Heading to the Special Olympics USA games in Seattle, July 1-6, from left, are: bocce ball coach Barbara Haverty; Mya Torres, track and field; Josh Holsinger, bocce ball; and Kyle Eddy, bocce ball. Absent are Jennifer Yost and Ginny Petrillo-Sparcino. Submitted photo

RANDOLPH — Kyle Eddy of Randolph will soon be on his way to Seattle, Washington where he will represent New York state in the Special Olympics USA games in bocce ball, July 1-6.

A week after his high school graduation from Randolph Central School, Kyle will be heading to the nationals along with the rest of his four-member team: Josh Holsinger and Jennifer Yost, both of Frewsburg, and Ginny Petrillo-Sparcino of Tonawanda. Coach Barbara Haverty of Dunkirk will be attending as the coach. Mya Torres, also of Dunkirk, will be going to compete in track and field.

Kyle’s mother, Donna Eddy, said it’s pretty exciting to have her son participating in the nationals and the whole family is thrilled for him. Eddy and her husband, Larry, will be traveling to Seattle to watch Kyle compete.

“He doesn’t seem to be very nervous because he knows his coach and the other players,” she said. “I don’t think it has hit him, yet, that he’s going on an airplane and flying to the nationals.”

According to Special Olympics USA, more than 4,000 athletes and coaches representing 50 state programs and the District of Columbia, along with the support of tens of thousands of volunteers and spectators, will compete in 14 Olympic-type team and individual sports. They include athletics, basketball, bocce, bowling, flag football, golf, gymnastics, powerlifting, soccer, softball, stand-up paddle board, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

“The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games will showcase the abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities, promote the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sport, and celebrate the transformative power of Special Olympics,” said Beth Knox, president and CEO, 2018 Special Olympics USA Games.

Predicted to be a once-in-a-lifetime event by Special Olympics Washington, the Opening Ceremony will give spectators the opportunity to witness ceremonial traditions such as the Parade of Athletes and the lighting of the Special Olympics Flame of Hope. The festivities will also feature music and entertainment by some of today’s most popular artists. Serving as a living backdrop to the show will be a 2,018-member choir, one of the largest vocal ensembles in Washington state history.

Eddy, who works at the Resource Center in Jamestown, said anyone with an intellectual disability from age 8 and up is welcome to play sports through Special Olympics. She found out about the sports organization through a friend of hers who is one of the coaches.

“Kyle loves sports, so we thought the athletic events would be a great thing for him to do,” she said.

Eddy said this is Kyle’s third year playing bocce and it begins each year in August. He practices once a week on a court at a church in Jamestown where all of the games for this area are played. She said one competition each year is played with the Dunkirk team at the Dunkirk High School.

When he’s not playing bocce ball, Kyle also plays golf, bowls and swims — all through Special Olympics. Eddy said each sport takes place at different times of the year. Golf competitions are held in the fall, and bocce and swimming are held in the summer.

Eddy said it’s important for Kyle to be a part of the whole event from practices and games to competitions. She said he is a very social guy as is evident by his comment about participating in the games.

“I like playing bocce because I get to hangout with my friends,” Kyle said. “I’m excited to be in the games, but even more excited to fly and stay at a hotel with my friends.”

According to Eddy, Kyle has competed in other events, but this is his first time competing in the nationals. She said he and his teammates have a really good time when they get together to practice, but he definitely knows the nationals are a really big deal.

Prior to the state and national events, Dunkirk High School hosted a torch run from the school to SUNY Fredonia on May 30, where more than 350 athletes from eight area schools assembled to compete in the 30th annual Northern Chautauqua County Special Olympics. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a nationwide campaign to increase awareness and raise funds for the Special Olympics movement.

“Kyle was invited to participate because he’s one of the national athletes,” Eddy said. “The athletes got to run the torch with the state troopers who were running for the Special Olympics event in Dunkirk.”

The athletes had the honor of running the torch to the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls where ceremonies took place in the middle of the Rainbow Bridge. They were joined by United States and Canadian law enforcement officers carrying the Flame of Hope for Special Olympics New York.

On June 16, the teams competed in the State Summer Games at Siena College, in Loudonville, where 1,500 athletes and coaches from across the state participated. The Summer Games are one of three annual state games held each year throughout New York.

More details can be found online at specialolympicsusagames.org.