SOMO News

KIRKSVILLE – From setting personal records to rocking it out at the dance, Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) athletes made the most of their time at the 2025 State Summer Games.

The Games brought roughly 1,000 athletes, coaches, volunteers and Unified partners from across the state to Kirksville, May 30-June 1. SOMO was thankful to have Truman State University as this year’s host venue. This year’s theme was Hollywood Nights!

“The competition and sportsmanship throughout the State Summer Games were top-notch,” said Luke Lamb, SOMO’s director of sports competition and statewide training. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many smiles, high fives and fist-bumps as we did over the last few days.”

This year’s State Summer Games featured four sports: volleyball, swimming, powerlifting and track and field. Our volleyball and swimming competitions were held on Friday. Our powerlifting competition was on Saturday. Our track and field competition was on Saturday and Sunday. Athletes had to qualify for the State Summer Games through their regional and area competitions.

This was the first year SOMO has held a State Game in Kirksville.

Pre-ceremony festivities included a Red Carpet walk for our athletes, coaches, and sponsors. The red carpet featured comedian David Graham, Taylor Swift impersonator Kelley Thrasher, and Actor/Comedian Bill Chott from The Ringer, This is Us, and Young Sheldon. Additionally, we had the Kirksville Tigers drumline, along with dances from Melody’s School of Dance & Tumbling, and The Dance Studio of Kirksville.

The State Summer Games officially kicked off with the Opening Ceremony at Stokes Stadium on Friday, May 30 at 7:15 p.m. Comedian David Graham emceed an incredible program. The Knights of Columbus, Law Enforcement Officers, and local school mascots were there to welcome in the Parade of Athletes. We were so grateful for Kirksville native Reese Williams. SOMO was thrilled to have President of Truman State University Dr. Sue Thomas speak at the Opening Ceremony along with Kirksville Mayor Zac Burden. SOMO also held an amazing graduation ceremony for our Athlete Leadership Program. We had six athletes complete their coursework and earn degrees. They are, Abby Bax, Joseph Collins, Kayla Dannemueller, Kenlee Lewis, Eric Schmidt, and Lynn Shuffit.

The Opening Ceremony culminated with our 2024 SOMO Athlete of the Year, Nicole Noblet, and the 2024 John Michael Letz Award winner, Sheriff Carrie Melte, running the Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Together, they lit the Flame of Hope while Bill Chott officially opened up the Games.

SOMO 517 volunteers sign up for the weekend. We cannot thank you enough for coming out in full force this weekend, especially Logan Gorman. Gorman was one of two people to earn a Eunice Kennedy Shriver Sportsmanship Coin throughout the weekend.

SOMO’s other EKS Sportsmanship Coin went to Mountain Grove coach, Misty Wake.

Along with the competitions, SOMO also held its health and wellness clinics, Healthy Athletes and Sports Zone.

Below is the breakdown of how many athletes participated in our Healthy Athletes Screenings:

Special Smiles: 68 participants

Fit Feet: 85 participants

Health Promotions: 105 participants

FUNfitness: 73 participants

Healthy Hearing: 77 participants

Total: 408 Health Screenings

“It was an exciting time under the tents at Healthy Athletes on the Truman Campus!,” SOMO’s Health Partnership Manager Carol Griffin said. “We welcomed three new Clinical Directors and engaged many volunteers from the Kirksville area, introducing them to the world of health through SOMO. Athletes earned SOMO bucks when attending health screenings, which they could then redeem for fun SOMO incentives!”

Sports Zone was just as crowded this past weekend:

Nutrition Zone – 112 participants

Fitness Challenge Zone – 23 participants

Hydration Station- 157participants

Pledge Wall Zone – 68 participants (made goals about how to be a good sport)

SOMO is dedicated to improving the overall health and fitness of its athletes, not only through organized sports training and competition, but by also providing free health screenings through the Healthy Athletes program. All of these screenings are provided for SOMO athletes free of charge. These are incredible opportunities for the SOMO athletes. Some of the perks include the potential to get free glasses or goggles. SOMO athletes can also get a free physical, which is good for three years. For more information on these free health screenings, visit somo.org/health.

Thank you so much to all of our sponsors for making the State Summer Games possible for our athletes.

Statewide Partners: Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), Missouri Association of Student Councils (MASC), Diamond Pet Foods, Rusty Drewing Automotive Knights of Columbus, University of Missouri System, University of Missouri and MU Health Care.