CHESTERLAND—Mother Nature greeted the 100-plus attendees of the Chagrin Valley Conference’s inaugural Inclusive Sports Day at West Geauga High School with unseasonable temperatures and a fast-moving rain shower but nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of all those who attended.
The event, a collaboration between the CVC and Empower Sports, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to providing sports and exercise programs for children and adults with various physical and cognitive disabilities and additional programs for typically-developing kids, initially was dreamed up several years ago but was delayed due to the COVID pandemic.
Sandy Siegler, a longtime volleyball official and the CVC’s assignor, teamed up with CVC assistant commissioner Rakayla Iwais to coordinate the event.
“For me, the goal is to have the athletes meet the participants and see what they go through on a daily basis and become friends,” Siegler said. “We sometimes forget how tough it could be for kids with disabilities to navigate through a day or through a week. This is a special day for everyone.”
Siegler and Iwais secured sponsorships from Lakeshore Insurance and Arbor Group Advisors and even a post-event pizza party provided by Dominos.
Most importantly, they recruited student-athlete volunteers from several CVC schools to serve as coaches for the sports stations set up on Howell Field.
Student-Athletes from Beachwood, Kirtland, Orange, and West Geauga worked with the Empower Sports athletes in drill stations ranging from a football throw to relay races and soccer skills.
“This is awesome,” said West Geauga senior Frankie Flesher, an All-CVC soccer standout. “It’s super cool to come together from different schools and be able to include people with disabilities and get them to have a super fun day.”
Despite the weather conditions, smiles were seen from sideline to sideline and end zone to end zone, and already discussions were had to grow the event in upcoming years.
Watch the video interviews below to hear from the CVC student-athletes on the impact of volunteering in this event.
Rakayla Iwais, assistant commissioner of @CVC_Athletics , loves being part of CVV All-Inclusion Sports Day at @WestGAthletics today. pic.twitter.com/TKyVxP5cUj
— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) September 28, 2022
Frankie Flesher of @WestGAthletics is having fun being part of @CVC_Athletics All-Inclusion Sports Day today. pic.twitter.com/t4fhqox0Nt
— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) September 28, 2022
Event coordinator Sandy Siegler and Dr. Don Lewis of @CVC_Athletics discuss CVC All-Inclusive Sports Day at West Geauga. pic.twitter.com/AfwCCWSWni
— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) September 28, 2022
C.J. Maynard from Empower Sports discusses the organization he represents and the special nature of @CVC_Athletics All -Inclusive Sports Day at West Geauga. pic.twitter.com/6RWyfxAget
— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) September 28, 2022
Running obstacles at the @CVC_Athletics All-Inclusive Sports Day at West Geauga. pic.twitter.com/bl1RQFKxnj
— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) September 28, 2022
