Athletes press on despite the rain

Anne Danahy

UNIVERSITY PARK — Huddled in a circle, their hands clasped together above their heads, Montgomery County’s Special Olympics basketball team got ready to play Friday.

CDT/Melissa Doss

Berks County 4x100 relay team silver medalists, from left, Joey Rodriguez, Priscilla Paredes, Katie Reehl and Jessica Houck celebrate during the Special Olympics track and field events at Penn State's outdoor track on Friday, June 5, 2009. CDT/Melissa Doss

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“One. Two. Three. Titans!” cheered players and coaches in unison before their game.

Bert Hempelmann, an assistant coach, said everyone involved in the team, which has players ranging in age from 11 to 50, is “a big family.”

“Parents, brothers and sisters are all part of the team,” she said.

Basketball is one of the sports in Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s 40th annual summer games, which continue today until closing ceremonies at 4 p.m. About 2,000 athletes from 49 delegations and hundreds of supporters are using the tennis courts, lap pools, bowling alleys and gyms on and around campus.

Despite rain Friday, most sporting events continued.

“Rain usually doesn’t deter us,” said Rich DiMarcello, co-event director of the 2009 summer games.

A few events were moved inside or delayed and golf was called off Friday, but other sports and activities continued.

DiMarcello said the games are “a tremendous amount of fun.”

“The real joy is coming here during the summer games and watching the athletes compete,” DiMarcello said.

That’s what the Hempelmanns were doing Friday in the Intramural Building where Marc, 17, was playing. Bert Hempelmann and her husband, Steve, help with coaching, and their 15- year-old daughter, Ally, was volunteering too.

Bert Hempelmann said her family became involved about two years ago. “We wanted to find something for Marc — to exercise, get out and be part of a team,” she said.

At the indoor tennis courts, player Matt Prosek raised his racket over his shoulder and studied the court before making a serve.

“It’s a fun experience,” said his mother, Cathy Prosek, an assistant coach, who is staying with the women players in the dorms.

“It’s a friendly competition,” she said, and unlike the professionals, the players don’t throw their rackets.

Prosek and other players have been practicing since April. Coach Mike Wolff said he was looking for a way to volunteer when he came across Special Olympics.

“For me, it has to be something that’s fun and enjoyable,” he said.

He played tennis in high school and works with individuals who have developmental disabilities. At the time he was looking to volunteer, the head coach was stepping down. That was nine years ago.

Assistant coach Pieter Ouwehand said he didn’t have “a clue” about the games when he found out about it through the tennis club. He said seeing what it does for the athletes is gratifying.

“They are so nice to each other. They encourage each other, whether they win or come in number two,” he said.

This year’s Special Olympics Pennsylvania was shortened by a day from previous years in a money-saving move, but organizers said the games still include all the activities. Cutting a day saved about $77,000 of a $425,000 budget.

Activities continue today, and organizers said they’re always looking for volunteers. Information is on the Web at www.sopasummergames.org. Anne Danahy can be reached at 231-4648.

Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s 40th annual summer games includes about:

•300 volunteer organizers

•800 coaches

•1,500 to 2,000 volunteers •2,000 athletes