Team Adams Update

Hello Team Adams family,

It's hard to believe that we're already done with the first month of the new year! We have been very busy gearing up for our biggest sports season of the year........our Spring Season! We have over 85 athletes ready to take on athletics, basketball, swimming, and tennis next month! Contracts with practice facilities have been signed, schedules have been created, and equipment has been dragged out of storage!

In addition, we have been planning for several other fun events, such as the Polar Plunge, Basketball Invitational, and Golf Challenge. We even have something new planned this month at Gettysburg Eddies! These events often take months of work behind the scenes and I am very appreciative of the many hands that help make these opportunities possible for our athletes, volunteers, and the community. Please keep reading below to see the exciting things happening at Special Olympics Team Adams!

Let's go, Team Adams!

~ Joy Weikert

adamsteamleader@gmail.com

717-398-7657

Grace Myers has been involved in Special Olympics for many decades in a wide variety of roles. Currently, she serves as our Fundraising Coordinator. However, she is ready to "retire" from this role. Before she steps down, Grace would love to train someone to take over this extremely important and rewarding position on our management team. We have three major fundraising events each year: Polar Plunge, Golf Challenge, and Giving Spree. If you have a passion for helping others along with great communication skills and a little extra time to give, we'd love to hear from you! We have a very experienced and passionate management team ready to welcome you aboard and support you if you'd like to take on this role for us! If interested, please contact Joy Weikert at adamsteamleader@gmail.com.

Some of our bowlers competed against 3 other counties in the York Invitational on January 11. They had a great day seeing friends from other programs, making new friends, and bringing home 4 gold, 8 silver, and 4 bronze medals. Coach Harry Allison is very proud of all the athletes for doing a great job and he thanks everyone who helped him by recording scores, etc.

GOLD: Amanda Bair, Alex Harner, Jaden Seigrist, Mark Wildasin

SILVER: Alex Bair, Kyron Brown, Kayla Bixler, Eli Claypoole, Carole Ann Bollinger, Andrew Newman, David Miller, Brenda Wallace

BRONZE: Matt Charland, George Noel, Alyssa Redding, Johnny Stockslager

We had 17 bowlers travel to Mechanicsburg to compete at the regional level on February 1 in hopes of qualifying for the state competition, which is called Indoor Winter Games. Athletes who earn a gold medal at the regional level are entered into a random drawing to determine who gets to go to Indoor Winter Games based on the number of slots given to each region. So as you can imagine, it's high stress for many of our athletes because they really want to go to Indoor Winter Games! Here are the results from regionals:

GOLD: Kayla Bixler, Eli Claypoole, Jamison Leese, Michael McDonald, Alyssa Redding

SILVER: Carole Ann Bollinger and David Miller (doubles), Andrew Newman, Johnny Stockslager

BRONZE: Matt Charland and Alex Harner (doubles), Rachael Beard, Jonathan Stoner, Brenda Wallace, Mark Wildasin

4TH PLACE: Eli Murdorf

5TH PLACE: Max Rutledge

INDOOR WINTER GAMES ADVANCEMENTS:

We are thrilled to announce that KAYLA BIXLER, ELI CLAYPOOLE, MICHAEL MCDONALD, and ALYSSA REDDING were lucky enough to be selected to advance to Indoor Winter Games! We wish them luck as they prepare to compete against bowlers from across the entire state in York on March 7-8!

Spring Sports Offered by Team Adams:

• Wednesdays @ 5:30pm starts March 11

• Saturdays @ 8:30am (3v3) or 9:30am (5v5)
• Already started but you can still sign up until Feb. 15

• Sundays @ 2:00pm starts March 1

• Saturdays @ 12:00pm starts March 14

If you'd like to PLAY or VOLUNTEER with any of our Spring Sports listed above, you MUST sign up by February 15. This is a hard deadline. NOTE: If you have already signed up, please do not sign up again! Any questions, email Jill, our Regional Administration Manager, at jstoner@specialolympicspa.org.

