Owasso Holds Sendoff As Special Olympics Team Heads To Summer Games

Owasso High School held a sendoff as the district's Special Olympics team left to compete in the summer games in Stillwater.

"I call my teammates my family because they really matter to me, and I love them very much," said athlete Kenny King.

Kenny King is a senior and headed to his final summer games.

The athletes from Owasso will compete in both Bocce Ball and Basketball this week.

"My favorite part of competing is going against very strong opponents. It doesn't matter if you have a disability or not. You are a very good opponent, doesn't matter what you are. You got to be yourself every step of the way," Kenny said.

Owasso has the state's largest Special Olympics team. The district sent off almost 200 athletes and coaches to Stillwater.

"For everyone, you get to just see our kids shine, and it's all about them for three days, and I just love that," head coach Stephani Barger said.

This is Head Coach Stephani Barger's 12th year to go to the games. She said it gets better every year.

She said each kid means so much to her, and the support they get from their school is everything.

"I just think that love just carries us to Stillwater, the kids just float on that high. It's the last three days of school and it's a big party," she said.

While gold medals are on the mind for Kenny and his team, he's really just focusing on having fun with his Owasso family.

"It doesn't matter if you get first, second or third. It matters what you do, like do you give it 100-percent; give it your best," he said.

The teams will compete for gold medals on Thursday and Friday before heading home.