Special Olympics runs year round, but it's natural to think of it in relation to the school year, which is when participation tends to be at its highest, so when we make up our annual calendar we start in September.

Right now we're gearing up for the early fall sports: bocce, golf, and aquatics, practicing afternoons and evenings for upcoming scrimmages, local, and regional events. In October it will be back to bowling, which the majority of our Ranchers compete in (and certainly beat the socks off the staff at the annual Staff-Rancher Bowling Tournament!)

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This year Mark and Andrew will graduate to "unified" status in golf, for which they must demonstrate three consecutive years in golf and a level of proficiency to carry through a 9-hole game of alternate play with a non-Special Olympics golf partner.

There have also been special kayaking events held this summer. Casey Dickerson, the Ranch QMRP/Case Manager, arranged for Kelly, Sterling, and Kyle to participate in a Paddle Up!, a joint venture between Special Olympics and the Paralympics Rowing Association and one of the many adaptive rowing and paddling programs offered by the Texas Rowing Center in Austin, Texas. Casey is a proficient rower, and served as coxswain on crew all through Texas A&M, where she met now-husband Matt.