Gettysburg Eddie’s is named after Edward Plank, a baseball player who lived in Gettysburg from 1875-1926. Eddie was a left-handed pitcher who was known for his “slant ball,” landing his right leg on the first base side of the pitcher’s mound and then throwing across his body. Gettysburg Eddie's is a premiere sports bar located on Steinwehr Avenue that honors Eddie and his love of baseball with the name Gettysburg Eddie’s!

Eddie's partners with one local non-profit organization each month to give back to the community. They have chosen Special Olympics Team Adams for the month of February! Stop by anytime during their regular hours (11:00-9:00) on February 25 for a bite to eat and we will get 10% of that entire day's gross sales. It happens to be their Wing Night, so you don't want to miss that! But if wings aren't your thing, check out their extensive menu that has something for everyone ranging from burgers and homemade soups to a full dinner menu that includes many gluten free and allergen free options!

Come between the hours of 4:00-8:00pm for some extra fun activities! On the main level of the restaurant, we will have some athletes/volunteers serving as "celebrity hosts" and "celebrity table bussers" to help greet customers and wipe tables. We will also be running 50/50 raffle drawings during that time! In addition, Eddie's has an upstairs bar area which we can use from 4:00-8:00 that day. Come upstairs to mingle with our athletes and volunteers, and purchase your favorite beverages from our guest bartenders, Coach Nelson Trout and athlete Alex Harner! We will receive 50% of the tips that the guest bartenders and regular bartender receive upstairs that night so keep them busy and tip them well! You do not need to be 21 to attend, but of course, you must be 21 to purchase alcohol.

We are thrilled to be hosting our 30th Annual Basketball Invitational next month at the Jaeger Center on the campus of Gettysburg College! We hope you can join us to cheer on all the athletes from several local programs as they compete in a variety of basketball events. We will kick things off with Opening Ceremonies at 9:00am, which will once again feature the KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS from McSherrystown who will be presenting the colors. The LEGENDS CHEERLEADERS from Hanover will be escorting the delegations into the gym during Opening Ceremonies, as well as pumping everyone up and supporting all the athletes throughout the day. Basketball events will include a Skills Competition, 3v3 Games, and 5v5 Games. Mark your calendars and come see us in action!

ATHLETE NEEDED: We are looking for an athlete to co-emcee Opening Ceremonies with athlete leader Rachael Beard. If interested, please email Dorothy Bollinger at dorothy.bollinger.soac@gmail.com and request a script to practice and then submit an audition video to her by February 15th. This is open to all registered Team Adams athletes, whether you play basketball or not!

FIRST AID HELP NEEDED: We are looking for a few people with basic first aid knowledge to sit at our first aid table to hand out ice packs, bandaids, etc. as needed. We'll take first responders, athletic trainers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, doctors, nurses, college students in a medical-related program, etc.! This would be great for someone retired from any medical related career. We just need a few people for our 10-1pm shift and for our 1-4pm shift. You do not need to be a registered volunteer with Special Olympics. If interested, please contact Linda Long at volunteersoac@gmail.com.

One of our youngest athletes, Natalie McMaster, was recognized at her school for receiving a “Golden Eagle”, for going above and beyond the behavior expectations. She was even lucky enough to have her name pulled for one of the grand prize items! We love to see our athletes winning both on and off the playing field. For Team Adams, you might find Natalie practicing her strokes with our swimming team, shooting some hoops on the basketball court, or taking aim with a bocce ball. Way to go Natalie! Your Team Adams family is super proud of you!!!

Be sure to SAVE THE DATE for our Golf Challenge 2026! Our 28th Annual Golf Challenge will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at The Bridges Golf Club in Abbottstown. This year will be bigger and better than ever before with more, more, more going on! Registration will open soon, so watch Facebook, your mail, and your email and be sure to sign up to play with your favorite foursome! Is your company interested in being a Gold, Silver or Bronze Sponsor this year with all the perks that go with those sponsor levels? Watch for more info coming soon!

