Revealing the champion in all of us

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Champions of Character program and the Ann Arbor Sports Commission is proud to announce an exciting partnership with Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) to host an inclusive cheerleading and dance clinic. This event aims to promote athletic skills, teamwork, and the spirit of inclusion by bringing together NAIA student-athletes and SOMI participants for a day of learning, collaboration, and fun.

For many SOMI athletes, the clinic will offer an introduction to both the sports of cheerleading and dance. The opportunity to partner with athletes at the college level, offers an intimate and relatable look at the sport, while in turn offering collegiate athletes a glimpse into the world of Unified Sports – which features athletes with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) participating on the same team.

The excitement is building as 85 teams from across Michigan prepare to compete for championship medals at the Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) State Basketball Finals. The tournament will take place on Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22, bringing together athletes from all over the state for two days of spirited competition.

This year’s event will feature Unified competition, where 38 teams—comprising athletes with and without intellectual disabilities (ID)—will showcase their skills alongside 13 women’s teams competing at Calvin University. Meanwhile, 34 men’s teams will take the court at the Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, where over 70 skills athletes will also participate, building confidence and learning basketball fundamentals.

pecial Olympics Michigan (SOMI) is thrilled to announce that long-time poly hockey athlete, Scott Decker, has been selected to serve as an assistant coach for The Original Six Matchup featuring a number of Detroit Red Wings legends and NHL Hall of Fame inductees. This honor recognizes Decker’s dedication to the sport, his leadership, and his unwavering commitment to Special Olympics athletes.

A decorated poly hockey player from Grosse Pointe Woods, 38-year-old Decker has been an integral part of SOMI for nearly a decade, earning two state championships in 2023 and 2024 for the sport. Decker is best known amongst players and coaches for his pre-game motivational speeches, inspiring teams to push themselves out of their comfort zones in pursuit of victory. In addition to poly hockey, Decker participates in basketball, bowling, and track and field.