UMAC student-athletes pose for a photo with Special Olympians Monday at a joint bowling event
UMAC student-athletes partner with Special Olympics for annual bowling event
Sara Eisenhauer
ST. PAUL, Minn.---Each February, student-athletes from each Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) gather for the a bi-annual meeting of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to learn about NCAA legislation, talk about conference issues and share institutional best practices.
Though the dedication of these student-athletes shows through during those interactions, the most rewarding part of the day comes afterward when UMAC student-athletes partner with Special Olympics athletes for an afternoon of bowling, food and fun.
As part of the NCAA Division III partnership with Special Olympics, members of the UMAC SAAC participate annually in a joint bowling event. This year’s activities took place Monday, Feb. 15 in Arden Hills, Minnesota, where UMAC athletes bowled alongside more than 15 athletes from a local Twin Cities Special Olympics group.
For North Central University sophomore cross country athlete Daniel Morgenstern, the afternoon of bowling challenged his thinking as a collegiate athlete.
“Simply bowling with two amazing athletes from outside of my regular circle of interaction was extremely rewarding,” said Morgenstern. “One of the Special Olympics athletes exemplified sportsmanship by congratulating and encouraging (another UMAC athlete) and me, even as we pulled ahead of him. To see someone who had every right to be frustrated smiling and offering high fives instead, challenged me to examine my own attitude on and off the course.”
The afternoon also solidified the natural fit of the Division III partnership with Special Olympics, especially for North Central junior volleyball player Elissa Pheneger who will serve as the UMAC representative on National SAAC beginning in April.
“I think that giving Division III athletes the opportunity to engage with Special Olympics athletes helps them to get a broader picture of athletics,” said Pheneger. “Being able to connect with these athletes is very easy because we immediately have a common interest in athletics. I am proud that Division III is able to work so heavily with Special Olympics, and I hope that the partnership only grows.”
Morgenstern echoed Pheneger’s sentiments that a common passion for sports helps build a natural bond between athletes through collaborative events.
“We may all be in different walks of life and living with different circumstances but we all share an identity as athletes,” Morgenstern said. “We all understand the love of the game, competitive spirit, victory and defeat, and all the hours of work in between. That understanding is the bridge that allows us to learn from each other. Every interaction between a UMAC athlete and a Special Olympics athlete is a learning experience and the lessons learned can be carried into all facets of life.”
The UMAC bowling event not only allows conference athletes to interact on a one-time basis, but the repetition of the event has allowed athletes like Pheneger to return each year and build on connections made through the shared opportunity to compete side-by-side in sports.
“My favorite part of the day was getting to see a Special Olympics athlete who I had bowled with last year,” said Pheneger. “He came right up to me at the beginning and even remembered my name! His mom kept thanking me for spending time bowling with him. I guess the best part about that was seeing the long-term relationships that can be built through opportunities like bowling for a few hours.”
Perhaps, the true impact of the interaction between UMAC athletes and Special Olympians is felt most by conference athletes, according to Pheneger.
“I know the time we spent meant so much to the Special Olympics athletes, and they felt very honored to bowl with us,” she said. “However, this experience not only impacted the Special Olympians, it also challenged me to invest more of my time helping others because simply spending time with others who need a friend can go a long way.”