Are you a non-golfer? Watch for info to sponsor Golf Carts for the golfers to use the day of the Tournament. Or perhaps you can donate a Door Prize with a value of $20-$100? We need enough door prizes for every participating golfer to get one, so every donation helps. Suggestions would be gift certificates, gift baskets, or simply a cash donation! Watch for info coming soon on how to donate those, too!

HELP NEEDED: We are still in need of a chairperson to oversee the collection of door prizes! This person would need to coordinate people to contact local businesses to ask for donations of merchandise or gift cards for our golfers at the tournament. We have several people who helped with this task last year, but we are looking for a few more as well as someone to serve as the chairperson for this task. If interested, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Linda Long, at volunteersoac@gmail.com.

The Golf Challenge is our biggest fundraising event each year, so we need all of your help! If you have any questions, feel free to email Dorothy at dorothy.bollinger.soac@gmail.com.

The Polar Plunge is only a few weeks away! If you've never attended the Polar Plunge, you need to add it to your bucket list and check it off that list on February 28! Of course, we'd love for you to join our plunge team and bravely enter the icy waters at Gifford Pinchot State Park. But if you're not up for that, you can still come and cheer on all the plungers! It's a festive atmosphere with music, dancing, and food leading up to plunge time at noon, and when you hear those bagpipes leading the first wave of law enforcement plungers to the water you will get goosebumps if you don't already have them from the cold!

We have 5 brave athletes taking the plunge this year and they are trying to raise money to support Special Olympics in its efforts to provide a competitive sports program for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Did you know that Team Adams has about 115 athletes ranging in age from 6 to 76 who participate in 13 different sports throughout the year? Your donation would help to provide sports equipment, uniforms, travel expenses, and practice facility rentals to make it all possible.

Join the TEAM ADAMS plunge team:

https://give.specialolympicspa.org/team/778932

Donate to athlete RACHAEL BEARD'S fundraising page

https://give.specialolympicspa.org/fundraiser/6797043

Donate to athlete KALEIGH MCMASTER'S fundraising page

https://give.specialolympicspa.org/fundraiser/6897303

Donate to athlete DUSTIN MILLER'S fundraising page

https://give.specialolympicspa.org/fundraiser/6771764

Donate to athlete GAVIN NEIDERER'S fundraising paige

https://give.specialolympicspa.org/fundraiser/6909356

Donate to athlete LUKE SEECH'S fundraising page

give.specialolympicspa.org/lukiepookie

Donate to athlete BAILEY STICKLES' fundraising page

https://give.specialolympicspa.org/fundraiser/6895016

In addition to the athletes named above, we have quite a few volunteers, family, and friends plunging and raising funds as well. We appreciate everyone's support! Your willingness to freeze on our athletes' behalf truly warms our hearts!

Mark your calendars to come out to Fairfield High School on March 20 to cheer on all the basketball teams who are competing in a 3v3 tournament to raise funds for Special Olympics PA Team Adams! The Fairfield High School Honor Society holds this event each year in our honor and we are so grateful! This event gives us a break from competing and allows us the opportunity to sit in the bleachers and "hoop and holler" (see what we did there? 😉) in support of everyone who showed up to raise money for US! Wear your Team Adams gear (or not, it really doesn't matter!) and join us in the bleachers to be loud and proud!

Did you know that we are always accepting new athletes? Athletes must be at least 8 years old with an intellectual disability, or a developmental disability with a cognitive delay. Athletes aged 6-7 may train but not compete. If you know someone who might qualify as an athlete, invite them to come watch a practice or competition to see how fun it is! If anyone has questions about how to get registered with Special Olympics, they should contact our Regional Administrative Manager, Jill Stoner, at jstoner@specialolympicspa.org.

We are also always accepting new volunteers! We have something for everyone, depending on how much time you want to spend and what skills and interests you have! If you're only available on certain nights of the week or during certain times of the year, no problem! Let us know and we'll help you find a way to get involved that works best for your schedule. Any questions, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Linda Long, at volunteersoac@gmail.com.

