In December, Special Olympics Wisconsin marked an exciting milestone by hosting FUNfitness screenings for the first time at the State Bowling Tournament. The addition of FUNfitness, one of Special Olympics’ Healthy Athletes disciplines, expanded the event’s impact beyond competition, offering athletes valuable health screenings focused on flexibility, functional strength, balance, and overall physical wellness.
Throughout the tournament, a total of 73 FUNfitness screenings were completed, giving athletes personalized insights into their physical health along with education and exercises they can use in daily life and sport. The screenings were made possible by the dedication of 46 volunteers, primarily students from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Physical Therapy Program.
UW–Stevens Point students played a vital role not only during the event, but also after it concluded. In addition to conducting the screenings, students completed necessary follow-up tasks and data entry procedures, ensuring athletes’ information was accurately recorded and that Special Olympics Wisconsin could continue to track health trends and outcomes over time.
“Bringing FUNfitness to State Bowling for the first time was a tremendous success,” said Jeston Glish, Health Program Manager for Special Olympics Wisconsin. “Our athletes were excited to participate, and the quality of care and professionalism provided by the UW–Stevens Point physical therapy students was outstanding. We are incredibly grateful for their partnership and continued support of our health programming.”
The successful integration of FUNfitness at State Bowling reflects Special Olympics Wisconsin’s ongoing commitment to whole-person wellness, supporting athletes not only on the lanes, but in their overall health and quality of life. With strong partnerships like UW–Stevens Point, the organization looks forward to continuing to expand Healthy Athletes offerings at state-level competitions across Wisconsin.
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