Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org

HILBERT, Wisconsin -- Grinnell's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted thier first Unified Sports Day on Friday, September 18. Grinnell welcomed over 60 Special Olympics athletes and unified partners from schools in the central region of Iowa to their athletic facility for a morning full of sports and fun. Athletes spent time at seven sport stations: basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball, football, bowling and pickleball, learning the sports from Grinnell College's student-athletes. Special Olympics athletes and their unified partners were able to learn about each sport while participating in the activities with GC student-athletes and their peers. The main goals of having fun, moving their bodies and connecting with the volunteers and other athletes were achieved.

Samantha Cook, student chair of the Special Olympics committee, and Jani Springer, SAAC advisor, planned and oversaw the event. They want to extend special thanks to recent graduates and past Special Olympics committee chairs, Jakob Runkel, Eleanor Cordes and Skylar Thomas, who helped develop the planning foundation over the past years that the 2026-27 SAAC was able to execute. This was Grinnell's first large SAAC event of the year, and they look forward to more events in the fall and spring, including hosting the annual Special Olympics Track and Field Qualifier for Central Iowa in April.