Even as the State Cheerleading Competition and State Basketball Tournament approach, athletes are starting preparations for the spring sports season and the drive to the 2020 State Summer Games, which will be held June 5-7 at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond. Spring sports include track and field, swimming, soccer, bocce and rhythmic gymnastics. While bocce and rhythmic gymnastics only compete at the Summer Games, the others have extensive seasons starting soon.

Swimming

The 2020 Swimming season will open on April 4 with the University of Louisville swim meet. It will be the first of five or six qualifying meets on the schedule this year. Swimming athletes are required to compete in at least two of the program’s six qualifying meets to compete in the State Summer Games.

For information about the Special Olympics Kentucky swimming program contact Nick McKenzie at 502-695-8222 or [email protected].

2020 Swimming Schedule
April 4 – University of Louisville Swim Meet – Ralph Wright Natatorium, Louisville
April 18 – Western Kentucky Swim Meet – Center for Courageous Kids; Scottsville
April 18 – Asbury University Swim Meet – Luce Center; Wilmore 
April 25 – Northern Kentucky Swim Meet – Silverlake Family Center; Erlanger

Track and Field

One of the largest of Special Olympics Kentucky’s 15 sport offerings, track and field offers an easy point of entry to Special Olympics competition for many new athletes. More than 1,500 athletes are expected to compete in track and field statewide again this year.

Special Olympics Kentucky offers eight Area Track and Field Meets across the state as qualifiers for the State Summer Games. Athletes must compete in one area meet in order to participate in the State Games.

For more information about the Special Olympics Kentucky track and field program, contact Kim Satterwhite at 502-695-8222 or [email protected].

2020 Track and Field Schedule
April 4 – Area 6 Spring Games – Southwestern High School, Somerset
April 25 – Area 2 Spring Games – Owensboro Middle School
April 25 – Area 3&9 Spring Games – Johnson Central High School, Paintsville
April 25 – Area 5 Spring Games – Warren Central High School, Bowling Green
April 25 – Area 7 Spring Games – Lloyd High School, Erlanger
May 9 – Area 4 Spring Games – Iroquois High School, Louisville
TBD– Area 1 Spring Games – Murray
TBD – Area 8 Spring Games – Lexington
     Registration Deadline: March 29

Soccer

Soccer is the one team sport offering for Special Olympics Kentucky in the spring. More than 300 athletes compete in the sport each year.

The Special Olympics Kentucky soccer season consists of three regional tournaments that lead to the State Tournament, which is held as part of the State Summer Games. Teams must compete in at least one regional to qualify for the State Games.

For information about the Special Olympics Kentucky soccer program contact Hunter Brislin at 502-695-8222 or [email protected].

2020 Soccer Schedule
April 19 – Louisville Regional Tournament; E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park
April 26 – Versailles Regional Soccer Tournament; WYSA Complex, Versailles

Bocce

Bocce has been one of the fastest-growing sports in the Special Olympics Kentucky program since its introduction a little over a decade ago. The sport is only competed as part of the State Summer Games, where the competition has grown from three courts to nine.

Mirroring the Special Olympics Kentucky bowling program, bocce has become the perfect spring sport for athletes with mobility issues and older athletes who still want to participate in the State Summer Games.

For information about the Special Olympics Kentucky bocce program contact Nick McKenzie at 502-695-8222 or [email protected].

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Kentucky has long been a national leader in the area of Special Olympics gymnastics, with Kentucky athletes winning dozens of gold medals at the USA and World Games levels.

The rhythmic gymnastics competition has been held at the State Summer Games for several years after replacing artistic gymnastics at the Games. The change allowed gymnasts to remain on the Eastern Kentucky University campus during the Games instead of having to transport off campus — as far as Lexington in many years — to find a suitable competition site.

For information about the Special Olympics Kentucky gymnastics program contact Nick McKenzie at 502-695-8222 or [email protected].