People often affect others without realizing it. Arturo Granados learned this after he volunteered with the Special Olympics of Montgomery County.

Granados and his fellow swimmer teammates helped coach a Special Olympic basketball practice on a Sunday afternoon in late December.

“We have one girl who doesn't talk to anyone except her mom,” Athletic Director for the Special Olympics of Montgomery County Kylee Wills said. “She isn't easily motivated, but Arturo went over to her and whispered something in her ear and she suddenly popped to life. He had her running down the court. I've been with her for nine years and have never seen that.”

Granados didn't think too much of his actions.

“I wasn't aware I was encouraging her to do better than normal,” Granados said. “I was just saying things like 'Good job,' and 'You can do it.'”

Later in the week, Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) team representative Adam Barnes emailed the swimmers to describe Granados' positive actions.

“I was surprised when Adam emailed the whole team saying that someone did something great and I was told it was me,” Granados said.

“In the first exercise, the task was to throw the ball into the middle of the square on the wall. I tried to encourage her in the next drill which was dribbling the ball down and back. I just jogged alongside her to try and keep her confidence up.”

The girl's performance shocked her mother, Wills, and others who have known her for many years.

“I was taught to do little acts of service with a lot of love,” Granados said. “I feel like I helped that day.”


“Three weeks into this year, we had close to 45 volunteers,” Wills said. “Even though some of the students aren't required to be here when their sport isn't volunteering, they still come back.”

Evan Groninger is the SAAC President as well as the track and field team representative. He works with O'Connor to coordinate the practices and gather volunteers.

“There are different skill levels in the Special Olympics,” Groninger said. “We divide up into groups and some guys teach basic fundamentals while others play five-on-five with the athletes.

“It's a good way to get them out of their typical environment and to give them to the opportunity to do something active. It's cool because some of the younger athletes look up to us we're collegiate athletes and they get excited about that. To have that face-to-face interaction with them is pretty neat.”

Wabash College opens Chadwick Court to the Special Olympics for no charge..

“When you rely entirely on fundraising and donations for your program, that is a massive amount,” she said.

Wills has worked with the Special Olympics for nine years. She coaches two sports, is an assistant coach for three more, and helps with fundraising and outreach. She also finds facilities and volunteers.

“We're self-sufficient and county organized,” Wills said. “We don't rely on other counties or outside people (for help), but having Wabash guys around has really boosted the confidence of our athletes.”

Wabash's quality of help has matched its quantity. O'Connor expressed high praise for Wabash Men.

“All the Wabash athletes we've had really seem to connect with our athletes and that makes a difference,” she said.
“The thing about special needs people is that everybody treats them differently and talks to them differently, but the Wabash students treat them normal which has been a godsend.”

Carter Adams has volunteered numerous times and found a strong connection with the Special Olympic athletes.

“It's hard not to develop personal connections with them,” Adams said. “They're all so genuine and so happy that you're there helping out. It's kind of hard not to make personal connections.

“It's more than just playing basketball with them. It means a lot that they remember you or like playing with you. To be able to help out the community like that is a great feeling.”

Groninger witnessed similar interactions.

“I remember looking back and a couple of our guys were playing with the younger kids and everyone had smiles on their faces,” he said. “Our guys were happy to be there and the kids were happy to have them. When I think of community service, I think of something like painting fences which can be kind of tedious. But this is having an impact on people and fostering that relationship between us and our community.

“We (SAAC) just want to keep that connection with the Special Olympics and try to continue making an impact on our community.”

The SAAC and other volunteers will make a positive impact on the community through the rest of the school year.

Over the past few years the NCAA has developed a partnership between NCAA Division III student-athletes and Special Olympics. At Wabash, that partnership has already existed for more than a decade.

Last Sunday, the Wabash College Sigma Chi fraternity served as the organizing committee for the 12th annual Special Olympics basketball tournament held at Chadwick Court and Knowling Fieldhouse. Scott Morrison, a member of the Wabash golf team, a broadcaster for Wabash College basketball games, student writer for The Bachelor and Wabash communications and marketing office, and the philanthropy chair for Sigma Chi organized the tournament for the College. Nearly 50 teams from around the state competed in three-on-three and five-on-five tournaments in addition to skills competitions in junior, senior, women's and men's divisions. Several Wabash athletes were among the volunteers serving as referees, clock and scoreboard operators, and registration workers.

View photos from the tournament here.

Members of the Montgomery County Special Olympics basketball team also played a scrimmage at halftime of the Wabash basketball game versus the College of Wooster. View photos from that scrimmage here.

After Spring Break, the Special Olympics will switch to track and use Huntsman Track and Knowling Fieldhouse.