Photo and Article by Emily Jankauski: Students and teachers of Fisher High School were all smiles as they jumped into the lake water. Each plunger raised $100 for Special Olympics Illinois Region I before jumping into the chilly water at Lake of the Woods.
Darting to the water with no intentions of looking back, more than 300 area residents leapt into the chilly waters of Lake of the Woods for the Mahomet Area Polar Plunge last Saturday.
“I say to these plungers going into the water, just don’t catch a bad cold out there,” joked Sarah Meents, the Mahomet Area Polar Plunge ambassador and Special Olympics athlete.
With temperatures around 40 degrees, plungers braved the even colder waters to support Special Olympic athletes who compete in Region I. With its 20-county span, Region I supports 1,487 athletes in the East Central Illinois area.
Providing year-round sports activities, Special Olympics provides free sports competitions and training for individuals with disabilities.
“In providing those trainings and competitions and family fun events, it really helps transform their lives in different ways, and they build friendship and self-esteem,” said Vanessa Duncan, Special Olympics Illinois Region I director. “We’re empowering their lives, we’re giving them hope and we’re giving them ways to meet their goals year after year.”
Offering 17 different options, Special Olympics Illinois provides competitions and training for athletes in sports ranging from alpine skiing, basketball, bowling, flag football, gymnastics, powerlifting softball, volleyball and more.
Athletes are required to undergo eight weeks of athletic training and must qualify for competitions. Advancing similarly to other athletic competitions, Special Olympics athletes must medal at district competitions to go on to state competitions. State gold medalists go on to the national competitions, and from there, athletes may advance to the world competition.
“They develop that sense of accomplishment of achieving a sport they have to practice for eight weeks,” Duncan said.
Longtime competitor
Competing since she was a freshman in high school, 36-year-old Meents has proudly participated in basketball, bowling, powerlifting, softball, swimming and volleyball.
“My favorite is powerlifting, and my second favorite one is volleyball, and my third is probably bowling,” she said.
Not only is Meents a strong Special Olympics competitor, but she is a powerlifting champion.
“It’s a hard event to do because it’s three events: the deadlift, squat and bench press,” Duncan said. “Sarah’s pretty amazing. She’s just a stud at that.”
Having served the Special Olympics board for three consecutive years, 2013 through 2015, Meents helped make decisions, performed public speaking engagements and empowered athletes.
“She can speak for Special Olympics,” Duncan said. “If our staff can’t make an appearance, then Sarah is certified to go out and talk on our behalf. She did a radio recording for FOX out at Champaign, so that was exciting for her. I love having Sarah, and I am so happy that she’s on board.”
Prior to the plunge, which began at noon, Meents helped conduct the opening ceremonies for the event. Honorees of the opening ceremony included Meents’ father, Dick Meents, who passed away days before the plunge, and Madeleine McNulty, a Special Olympics athlete who competed with the Mahomet Area Magic and tragically passed Feb. 25, 2017.
Special Olympics athletes gathered around Meents as she said the oath before honoring Dick Meents and McNulty with a moment of silence.
Wearing her father’s Illini jacket underneath her coat, Meents smiled as she was comforted by the athletes who asked if she was OK during the moment of silence.
Raising $100 per plunger, Duncan said the polar plunge is the largest fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois Region I, and all of the proceeds remain in the region to benefit area athletes.
“Our biggest expenses are the cost of the venues,” Duncan said. “It’s also the cost of equipment that we might need, such as porta potties for track and field events. We also purchase the lunches for all of our volunteers, coaches and athletes. Also, the background checks for coaches are $8 apiece.”
A good cause
Raising funds to support Special Olympics athletes was reason enough for Fisher High School senior Kenzie Delaney to take the plunge along with nearly 50 other students and teachers who were dressed in bunny and carrot costumes.
“It’s a good cause,” Delaney said. “It’s a fun way to make memories with friends.”
Having volunteered for more than 20 years, Kelly King and Lynette Aikman of Westville realized the need for volunteers when their relative was diagnosed with autism.
“Most of these people have a big heart,” King said.
In her sixth year as a volunteer, University of Illinois police officer Beth Visel said she enjoys getting together with the entire community to support the athletes.
“I knew Sarah (Meents) in high school. She graduated two years ahead of me,” Visel said. “It’s great to see the same people out here year after year.”
In addition to nearly 30 volunteers, including the Mahomet-Seymour High School dance team, several members from the Cornbelt Fire Protection Disctrict’s Dive and Rescue Team assisted in the Mahomet Area Plunge by standing both in the lake and near the water to ensure the safety of plungers.
“Community events like this are something the crew looks forward to,” Fire Chief John Koller said. “A lot of the calls they get aren’t necessarily good. They enjoy having a positive impact on the community, whether it be the plunge, parades or even Village Christmas.”
Putting smiles on many of the plungers’ faces, the dive and rescue team members stretched out their hands to high-five plungers as they reached the near midpoint of the lake before returning to shore.
Countless friendships
For Meents, the plunge is a great reminder of the comradery of Special Olympics. Whether on or off the court, Meents is each athlete’s No. 1 fan and she continuously supports the organization that’s provided her countless friendships and memories throughout the years.
“Sometimes I see athletes out there saying, ‘I didn’t get to go (to state),'” Meents said. “But I always say, ‘You still did your best.’ I went to the world game, and my last race I was coming against the curve and I slipped on the ice and hit my hip and placed fourth.”
Nevertheless, Sarah Meents never gave up and she uses this philosophy not only as an athlete, but throughout her life. Her mother, Joyce Meents, reiterated the importance Special Olympics has played in her daughter’s life.
“You have a place where you can belong,” she said. “Being in Special Olympics, she’s had the opportunities to go to a world game and a national game; it’s a proud moment.”
“What’s unique about (Special Olympics) is you’re going out there to have fun and meet new friends,” Sarah Meents added. “Like some of these kids aren’t in anything else.”
Providing a unique opportunity for individuals with disabilities to compete in athletic events, Special Olympics builds a welcoming community for athletes.
“The athletes make friends forever,” Joyce Meents said. “And they just can’t wait for the next event so they can see their friends. They come from all over the state and they remember each other. It’s not like see you today and tomorrow we don’t know who you are type of thing. There’s a connection between all of them. They’re out there to win, too; it’s very competitive.”
Special Olympics Illinois Region I has three other upcoming Polar Plunge events, which include the Decatur and Effingham plunges this Saturday and the University of Illinois Donut Dash on March 10. To participate or volunteer in the upcoming plunges, visit plungeillinois.com.
