What was supposed to be a special day for Special Olympics athletes ended before it began.

“They were on their way on the buses, and we had to call all of them and say, ‘Turn around.’ It broke our hearts,” Jessie Merckle said.

As sports director for the Three Rivers Region of Special Olympics Pennsylvania Inc., Merckle was in University Park on June 8 for the scheduled start of the 2023 Summer Games, with more than 2,000 athletes, 800 coaches and 1,000 volunteers planning to attend.

Instead, poor air quality caused by Canadian wildfires forced the event’s abrupt cancellation

“We were, like, we have to do something,” Merckle said. “We have to give the athletes a better end to their season.”

The Three Rivers Region’s solution was to organize an alternative event two weeks later, called the “Regional Rumble” and held at Gateway High School. Participants gathered June 25 from most of the counties Three Rivers represents, including Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Indiana, Washington and Westmoreland.

“Gateway was kind of the first on our mind, because it’s central, very nice facilities,” Merckle explained. “And they were so generous to use their facilities.”

Athletes participated in track and field, basketball, softball, swimming and tennis, supported by an essential component of Special Olympics, according to Merckle.

“We can never run an event without volunteers,” she said. “So the fact that they came through and then some was the reason this was able to run. Everyone really came in strong. They brought their friends.”

Volunteer Mark Jacob brought a crew of 15 — including his mother, Francie — to help. The Monroeville resident talked with Merckle and Andrew Fee, Three Rivers Region executive director, at a benefit golf outing and learned about the event at Gateway, his alma mater.

“Everything was great. I think the athletes had a good day. We had beautiful weather. Can’t complain at all,” Mark said. “Everyone here has a positive attitude. There was no one here who didn’t have a good time, I think.”

Other volunteers traveled from throughout the region, such as Terena Yongu, who is majoring in disability services at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Fox Chapel Area High School students Antonia Linzoain, Grace Patel and Taylor Wilkinson.

“Really, it’s just anytime you’re free to volunteer, we welcome them to come out,” Merckle said. “And it’s an awesome experience.”

Special Olympics activities take place throughout the year, with training over the summer in preparation for a fall season of bocce, soccer, flag football, pickleball, volleyball and more. From December through February is unified indoor bocce season, an inclusive program at high schools including Gateway.

“For competition, we say it’s 8 to 80. So if you’re 8 years old, you can start competing with us. There is no age limit, so we welcome all the athletes,” Merckle explained. “We’re always on the recruiting trail.”

As for the “Regional Rumble,” she quoted Fee as often saying, “I judge the success of an event based on the smiles.”

“And there were a lot today,” she said.

For more information, visit specialolympicspa.org/region-9-home.

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