Athletics are a huge part of the Stoughton High School community. From season to season, over the morning announcements, you hear how each team played and competed. Athletic events bring our students together in the stands to support our athletes. However, there are athletic programs that many SHS students are a part of that are often left out of the spotlight. These are the Miracle League of Dane County and the Stoughton Special Olympics.
These organizations empower our students with disabilities to show us and the community their talents and interests outside school. These programs are using sports as a catalyst to involve children with disabilities into the community and fight against intolerance.
Megan Blankenheim, the Special Education Coordinator at SHS, believes these events help people value and accept their peers with special needs.
“When you think about it, disability can impact anyone, and at any moment, our lives can change. We need to embrace everybody’s talents,” Blankenheim said.
The Miracle League of Dane County was established in 2021, and it is an inclusive baseball field for children with physical and developmental disabilities. Bill Schultz, Founder and Executive Director of the Miracle League of Dane County, had a passion for baseball throughout his childhood. However, due to congenital physical disabilities, including an amputated leg, he was denied his attempt to join his local Little League.
In 2018, Schultz was inspired to bring a Miracle League to Dane County. During its inaugural season, 96 children participated. In 2023, 250 children played in the Miracle League from June through August. The field is made of rubberized turf, so children with wheelchairs, walkers, or difficulty walking can experience the game with the help of ‘buddies.’
‘Buddies’ are Miracle League volunteers who help each child hit, throw, field, and score a run. Eden Lamberty, a senior at SHS, has been a Buddy and volunteer at the Miracle League for the past two summer seasons, as well as one fall League.
“There are five kids [from SHS] who play in the Miracle League, ” Lamberty said. “It’s super fun because everybody just loves each other there. As a buddy, I help my players hit either off the tee or some kids like the ball tossed to them. We’ll also play in the outfield and try to catch some baseballs. A lot of times, we just play out there, like tag. It’s really fun.”
The Miracle League allows children with disabilities to join in baseball. Still, it also does so much more than that. It will enable these children to have fun with no limitations and develop capabilities and skills often denied from them. Lamberty has personally witnessed the growth of her buddies throughout the seasons.
“The first summer Grace [my buddy] was there with me, we always hit off the tee. But this past summer, we did two games with the tee and then decided she was ready for me to toss it. And the first time I tossed it to her, she hit it straight to the outfield, and everybody went crazy.”
The Miracle League of Dane County is not the only program in place for people with disabilities to showcase their talents and capabilities. Stoughton runs a community Special Olympics program through Special Olympics Wisconsin, where several SHS students compete.
Special Olympics Inc. is an organization of more than 4 million athletes worldwide. It is the world’s largest provider of fitness training, education, and athletic competition, as well as skill development opportunities, for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Wisconsin was founded in 1972 as an accredited program of Special Olympics Inc.
In Stoughton, our athletes who participate in the Special Olympics compete in events such as bowling, basketball, bocce ball, and track and field events, often as a team. One of our Olympians is Tatyana Mier, a senior at SHS.
Mier has competed in the Special Olympics for several years and most recently took home a 1st place finish on Dec. 3 at the 2023 State Bowling Championship through Special Olympics Wisconsin. However, Mier is no stranger to excelling in her events and said, “I have so many medals and ribbons, a lot more than 10 or 11.”
Mier enjoys taking part in all the events the Special Olympics has to offer, but bowling is by far her favorite. And like all great athletes, she has a practice routine to take her skills to the next level. Before her events, Mier is often filled with nervous energy but is always excited to showcase her talents, especially in front of her Dad. The Special Olympics never fails to make Mier happy, and she plans to be a part of them for many years.
Programs like the Special Olympics and the Miracle League are moving the Stoughton community towards embracing people with all abilities.
Lamberty and Blankenheim believe there is plenty of room for improvement in creating a more inclusive environment at SHS.
“Compared to some other school districts, yes, we are inclusive. Could we do better? Of course,” Blankenheim said. “I think we need more acceptance and the understanding that our kids have so many talents.”