Rapid City Storm - Special Olympics

The Special Olympics South Dakota State Summer Games at Black Hills State University in Spearfish!

The competitive games ran all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday... although sunny and hot, the athletes persevered and finished strong!

Thank you to all who came to cheer the athletes on, and a huge thank you to all the amazing volunteers... what a fantastic 2023 Special Olympics Summer Games!

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Unphased by the rain, in support of Special Olympics, a crowd of Special Olympics Athletes, Rapid City Police, Pennington County Sheriff's Office, and local supporters made the trek through Downtown Rapid City with the "Flame of Hope" last Wednesday for the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

The "Flame of Hope" started making its way through the state on Sunday, lifting the spirits of the athletes preparing for the upcoming Special Olympics Summer Games! Rapid City Storm - Special Olympics athletes, Special Olympics South Dakota - Rapid City Flame athletes, and others all joined in the same supportive spirit.

The South Dakota Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics began in 1981 and serves to raise awareness and funds in support of South Dakota's Special Olympians. It all began when Wichita, Kansas (USA), Police Chief Richard LaMunyon saw an urgent need to raise funds for and increase awareness of Special Olympics. The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is the movement’s largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle.

Thank you Rapid City Police Department and Pennington County Sheriff's Office and Special Olympics South Dakota for your enthusiastic support!

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Jackie – I am HAPPY!!!

When people think of Jackie, her cheerful, warm personality are the first thing that comes to mind. She spreads her vibrant happiness wherever she goes, smiling broadly as she talks. “Being with people makes me happy,” says Jackie, and she has the busy social life to prove it!

Jackie joined Black Hills Works in 2015. She’s very involved in Special Olympics, playing basketball, track, bocce ball, and softball. The fridge in her cozy apartment is covered with team photos. “I really like going to the events,” she notes.
Jackie is also involved in Mines Buddies, a program that pairs SD Mines students with people supported by Black Hills Works to do fun things together in the community. She has been dating her boyfriend, David, for six years. “I like everything about him,” she says. “There’s nothing about him I don’t like.” David and Jackie often volunteer together at Black Hills Works events and enjoy Rush games.

Jackie appreciates the independence she has at Black Hills Works. She is employed at Black Hills Works’ Central Kitchen, where she helps prepare meals. Her supervisors say she is a hard worker and very dependable. Transportation support helps Jackie with errands, shopping, and recreation.

Jackie’s energy and enthusiasm make her a wonderful aunt to her nieces and nephews. She loves to play with them, swimming, jumping on the trampoline, and more. Creating these memories with them is very important to her.
Jackie beams when she talks about the good life she has built with the support of Black Hills Works. She’s proud of her happiness and energy.

It makes us happy to see how she thrives and brings warmth to everyone around her!

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Ricky Torgerson – I am strong

In his early 60s, Ricky has been part of the Black Hills Works family for 33 years. He is also soft-spoken and thoughtful, with a *strong* sense of humor. When asked if he had any life lessons to share, he joked, “Life isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be,” followed by a more serious response, “Live each day like it’s your last, and take it one day at a time.”

Ricky is proud to show visitors his very large collection of medals and ribbons from Special Olympics and has been involved in Special Olympics (SO) for 45 years. He participates in basketball, bowling, bocce ball, track and field, and softball in SO. He also enjoys going to Rapid City Rush hockey games and watching games on TV, with the Dallas Cowboys being his favorite team. He likes all sports, except for golf!

However, while basketball is his favorite SO sport, fishing is his *absolute* favorite activity. In his sunny apartment, a collection of fishing rods are neatly organized and displayed, along with a small case of antique wooden lures that were a gift. Framed photos of previous fishing trips and art prints of fish hang on the wall. He’s saving up for a fishing trip to Canada, having already gone to Alaska and elsewhere.

Ricky is very close with his brother and sister-in-law, who live nearby. He helps his brother every week to package food for Meals on Wheels. He also had a close relationship with his mom, who passed away a few years ago. Last year, staff helped him prepare the special Christmas cookies she used to make to share with his family.

Ricky has had various jobs through Black Hills Works, but for now, he’s following his own advice and taking life one day at a time. His humor and friendship mean a lot to those who know him, and we’re so glad he’s part of the Black Hills Works family! When asked what he likes best about Black Hills Works, Ricky says he’s thankful for the independence he has and the opportunities to keep learning.

