What defines an athlete in today’s culture? World record performances, headlines in the news, contracts with big money? Perhaps crazed fans or big advertising endorsements? Or simply the spirit of conviction?
Beginning Saturday, June 14, Mercer County will see that spirit in action with the start of the Special Olympics USA games. The games continue through Saturday, June 21, at venues including the College of New Jersey, the Lawrenceville School, and Princeton University. With the support of more than 10,000 volunteers and 70,000 fans, 3,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities will compete in more than 16 Olympic-style sporting events. The abilities of these competitors and the 1,000 coaches who guide them help promote the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sports. Team New Jersey’s 270 athletes include three from West Windsor and Plainsboro and one coach. Here are their stories:
Monica Koppstein, 26, is a cyclist on Team NJ, a life-long resident of West Windsor, and a 2009 graduate of High School North. A Special Olympic athlete since she was 12, Monica is excited to be representing New Jersey for the second time in the National Games. This year she will compete in the 2K, 5K, and 10K time trials to be held at Mercer County Park, Monday through Thursday, June 16 through 19.
She first joined a track team that competed in the 2000 NJ Summer Olympics Games and has since competed in seven other Special Olympics sports: aquatics, basketball, bowling, cross-country skiing, cycling, snow-shoeing, and soccer.
Monica’s parents are Nantanee, the controller at STS Consulting in East Brunswick, and Peter, a senior research specialist at Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School. The family has lived in West Windsor for nearly three decades. “We were attracted to West Windsor because of its strong and improving public schools, its proximity to Princeton and the Route 1 corridor, and the parks and open space,” Nantanee says.
“We have been happy with our decision. For one reason, the proximity of our house to the train station and a bus line qualifies Monica to be a rider on Access Link, New Jersey Transit’s service for people with disabilities.” The Special Olympics Sports Complex is only a short drive from their home and in recent years they have been pleased to see more bike ways developing in West Windsor.
When Monica entered Grover Middle School, she still needed training wheels to ride her bike. Her parents envisioned Monica having to rely on these “crutches” for the rest of her life. Her gym teacher at Grover, however, had confidence that Monica could learn to ride the bicycle independently. She recommended Monica go the Strength Training Club after school, where Monica used the stationary bike, alongside the school’s most accomplished athletes, to strengthen her leg muscles and learn the rhythm needed for balance. Within a year Monica was able to ride her bike training-wheels free.
“Special Olympics have become a significant life-changing program for Monica. Through participation in Special Olympics, Monica has become healthier and developed good habits with respect to physical activities and nutrition. She has gained greater confidence and learned to do her best, not only on the playing field but also at work and in everyday life,” says Nantanee. These skills and habits have served her well at Monica’s jobs at Stop and Shop in Pennington and at Home Goods in Nassau Park. Participation in Special Olympics has extended her circle of friends and strengthened her friendships.
As a high school freshman, Monica began bowling in a Special Olympics Unified Bowling league, coached by a parent of a Special Olympics athlete, a neighbor, and a Rider University professor. Rider students bowled and competed on the same teams as Special Olympics bowlers. Monica especially enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Rider teammates.
“Monica first competed at the national level in 2006 as a bowling member of Team NJ at the First USA National Games in Ames, Iowa. There she won three gold medals. She went on to compete in bowling as a member of Team USA in Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China, in 2007, where she won gold and a silver medal,” says her mother.
“Without past and present coaches, mentors and other volunteers of Special Olympics, Monica would not be in the position of being ready for the National Games as she is right now,” she says.
Shubham Prasad, 19, of Plainsboro is a triathlete who has been taking part in the games since 2007. He was introduced to these programs during his years in the WW-P school system.
“We have lived in Plainsboro since 2006,” explains Shubham’s father, Shiv. “My job requirement brought me to the Plainsboro area. I am an IT professional and my wife is a home maker.”
Shubham has two younger brothers. Saurabh, 17, is a senior at High School South, and Sharad, 12, is in sixth grade at Grover Middle School. Both will be cheering loudly for their brother at the games, where hugs are abundant and acceptable.
