The Special Olympics are known for large-scale annual state and national competitions, but athletes, volunteers and staff have plenty of opportunities to stay active throughout the year.

“We have something going on almost every weekend,” said Rich Fellingham, president and CEO for Special Olympics Iowa, speaking specifically about the summer months.

Fellingham said that in addition to athletic events, many fundraising events occur during the year, especially during the spring and the fall.

Students interested in volunteering for Special Olympics, Fellingham said, do not need to wait until big competitions, because the organization has only a 12-person staff and relies heavily on volunteer work for every event.

In fact, approximately 12,000 volunteers are enlisted annually in order to assist the Special Olympics athletes and staff, he said.

Eight statewide finals are held throughout the year, which include – among others – such competitive sports as softball, golf, equestrian activities, basketball and bowling.

The state volleyball competition, which will be held Oct. 6 at Iowa State’s Forker Building, is a perfect opportunity for students to volunteer, Fellingham said, and most volunteers at the event in the past have been students.

Other activities, aside from the larger competitions, include events for children under age 8 and challenge days, which allow athletes to compete using buttons on switch-activated equipment.

One Special Olympics athlete who has devoted much of his energy and skill to athletics over the years is Kyler Prunty, who won two gold medals during the Special Olympics State Summer Games, to add to his collection of more than 155 medals.

Prunty’s mother, Vickie Wieck, of Marshalltown, said he has been keeping busy this summer with softball and track events, as well as tae kwon do lessons, which he has pursued outside of the Special Olympics organization.

Prunty is also spending a lot of his time volunteering at the YMCA, as well as preparing to take a test in order to become a lifeguard or help younger children with training lessons.

Swimming has been Prunty’s primary sport of choice, especially since he joined the swim team in high school and swam alongside his other classmates for four years.

One of Prunty’s gold medals this summer was in the 100-yard swimming medley.

“I think [Kyler] likes to help younger kids – in regard to swimming – because he was helped so much by swimming,” Wieck said of her son’s desire to use his abilities to teach others.