Photo by Samantha Davis. Local area students participated in the first ever UnstoppABLE Games, created by the Minnesota River Valley Education District, at Southwest Minnesota State University on Wednesday. The games were a day-long athletic event for special education students and welcomed nine school districts.

MARSHALL — The first ever UnstoppABLE Games took to the Southwest Minnesota State University football field on Wednesday for a successful debut of an inclusive athletic event for local special education students to engage in a full day of competition.

“They’re all in their element,” Lakeview special education teacher Wendy Best said. “They’re doing things that they don’t ever get to do … Everybody is on the same level.”

The Minnesota River Valley Education District (MRVED) created the event with the goal to provide special education students between third to 12th grade an opportunity to showcase skills, talents and abilities in a multitude of athletic competitions, who may typically have developmental delays that impact their ability to participate in general athletics.

The nine school districts included in MRVED’s consortium were all in attendance, including Benson, Dawson-Boyd, Lac qui Parle Valley, Lakeview, Minneota, Montevideo, Ortonville, Renville County West and Yellow Medicine East. Around 50 students participated in the inaugural event.

“We have 9 school districts … Our goal is to help them achieve their goals,” MRVED assistant director Brandon Raymo said. “We planned for the whole year, we got SMSU on board, and the special education department and phy-ed (physical education) kids, and they let us use their facilities.”

Students spent the day splitting time between activities on Mattke Field and in the R/A Facility inside.

There were various competitions including a batting challenge, a 50-yard race, a basketball free throw contest, a bean bag toss, a long jump event and other side activities like jenga and tug-of-war. All participants also left the day with an event t-shirt and an award like a ribbon, trophy or medal.

“I think what we kind of tried to think about, was what would be adaptive for all,” Angie Young, an event organizer said. “That was really the most thought that we put into it, was what are things that everybody can do.”

Young also said they planned some of the games in collaboration with adaptive physical education students at SMSU for suggestions.

The event started with an opening ceremony, where each of the nine schools made their way across the football field presenting a flag held by students with their school’s name shown.

All students ran the Lightning Dash race to get the day started and warmup, before breaking off with their respective schools to rotate between the games.

“We are hoping that maybe next year, when they [students] know what it is and see the kids come back with their medals, maybe that will motivate some other kids to come,” Best said.

The idea to create the UnstoppABLE Games originally came from Lakeview reaching out to MRVED, looking to create an athletic opportunity that operates similar to the Special Olympics for students with special needs.

“Lakeview contacted me at the beginning of the year wanting to do something. Since COVID, there’s been no events like this for our special needs kiddos,” Raymo said. “So, we put our brains together … And said, ‘Lets do something together.'”

“(It went) from it just being a Sunday afternoon at Lakeview, to like this (big event), which is amazing,” West added.

A handful of supporters also attended the event, including parents, school administrators, paraprofessionals, school board members, faculty and community volunteers.

“I hope it just continues to grow,” Young said.

The event was also made possible by community support through sponsorships.

“Everything was free for our schools,” Raymo said. “The only thing was they had to transport their kids and feed their kids. We raised a decent amount of money through sponsorships.”

The students continued to engage with their teams and fellow peers as they worked together throughout the competitions, filling the football field and gym with supportive cheers and laughter.

“It’s going well. It’s just nice to see some of the smiles on their faces, watching the races, and kids just having fun and competing against each other,” Raymo said. “Athletic competition takes a backseat. It’s just about everybody getting together and celebrating the kids for who they are.”