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Did you see the news? A THUNDER STORM has come over the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology basketball courts ⚡🌩️⚡

A great day for our Rapid City Storm - Special Olympics Thunder Team - winning their first game 27-9 as Lightning team members cheered on!

LET'S GO, THUNDER!

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There is still time to sign up and raise money for the 2022 Rapid City Polar Plunge! Join us on Saturday, October 8 at the Black Hills Harley Davidson!

The Polar Plunge is our largest fundraiser of the year. This is how we are able to keep Special Olympics going at no charge to our athletes. Did you know that taking our athletes to an out-of-town state tournament costs over $10,000 just for transportation and motel rooms? This doesn’t include the cost of food, uniforms, equipment, and registration fees. On average, Rapid City Storm participates in three state tournaments that are out of town per year. So, grab some family and friends and take the Polar Plunge. We’ll be Freezin’ for a Reason!

Go to https://www.classy.org/campaign/2022-rapid-city-polar-plunge/c389113 to learn how you can take the plunge and help raise money for the Rapid City Storm Special Olympics!

Save the date! The 2022 Rapid City Polar Plunge is back on Saturday, October 8!

Registration begins at 10 am, and the plunge starts at 12 pm!

Don’t want to take the Plunge? You can do Too Chicken Too Plunge! You will still raise money for our Special Olympics athletes and stay dry the whole time!

Learn more at https://www.classy.org/campaign/2022-rapid-city-polar-plunge/c389113

Summer Special Olympics sports are coming to an end soon with only a few events left. Congratulations to all the softball and bocce players who participated in the Black Hills Area softball and bocce tournaments on August 20 and 21! The softball final results were Lightning 1-1 and Blizzard 1-1. It was a full house with great competition from all of the teams. Thanks to our friends at Rapid City Flame, the adult Flame Unified Partners compiled enough players to play against Thunder. Thunder played this team incredibly well, and it was a fun game to watch!

For bocce this year we had 34 teams (that’s 68 Bocce players) participate in the Black Hills Area bocce tournament! Everyone had a fun-filled day. Rapid City Storm brought home more first, second, and third place ribbons than we could count. Way to go, everyone! Thank you to our coaches and Unified Partners – without you none of this is possible!

Congratulation to all the athletes that participated in State Special Olympics Equestrian in Huron! We had multiple athletes that were able to travel to Huron and participate in English Equitation, Stock Seat Equitation, Working Trails, Barrel Racing, and Showmanship at Halter/Bridle. Great job everyone!

Congratulations to the 60 athletes that participated in Volleyball and Track and Field at State Summer Games in Spearfish.

Some highlights from the event:

Storm Volleyball Team A brought home a second-place silver medal!

Storm Volleyball Team B brought home a first-place win with the gold medal!

David Tanner and Ed Kopp ran in the 3000-meter race (that’s 1.86 miles). Despite the very early morning and cold rainy and snowy weather, they powered through.

David Tanner came home with the second-place win, earning a silver medal.

Ed Kopp came home with third place win, earning a bronze medal.

Track and field athletes brought home more gold, silver, and bronze medals to count!

Way to go, everyone! Hard work pays off!

The Summer Games track & field events have been moved indoors and will be held in the Donald Young Center on the Black Hills State University campus in Spearfish, SD, Saturday, May 21st! Please, meet inside the Donald Young Center when you arrive on campus!

With the possible weather approaching please dress warm!

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is back! On May 19, a team of 11 Core Runners will carry the Flame of Hope through Rapid City. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come out and join the run, walk or cheer as they quite literally carry hope across South Dakota!

The Flame of Hope is scheduled to arrive at 601 Columbus St at 10 am, they will run down 6th Street for 4 blocks to Main Street Square. This is a free event, everyone is encouraged to attend and join us in the fun!

Congratulations to the 48 Rapid City Storm Athletes who participated in the Black Hills Area Track and Field Meet on April 22 at Sioux Park!

It was a beautiful day with lots of great competition and an abundance of smiles!

An extra special thanks to John Kraft for singing the National Anthem during Opening Ceremonies. He did a fabulous job!

Congratulations to all the athletes that participated in the Black Hills Area and State Special Olympics Basketball Tournaments! It was great seeing all the athletes playing again! Three athletes really took the cake this month! Tim Kopp did an amazing job leading the Athlete Oath during opening ceremonies. Tommy Brought Plenty received the Spirit of Sportsmanship Award for Division M4. And, Josh Walker received the Spirit of Sportsmanship Award for Division M3.

