Thousands pack University of Iowa Field House for Special Olympics events

IOWA CITY - Kari McCall spent her Saturday morning, with many others, looking up.

Taking in the scene at the University of Iowa Field House, hundreds of Special Olympics athletes enjoyed a long gaze at the high ceiling in the same building where, for decades, the Hawkeyes played their winter sports.

“I've been getting ready since I first attended a while back,” McCall said after draining a pair of jump shots on one of the basketball courts at the Special Olympics Iowa Mid-Winter Tournament in Iowa City. McCall, 15, is a student at West Harrison High School in Mondamin and said she enjoyed getting out and hitting shots in front of hundreds of people.

Thousands packed the Field House, along with about 950 Special Olympics Iowa athletes and the coaches, chaperones and volunteers who worked to make the experience a memorable one for so many.

Ross Wiltger, 11, of Altoona came to participate with his entire family. As the oldest brother of three, Ross worked on putting a golf ball but said basketball was his top choice to show off his skills.

“This is only my second one,” Wiltger said, acknowledging his first Special Olympics “game” experience was at last summer's tournament in Ames. Wiltger's father called it a “once in a lifetime” experience and that his son was excited to be able to compete at the state level.

With college students on spring break, there was plenty of room for the Special Olympics athletes to demonstrate their skills in basketball, gymnastics, power lifting and cheerleading.

Special Olympics Iowa is still in the early stages of the 2010 season. Cities throughout Eastern Iowa will host various spring contests. The Northeast Area Spring Games will be at the University of Northern Iowa on March 27.

In April, spring tournaments are scheduled

in Eldridge, Cedar

Rapids and Oskaloosa. The annual state summer games at Iowa State

University will be May 20-22.

-Chris Earl, KCRG-TV9 News