Special Olympics Pennsylvania: March Madness 2020, Round II

Can you believe we’ve already powered through EIGHT matchups in our OFFICIAL Special Olympics Pennsylvania March Madness Bracket! 🙌

Check out the updated bracket below and check back frequently for updates on all the voting!

Matchup 9: 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 v. 𝐍𝐨. 𝟑 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲

𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬: The top seed in its region, Summer Games is our organization’s oldest event. Beginning at West Chester University of PA in 1970, Summer Games now takes place annually at Penn State and celebrated its 50th Anniversary last summer. Our largest event of the year, Summer Games brings together more than 2,000 athletes and 750 coaches from throughout the state. Athletes compete across three days in eight sports: aquatics, athletics, basketball, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, softball and tennis.

𝐍𝐨. 𝟑 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: The goal of Athlete Leadership is to empower athletes to develop leadership skills and utilize their voices and abilities to assume meaningful leadership roles, influence change within the Special Olympics movement, and create inclusive communities around the world. Training to Athlete Leaders is offered three times a year to further their knowledge base and provide certification in the following: Communications (public speaking), Governance (Special Olympics spokespersons), Health (Health & Fitness Coordinators) and Sports (coaches).

RESULTS: 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 defeats 𝐍𝐨. 𝟑 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, 243-49

Matchup 10: 𝐍𝐨. 𝟒 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 v. 𝐍𝐨. 𝟕 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩

𝐍𝐨. 𝟒 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬: Young Athletes is an innovative sports play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities ages 2 to 7. The program includes active games, songs, and other play activities that help children develop motor, social and cognitive skills. Young Athletes serves as an entry point into our sports programs, acting as a key means of recruiting the “next generation” of SOPA athletes.

𝐍𝐨. 𝟕 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩: In 1978, Ken and Anthony Yazge met with former SOPA President Frank Dean to see how their church could benefit the athletes of Special Olympics. The creation of a week-long sports training camp stemmed from that meeting and Sports Camp at Antiochian Village has taken place every August since. The camp offers cross-training opportunities in the following sports: aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce, golf, flag football, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball as well as bonding opportunities that last a lifetime.

RESULTS: 𝐍𝐨. 𝟕 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩 (278) defeats 𝐍𝐨. 𝟒 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 (138)

Matchup 11: 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 v. 𝐍𝐨. 𝟑 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬

𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥: Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Fall Festival is hosted and organized by Villanova University students and is the largest annual student-run Special Olympics event in the world. For one weekend each year for the last 31 years, Villanova Special Olympics Fall Festival opens its campus to more than 1,000 athletes and coaches and 6,000 volunteers from the Villanova Student Body, surrounding community, and corporations. Athletes compete in a total of six Olympic-type sports including bocce, long distance running, powerlifting, roller skating, soccer and volleyball.

𝐍𝐨. 𝟑 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬: Introduced in the mid-1980s, Unified Sports creates an opportunity for people without intellectual disabilities to join in the sports experience by playing on a team with athletes with intellectual disabilities. Not only do the players compete hard, but attitude change and transformation happens on the playing field and the experiences create lifelong friendships. Unified Sports combines approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics Athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (Partners) on sports teams for training and competition, which in turn promotes equality and inclusion.

RESULTS: 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 defeats 𝐍𝐨. 𝟑 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬, 203-112

Matchup 12: 𝐍𝐨. 𝟒 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 v. 𝐍𝐨. 𝟐 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬

𝐍𝐨. 𝟒 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬: The Polar Plunge is a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, and businesses to support local Special Olympics athletes by jumping or running into icy cold waters. Plunge participants take a quick dip in a river or pool to raise funds. There are nine Plunge locations across the state as individuals from all walks of life come together to be “Freezin’ for a Reason.” This February, SOPA broke the state fundraising record at the Pittsburgh Plunge, which raised more than $500k for athletes in Pennsylvania!

