Special Olympics Volunteer Newsletter

1154 Larc Lane, Toledo, Ohio 43614 | 419-380-5115

Spring & Summer 2025

Hi Everyone!

We hope your summer has been filled with sunshine, fun, and plenty of good memories. As we head into fall and cooler days, there’s lots to look forward to!

Want to stay in the loop between volunteer newsletters? Be sure to follow the Lucas County Special Olympics Facebook page for the latest updates, photos, news, and behind-the-scenes moments. Hit “like” and stay connected with all the action!

Summer Sports Highlights

Our athletes have been busy this summer competing in Softball and Unified Golf, with both seasons wrapping up soon as we head into Regional and State competitions.

This year we’re excited to have 13 Unified Golf teams! In Unified Golf, athletes are paired with a volunteer partner and play as a team, alternating shots until the ball is holed. We have seven teams competing at the State Tournament in Columbus on September 20. We wish them the best of luck!

In Softball, we had a traditional team, a coach-pitch team, and a large group in our skills program, which was a great mix of opportunities for athletes at every level. We hope our traditional team “knocks it out of the park” on September 6, as they will be competing at the State Tournament in Marysville. Go Lightning!

A huge thank-you to the 25 volunteer partners and coaches who gave their time, talent, and energy to make this summer season possible!

Fall Sports: Flag Football

Fall means Flag Football season! This year we have two competitive teams and a skills group, with nearly 50 athletes participating. Flag Football continues to grow in popularity in Lucas County and across Ohio.

The season wraps up with the Regional Tournament at the end of September. Home games are played at the Lucas County Rec Center in Maumee... check our Facebook page for the full schedule and come cheer on the teams!

We’re also looking for a few volunteers to help with our skills group. They practice once per week, typically on Thursdays, from 5:30 – 6:30pm. If interested, contact Eric at ebostelman@lucasdd.org for more details.

Competitive Cheer Coach Needed!

A big thank-you to Coach Melanie Wolfrum for leading our Competitive Cheer Team over the past few years. Melanie’s energy, creativity, and positivity played a huge role in building the program, and her dedication will truly be missed. Thank you, Coach Melanie!

With Melanie’s departure, we are now looking for a new coach (or coaches) to lead the Cheer Team. The season runs from mid-November through the State Winter Games at Ohio State University (late February/early March). Practices are held one evening a week.

If you’re interested, or know someone who might be, please contact Eric at ebostelman@lucasdd.org or 419-380-4022 for details.

** Volunteer Spotlight - Coach Jake S.**

To help celebrate and recognize our amazing volunteers, we’re kicking off a new Volunteer Spotlight series. First up is someone many of you know and love... Coach Jake!

Jake has been a tremendous asset to our LCSO program for the past 7 years, coaching basketball and softball and chaperoning at the State Summer Games. He’s known for his positivity, encouragement, and kindness—and we are so lucky to have him on our team. Thank you, Jake, for all you do!

Get to Know Coach Jake:

Occupation: US Air Force & Online Training/Nutrition Coach
Why I Volunteer: “I have a passion for giving back. A friend introduced me to Special Olympics, and I fell in love with the athletes and the joy I get from volunteering.”
Favorite SO Memory: Attending State Summer Games and making new memories
Hobbies/Interests: Sports, fitness, and spending time with family & friends
Music I Like: Pop and Country
Three Words That Describe Me: Kind, Passionate, Giving
Dream Vacation: A cruise anywhere warm
Favorite Food: Chipotle
Fun Fact: “I once took an individual with Cerebral Palsy to Disney World. The experience changed my life and fueled my desire to give back.”

THANKS!!

Thank You, Sports Volunteers!

A huge thank-you goes out to all of our amazing Winter and Spring Sports Volunteers! Your time, energy, and dedication make it possible for our athletes to train, compete, and have fun. We are so grateful for you sharing your time and talent with our athletes.

Winter Sports Volunteers

Cheer: Coach Melanie
Swimming: Coaches Alexa, Maura, Lena
13 swimmers this season, 11 attended State Winter Games and brought home many medals. Special thanks to St. Francis de Sales High School for hosting weekly practices!
Powerlifting: Coaches Nick and Matt
Basketball:
Skills: Fumi, Justin, John, Jacob, Jake
D5 Aleesha: Aleesha, Kristen, Katie, Colin
D5 Andrae: Andrae, Kayla, Jake
D4: Rob, Kelly, Dustin
D1: Erich, Cole, Colton
School-Age: Kyle and Jessica
👏 Congratulations to our D1 Team, State Runner-Ups!

Spring Sports Volunteers

Volleyball: Coaches Katie, Gabby, Ela, Aleesha, Kristen
Powerlifting: Coaches Nick and Matt
Tennis: Coaches Anne, Maria, Susan, Lynn, Lisa
Bocce: Coach Rob
Track: Coaches Zach, Abbey, Alexa, Dana, Lena, Dustin, Megan, Emily, Nate

Congratulations!

Big congratulations to Coach Katie, who, along with her husband, welcomed a baby boy just before the State Summer Games! Katie has been a dedicated coach for our traditional volleyball team for several years.

To celebrate the new arrival, the team went on to “threepeat” as State Special Olympics Champions... what an amazing season for everyone! 🎉

USA Games!

We’re excited to share that Jayden Labiche has been selected to represent Lucas County and Team Ohio at the USA Games next June in Minnesota! Jayden will be competing in the 800m and 1500m track events.

Congratulations, Jayden, and good luck on this incredible journey!