Shubham competes in SONJ-organized sports year-round including soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and track and field in the summer. He has one training session a week at WW-P schools and weekly games in the Mercer County area. At the games Prasad will compete in a sprint-distance triathlon at Mercer County Park on Wednesday, June 18.
“My son never gives up and always keeps trying. People in society could all learn this life lesson from him,” says Shiv. “People should understand that despite my son’s disabilities he does have strong abilities that should be appreciated.”
“These games gave my son a great opportunity to grow socially; he’s learned time management, about following a routine and directions, which will be great help for him in his future,” says Shiv. “We are so happy for Shubham! We are committed to making sure his participation in all the training camps and sessions — whenever possible. Our family feels proud about him and we make him understand that he is part of a big and prestigious national event.”
Divesh Ramani, 18, of Princeton Junction has been cycling for the Special Olympics team for the past two years. “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt” is Divesh’s oath as he enters the games.
Divesh has been active in Special Olympics activities for the past five years. Keith Larsen, Divesh’s coach, encourages the athletes to work hard and includes “have fun” in each E-mail to the team. Divesh trains four to five days a week, both outdoors and at the SONJ Fitness Center in Lawrenceville. He also takes spin classes at CanDo Fitness in Plainsboro and participates in triathlon.
At the games he will compete in the 2K, 5K, and 10K time trials to be held at Mercer County Park.
Divesh started working at the fitness center of SONJ to improve his physical strength. “We saw the positive results not only in his physical strength, but also in social development and self-confidence. The difference in his nature is night and day,” says his mother.
“The staff at the Fitness Center is dedicated and trustworthy, and so are the volunteers and coaches. That has made all the difference,” his mother says.
Coach Marybeth Kowalski, 26, of Plainsboro has been a part of the Special Olympics for the past 10 years. She first became involved during her freshman year at High School North, volunteering for the Summer Games. After graduating in 2006, Kowalski continued volunteering while she pursued bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education from the College of New Jersey. Finally she started a local training program in Robbinsville, where she has been a special education teacher for the last three years at Robbinsville High School.
“My parents have lived in Plainsboro for over 30 years,” she says. Her mother, Patricia, teaches kindergarten at Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart. Her father, Daniel, runs a consulting firm called Leadership 2020 LLC. She has an older brother, Danny, who graduated from North in 2002.
“I was raised in Plainsboro and am grateful for the opportunities that have been given to me through the school system,” Kowalski says. “In high school, I was very involved in their Special Olympics Programs and spent time during my school day helping in their Special Education Program. This helped shape me into the teacher I am today.”
Kowalski, a long-distance runner and assistant track and cross country coach in Robbinsville, coaches track and field for Team NJ. “The athletes I have coached throughout the years are some of the most determined people I know. Whether it is on or off the field, our athletes are striving for their best. My athletes make me so proud and if I could teach them even 10 percent of what they teach me, I would feel accomplished,” says Kowalski.
She is pleased that the Special Olympics have shifted over the past few years into a more inclusive environment. There are more unified programs where athletes compete side by side with partners — people without intellectual disabilities. “When you watch these competitions, it is truly one team and you will not be able to tell who the athletes are,” says Kowalski. It bothers her that people with intellectual disabilities are still bullied more often than their “typically developing peers,” and she believes sports provide the athletes with an outlet to demonstrate their endless abilities.
“We are in the home stretch of training our athletes to compete on a national level and finalizing every last minute detail. There is a lot of excitement among the team that even when there is stress, it is channeled into our enthusiasm,” says Kowalski.
Seeing the athletes build self-esteem, self-worth, and a positive attitude is even better than winning in her eyes. “Coaching Special Olympics is one of my biggest passions and I love every minute of it. I look forward to summer games each year more than my own birthday. The USA games will be even more incredible than the summer games, and I cannot wait for June 14 to come around.”
Special Olympics New Jersey, Saturdays, June 14 through 21. For complete schedule and venue information visit www.sonj.org.
