, you may send it to PO Box 1104 Plymouth, IN 46563. Please make checks payable to Special Olympics Indiana Marshall and Starke Counties.

PLYMOUTH — Special Olympics Indiana Marshall and Starke Counties program is excited about launching not one, but two new sports for EKS Season.
Last year was our first year with the restart of the Marshall and Starke Counties program. Last EKS season they offered softball and cornhole. Those coaches came back again this year with softball picking up two additional coaches to coach an additional softball team this year. Plymouth Parks Department sponsors our fields for Softball. This year they have grown enough to be in multiple fields.
Cornhole will start in July and practices are held at the Plymouth Church of the Heartland. Cornhole was a very popular sport last year. MSSO is still looking for volunteers to help at cornhole practices as they expect to have a multitude of athletes in attendance.
The new ALC (Athlete Leadership Council) also launched this year. At one of their first meetings, they learned there was a large group interested in flag football. Our ALC lead the charge on this new venture. The ALC chair, Roger Stoner came back with a list of 8 athletes, the jersey numbers they wanted all within just a couple of days. MSSO will be working with Hard Knox Gym again with this new sport.
The start of the Marshall & Starke Counties restart started with the son of Joe Short and Jackie Ziaja, Asher Short. He was lucky enough to get involved with Laporte Counties Equestrian team a few years ago. This was Joe and Jackie’s first experience with Special Olympics.
MSSO will be working with a new venue the Golden Horseshoe Saddle Club. Members have agreed to bring horses out to their arena for practices starting in July. These same members have agreed to take their horses to the Special Olympics State Competition on September 28 in Danville.
This past winter we added Cheer and Powerlifting to the Winter season. Adding Flag Football and Equestrian to the EKS season this year.
“We are absolutely blessed to be in the community we are in,” said MSSO in a press release on Tuesday. “The support we have received is absolutely amazing. Adding 4 new sports in just our second year is not something we expected to do. We are definitely excited to see what the future holds.”
The group is looking for coaches and volunteers to help with the new expansion. If you are interested in joining the group and working with athletes you can call (574)-935-0513.
Along with the growth of our program comes additional costs as well. MSSO will need to purchase new uniforms for a second softball team, their flag football team, and their equestrian team. Additional equipment will also be needed. If you would like to make a monetary donation to support the local program, you may send it to PO Box 1104 Plymouth, IN 46563. Please make checks payable to Special Olympics Indiana Marshall and Starke Counties.