Inclusion Games players and friends gather for inaugural event

Megan Kinter of Lower Burrell stood confident with bag in hand.

She took a step to the left, checked for wind resistance, and tossed it into the summer sky Saturday .

It went through an opening for the win of a cornhole game at the inaugural Alle-Kiski Inclusion Games at Lower Burrell’s Kotecki Park.

“It’s really powerful,” Kinter said of her toss. “I always beat people. It’s fun to be outside.”

About 25 players partnered with 25 volunteers or “friends” as their purple t-shirts indicated.

The games included cornhole, soccer, softball toss and relay races. The event was designed for youths who cannot play traditional sports. Most of the participants were on the autism spectrum, had muscle ailments or other issues.

Kinter, 22, has Down syndrome, but does not let it stop her from having fun, said her grandmother Martha Kinter of Lower Burrell.

“I’m so happy they have this going on for the kids,” Martha Kinter said. “She loves it. She loves to be participating in this and playing all the games. Considering there are so few of them, this is phenomenal. This should go on all the time. It should not just be an occasion.”

The games were organized by Courtney Kobelenske, a Lower Burrell mom and co-owner of New Kensington-based Cora Lee Cupcakes with her younger sister, Kylie Lash.

Kobelenske said she wanted to provide a fun, athletic event for her daughter, Cora, 17, who will be a sophomore at Burrell and is on the autism spectrum. Cora Kobelenske also has a muscle issue that prevents her from participating in many activities.

“I think it’s absolutely amazing,” Cora Kobelenske said. “Everybody here’s been kind and funny just like my mommy. It’s hot, too. I’ve got to see my friends that I haven’t seen for a long time since the pandemic happened. It was terrible for me being inside my house doing absolutely nothing.”

Participants received medals and blue t-shirts to mark the occasion.

“I’m just happy everybody’s here,” Kobelenske said. “I know how it is to have kids that want to play sports, but they don’t get the chance. This is structured enough that the kids can have a great time. When there are kids out there running in the field, that’s what they want to do. Let them run. The kids just want to participate.”

Kobelenske also came up with the idea of having “friend” on helpers’ shirts instead of volunteer.

“We want the kids to if they see the word ‘friend’ that you can come up and ask us anything because we’re going to help you,” she said.

Lash distributed color bracelets to help teams identify themselves at the games, among other responsibilities. She credited her sister with putting everything together.

“She’s my big sister and I have to take directions,” Lash said. “That’s actually how the cupcake shop started. She knocked on my door and said, ‘I’m going to open a cupcake shop for kids. You want in?’

“Where else would I be? Kids need all the extra love and help they can. I don’t care if they’re quirky or mainstream or what. If my sister want’s to do it, then I’m going to support her. I made a whole bunch of new friends today. It was nice for everybody to have a friend be with their participant so parents could simply be their cheering section instead of being exclusively responsible for their player today.”

BethAnn Salinas of Freeport was cheering on her son, Isaac, 9, who is on the autism spectrum and has a perceptual motor delay. She said it means he has a hard time throwing or moving things across his body like seat belts.

“I thought it was a great idea,” Salinas said of the games. “Isaac sometimes has a hard time, especially when there’s competitiveness, with normal typical kids. This is less stress for him. It’s a really good support. It gets the kids out and about. It helps them socialize. It helps parents connect with other parents that understand their struggles.”

Several Burrell School District teachers also donated their time and talents to the games including special education and life skills educators from each school.

“I think it’s awesome these kids get to have a time to shine,” said high school teacher Hannah Cress. “Spotlight their abilities, not their disabilities. It gives themselves something to talk about. They feel important. They feel included that they got to have a sporting activity. They will talk about it for a long time.”