𝐍𝐨. 𝟐 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬: Our newest statewide event, the Indoor Winter Games held their inaugural event in 2019 in York, Pennsylvania. With a hub at the York Expo Center, Indoor Winter Games welcomes more than 950 athletes and coaches who compete in bowling, figure skating, floor hockey and speed skating. While this year’s Indoor Winter Games were cancelled because of the COVID-19 outbreak, our time in York remains incredible and we’re very much looking forward to next year’s event!

RESULTS: 𝐍𝐨. 𝟐 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 defeats 𝐍𝐨. 𝟒 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 151-111

LADIES & GENTLEMEN, THE FINAL FOUR IS SET!!

SOPA March Madness: Final Four:
🔹 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬
🔹 𝐍𝐨. 𝟕 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩
🔹 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥
🔹 𝐍𝐨. 𝟐 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬

Matchup 13: 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 v. 𝐍𝐨. 𝟕 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩

𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬: The top seed in its region, Summer Games is our organization’s oldest event. Beginning at West Chester University of PA in 1970, Summer Games now takes place annually at Penn State and celebrated its 50th Anniversary last summer. Our largest event of the year, Summer Games brings together more than 2,000 athletes and 750 coaches from throughout the state. Athletes compete across three days in eight sports: aquatics, athletics, basketball, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, softball and tennis.

𝐍𝐨. 𝟕 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩: In 1978, Ken and Anthony Yazge met with former SOPA President Frank Dean to see how their church could benefit the athletes of Special Olympics. The creation of a week-long sports training camp stemmed from that meeting and Sports Camp at Antiochian Village has taken place every August since. The camp offers cross-training opportunities in the following sports: aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce, golf, flag football, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball as well as bonding opportunities that last a lifetime.

RESULTS: 𝐍𝐨. 𝟕 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩 (505) defeats 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 (301)

Matchup 14: 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 v. 𝐍𝐨. 𝟐 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬

𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥: Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Fall Festival is hosted and organized by Villanova University students and is the largest annual student-run Special Olympics event in the world. For one weekend each year for the last 31 years, Villanova Special Olympics Fall Festival opens its campus to more than 1,000 athletes and coaches and 6,000 volunteers from the Villanova Student Body, surrounding community, and corporations. Athletes compete in a total of six Olympic-type sports including bocce, long distance running, powerlifting, roller skating, soccer and volleyball.

𝐍𝐨. 𝟐 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬: Our newest statewide event, the Indoor Winter Games held their inaugural event in 2019 in York, Pennsylvania. With a hub at the York Expo Center, Indoor Winter Games welcomes more than 950 athletes and coaches who compete in bowling, figure skating, floor hockey and speed skating. While this year’s Indoor Winter Games were cancelled because of the COVID-19 outbreak, our time in York remains incredible and we’re very much looking forward to next year’s event!

RESULTS: 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 (189) defeats 𝐍𝐨. 𝟐 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 (113)

Matchup 15 (Championship): 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 v. 𝐍𝐨. 𝟕 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩

𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥: Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Fall Festival is hosted and organized by Villanova University students and is the largest annual student-run Special Olympics event in the world. For one weekend each year for the last 31 years, Villanova Special Olympics Fall Festival opens its campus to more than 1,000 athletes and coaches and 6,000 volunteers from the Villanova Student Body, surrounding community, and corporations. Athletes compete in a total of six Olympic-type sports including bocce, long distance running, powerlifting, roller skating, soccer and volleyball.

𝐍𝐨. 𝟕 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩: In 1978, Ken and Anthony Yazge met with former SOPA President Frank Dean to see how their church could benefit the athletes of Special Olympics. The creation of a week-long sports training camp stemmed from that meeting and Sports Camp at Antiochian Village has taken place every August since. The camp offers cross-training opportunities in the following sports: aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce, golf, flag football, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball as well as bonding opportunities that last a lifetime.