Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) selected Jerry Halboth of Williams Bay as one of 62 athletes to represent Team Wisconsin at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in Princeton, New Jersey on June 14-21, 2014. Wisconsin athletes will compete in athletics, aquatics, bocce, bowling, flag football, gymnastics, powerlifting and volleyball.
Halboth has competed in Special Olympics athletics, basketball, flag football, softball, volleyball and snow shoeing since 1998. According to Halboth, Special Olympics has given him the opportunity to compete in many sports year-round win many ribbons and medals.
“[Going to the USA Games makes me feel] loved and wanted,” he said. “It makes me feel like I’m on top of the world, knowing that all my hard work in this sport has paid off.”
Halboth will dedicate his USA Games medals to his late father who “was my number 1 fan and best friend and made me feel like an equal, not an outcast.”
Outside of Special Olympics, Halboth was elected prom king in 2001 and he won the all-around top Male Athlete of the Year award in 2002.
Halboth will compete in athletics and will be one of 86 delegates representing Team Wisconsin at the 2014 USA Games in New Jersey. When he’s not working or training, he works for Parallel Employment Group.
SOWI will host an official training camp for Team Wisconsin athletes on May 17-18, 2014 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The 2014 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. A total of 3,500 athletes, 1,000 coaches and delegates, 10,000 volunteers and 70,000 spectators will attend.
Sports competition will be held at venues throughout Mercer County, New Jersey, including Princeton University, Rider University, The College of New Jersey, Mercer County Park and several area private schools. There will be ample opportunities for supporters across the state to show their spirit and join the team through volunteerism, donations and attendance. For more information or to learn more about how you can support a local athlete, visit www.SpecialOlympicsWisconsin.orgUSAGames
