Nine students from Sleeping Giant Middle School and Park High School represent Livingston on the Special Olympics team. This program runs three different sports : basketball in the fall, bowling in the winter, and track in the spring. The team is known as the Livingston Lightning, and they are a force to take shelter from.
The Lightning storm started last winter, when the very first Special Olympics team from Livingston competed in bowling. They won the state title in Billings, defeating five other teams. Treated with a police and fire truck escort, the Livingston Lightning returned home.
Excitement soared around the early success, and the competitors wanted to continue participating. Throughout the team’s young career, winning has been all they know. However, this winning comes with nothing short than lots of practice and time. Thanks to so many people who give time and care, the students can be a part of this team.
Livingston Lightning athlete John Howell has been with the team since its beginning. Howell led the team that won the state bowling title in 2023, and he looks to continue their success this upcoming winter. Howell says his favorite thing about participating in the Olympics is “helping people, my teammates and other people.”
This help and kind heart is something demonstrated by Howell’s instructor, Connor Webb, the main teacher and coach of these student athletes from both schools. There are also lots of other volunteers who help the Livingston Lightning. From parents to Park High teachers and students, the Lightning are very well instructed.
Former boys basketball head coach Kyle Neibauer helps coach the Lightning basketball team, along with three varsity basketball players: Jon Durgan, Tristan Watts, and Alivia Duffy.
These three basketball players help the Lightning during practices and games through unified P.E. This is a class new to Park High offers this year. Through practice and the help of everyone involved, the Lightning are getting better and better.
Webb says future plans for Special Olympics revolve around unified P.E. “I want to get more Park High students involved with our team. It’s a fun experience and a good way to connect for everyone involved,” he said.
Howell encourages Park High students to participate. “It’s fun and I like having them(Durgan, Watts, Duffy),” he said.
Senior soccer star Hannah Mathias wishes she would have been in unified P.E. “It sounds like a fun experience and a great way to connect with them!” she commented.
That is exactly what Webb wants, and it looks like it is heading a good direction for all those involved with the Livingston Lightning.
As the Lightning continue to compete, we encourage everyone to come support. Watch their games, cheer for them, show them what it looks like to return their joyous hearts.