Class A Volunteer: Must be at least 16 years old. Choose this option if you want to become a coach or work directly with athletes. Class A volunteers may assist at training sites, supervise athletes, and attend competitions as an official member of our delegation. REQUIRES REGISTRATION IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS PA PORTAL, A BACKGROUND CHECK (FOR 18+), PROTECTIVE BEHAVIORS TRAINING (online), GENERAL ORIENTATION TRAINING (online), & CONCUSSION TRAINING (online)

Class B Volunteer: Must be at least 14 years old. Class B volunteers may assist at local training sites under direct supervision with limited athlete contact. Class B volunteers do not supervise athletes or attend competitions. This is ideal for those new to Special Olympics. REQUIRES REGISTRATION IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS PA PORTAL.

Volunteers who have Background Clearances (all Class A volunteers): When it comes time to renew online, you'll be asked if you have had a PA Child Abuse check done within the last 5 years. You must answer "NO" to this question, even if it has not quite been 5 years. Otherwise, it will not allow you to renew.

You'll know that it's time to renew because about 2 months before your clearance is due to expire, you'll get an email from the portal telling you that it's time to renew. It can take a couple weeks for the background clearance to process, so this is one task that you don't want to put off until the last minute.

Also, the second part of your Backround Clearance is your PA Child Abuse Clearance. If you receive a code and use it when you order your PA Child Abuse Clearance, then your Child Abuse clearance will come through with your Background Clearance. However, if you don't receive the code, you can still submit the order for your PA Child Abuse Clearance. But when you receive an email telling you that your Child Abuse History check has been completed, you'll need to log into the Compass website, download the certificate, and email a copy to Jill Stoner at jstoner@specialolympicspa.org.

NOTE: Events marked with * are still in planning stages. For now, mark your calendars and more details will be shared as they become available. Follow our Facebook page to receive news hot off the press!

Feb. 13 - Hanover High School BB Scrimmage @ 6:00pm (Hanover HS vs our 5v5 Team)

Feb. 22 - Bowling Banquet (bowlers will receive invitation from Coach Harry)

Feb. 25 - Gettysburg Eddies Fundraiser

Feb. 28 - Polar Plunge (Gifford Pinchot State Park)

Mar. 7-8 - Indoor Winter Games (bowling) (York)
Mar. 15 - Team Adams Basketball Invitational (Gettysburg College)

Mar. 20 - * Fairfield 3v3 Basketball Tournament Fundraiser (Fairfield HS)

Mar. 25 - *Jersey Mike's Day of Giving (SOPA event)

Apr. 11 - Regional Swimming Invitational (Cumberland Valley HS)

Apr. 25-26 - Central Spring Sectionals (basketball, swimming, tennis) (St. Francis University)

May 16 - *Nothing But Net (Capital Area Region event)

May 16 - *Highmark Walk For a Healthy Community (Capital Area Region Event) (Harrisburg HACC)

May 21 - Golf Challenge Fundraiser (The Bridges Golf Club)

June 4-6 - Summer Games (athletics, basketball, swimming, tennis) (Penn State University)

July 19 - Special Olympics Day at the Harrisburg Senators (Capital Area Region event)

Aug. 1 - Special Olympics Night at the York Revolution (Capital Area Region event)

Aug. 2-4 - Golf Championships (Penn National)

Aug. 8 - Regional Softball Competition (York)

Aug. 21-23 - State Softball Championships (In The Net, Palmyra)

Nov. 13-15 - Fall Festival (bocce, powerlifting, volleyball) (Villanova University)

Phone: 717-334-2729

Email: soacpublicrelations@gmail.com

Mailing Address: PO Box 3188, Gettysburg, PA 17325

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/specialolympicspennsylvaniaadamscounty

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/sopateamadams/home

The Mission of Special Olympics is to provide year round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.