Receiving the Spirit of Sportsmanship Award is a huge honor. Only one person per division is chosen by Special Olympics South Dakota. Winning is for a day, sportsmanship is for a lifetime. Both Tommy and Josh certainly deserve this award; their excellent sportsmanship was recognized and honored across our state. Way to go, Tommy and Josh!

Rapid City Storm Special Olympics Track and Field season is coming up in April and we are looking for some coaches to volunteer their time!

We are looking for a head track & field coach, track & shotput coach, swimming coach, volleyball coach, powerlifting coach, standing and running long jump coach, and soccer skill coach. Come and share your skills and work with our awesome group of athletes!

If you have an interest in filling any of these roles please contact Amy Pipke at [email protected].

Rapid City Storm completed the 2021 Special Olympics Bowling season with 123 athletes participating.

Bowlers participated in an end-of-the-year pizza party and awards ceremony at the bowling alley hosted by Special Olympics South Dakota. Every registered athlete received recognition and a medal for their division!

Thank you to all the residential support staff for your hard work to help your athletes bowl. Your support made the Rapid City Storm Special Olympics bowling season successful and fun!

The Rapid City Monster Splash Polar Plunge is this Saturday the 30! Registration starts at 9 am, then we plunge at noon!

Plunge by yourself or form a team! To learn more or register your team go to SOSD.org

Reminder you don’t have to jump to raise money! The Polar Plunge is our primary fundraiser for Special Olympics. Money raised for the Rapid City Storm goes towards equipment, uniforms, athlete registration fees, and travel expenses. These funds are instrumental to keep our program going at a no-to-low cost to our athletes.

Join us for a costume contest, food, and fun this Saturday at Black Hills Harley-Davidson!

2 weeks until the Spook 'N' Splash Polar Plunge! Plunge by yourself or form a team! To learn more or register your team go to SOSD.org or scan the QR code below.

Reminder...You don’t have to jump to raise money! The Polar Plunge is our primary fundraiser for Special Olympics. Money raised for the Rapid City Storm goes towards equipment, uniforms, athlete registration fees, and travel expenses. These funds are instrumental to keep our program going at a no-to-low cost to our athletes.

October 30 Spook 'N' Splash Polar Plunge is right around the corner! Reminder...You don’t have to jump to raise money! The Polar Plunge is our primary fundraiser for Special Olympics. Money raised for the Rapid City Storm goes towards equipment, uniforms, athlete registration fees, and travel expenses. These funds are instrumental to keep our program going at a no-to-low cost to our athletes.

Plunge by yourself or form a team! To learn more or register your team go to SOSD.org or scan the QR code below.

Rapid City Storm is looking for 6 basketball coaches to join our team this season. You will need to commit about 2 hours a week from December to March for practice and also time for 2 basketball tournaments!

Contact Amy Pipke at [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering your time to coach and building connections through sports!

The Spook and Splash Polar Plunge is right around the corner on October 30 at Black Hills Harley Davidson. This is our biggest fundraiser and fun-filled event of the year! You can form a team to jump with or plunge by yourself. Make sure to register yourself or your team before the event at SOSD.org!

Don't want to take the Plunge? You can do Too Chicken Too Plunge! You will still raise money for our Special Olympics athletes and stay dry the whole time!

Congratulations to all of the athletes that participated in the Black Hills Area Softball Tournament! Rapid City Storm Softball entered 3 teams in the Black Hills Area softball tournament. All 3 teams played 2 games, Lightening finished 1 -1, Blizzard finished 1-1, and Thunder finished 2-0! It was a great day for softball!

Congratulations to all of the athletes that participated in the Black Hills Area Bocce Tournament last Saturday! It was a beautiful day outside perfect for some bocce ball fun. Such a fun sport for everyone to learn and participate in!

The Rapid City Storm – Special Olympics is looking for volunteers to share, teach and spend time with our athletes doing various sporting activities. Our athletes participate in multiple events like bowling, basketball, cheerleading, track and field, swimming, volleyball, soccer skills, powerlifting, softball, bocce ball, and equestrian. Please consider sharing your time to create opportunities for the athletes while developing a personal relationship.

If you are interested in volunteering your time please contact Carrie Moser at [email protected] or at (605) 718-6207.

Save the Date! Special Olympics Truck Convoy is back! This event will be held in Rapid City on September 10-11. If you have an athlete that loves Semi-Trucks, this is the event for them!