The local Idaho Special Olympics Team, the Moscow Rebel Tigers, will be heading to the State Summer games in Caldwell May 31 — the first time in six years, according to the team’s coach, Tricia Spence.
Spence, fondly referred to as “coach” by members of the Moscow Rebel Tigers, has been coaching the team in a variety of sports the past two years. These include basketball, track, swimming, bowling and floor hockey practicing at least once a week and spending six weeks on each sport.
She said attending the state competition wouldn’t be possible without fundraising efforts and the support of volunteers.
Members of Omega Delta Phi fraternity volunteer with the Moscow Rebel Tigers year-round. On April 28, they hosted their ninth annual Brunch Munch Sunday, with proceeds going to support to the team.
“We couldn’t do it without these guys, the volunteers are so important,” Spence said. “We have the fraternity guys and some students from Washington that come and help us out. It wouldn’t be possible without them period, and the athletes adore them, and they love seeing the same faces throughout the year.”
In past years, Brunch Munch proceeds went to the Smile Train Foundation, which helps low income families pay for cleft lip or palate surgeries.
“At the start of the school year, one of our brothers that had been volunteering with the team for part of his classes mentioned they needed volunteers to help at regional tournaments and practices, said Cesar Resendiz, Omega Delta Phi philanthropy director. “Being a service social fraternity and with serving our communities being one of our goals, our whole fraternity started becoming more involved with the team helping out in practices and tournaments.”
Team member James Peterson, who helps out the University of Idaho football team, has been a member of Special Olympics teams since he was eight. Peterson said he enjoys being a part of the team because it helps him meet new people and compete in basketball games.
“We have seen how hard these athletes have trained and competed, and we were just as excited to help fundraise and volunteer at their practices for basketball, track and field,” Resendiz said.
Years ago, the team was better funded and more well-known according to Spence, but there seemed to be a lapse. The last time the group was able to attend the largest Special Olympics event in Idaho – The Summer Games —was six years ago. The team has been doing fundraising efforts throughout the year, and Spence said he has seen growth in awareness in the last year and hopes to keep the momentum going.
“As a fraternity, we want to show everyone how hard these athletes have worked to attend the 2019 Summer Games and raise awareness for them,” Resendiz said. “We love seeing them smile and we love seeing them compete.”
Ellamae Burnell can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @EllamaeBurnell