By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
A Wynford senior has stepped up in a big way to help out his fellow athletes. Austin Shutler donated $400 to the Crawford County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) Special Olympics Wednesday afternoon.
The generous donation came as a result of Shutler’s senior project at Wynford High School. He ran a three-on-three men’s basketball tournament on March 15.
“I just wanted to do something that helped some type of organization and my mom actually works at the Board of DD so it was really great. I got to know a bunch of people and I just wanted to help that organization out,” Shutler explained.
Knowing that his senior project would be one of the biggest assignments of his final year in high school, Shutler started brainstorming the idea when school started in August. Soon flyers were going up to advertise the event.
“I just love the sport of basketball and I just love sports,” said Shutler, who competes in football, basketball, and baseball at Wynford. He will also continue his football career at the University of Findlay in the fall. “I wanted to do something that had to do with sports so creating a three-on-three basketball tournament was perfect.”
Shutler said the tournament went very well with 16 teams entered into the double-elimination contest, including four Special Olympics teams. Baker’s Sports Shack and Arctic Cat donated sponsorships for the event. The winning team consisted of former Royals Tyler Brause, Nate Etler, and Brett Bauer, and current Wynford football coach Gabe Helbert.
“I was so very proud of him,” said Shutler’s mother, Vanessa Shutler. Vanessa is the Community Employment Department Manager at CCBDD. “He is the kind of person who just has such a big heart and really is so patient and understanding. He’s that person that wants to help people. I was so proud that this was something that he wanted to do and make it bigger than himself – bigger than just a senior project they have to do.”
Jim Trainer, local coordinator for Special Olympics and commissioner for the Clearwater Athletic League, thought it was great that a local high school student not only created a three-on-three basketball tournament but also chose to donate it to the local Special Olympics teams.
Shutler, however, was not the first Wynford student to create an athletic event and donate the proceeds to the Special Olympics. Trainer said that another Royal donated the proceeds from his baseball clinic a few years ago.
“It’s really a big help. What people don’t realize is we can’t charge admission. So anything we do is strictly donation,” Trainer said. “Anything of that nature is very, very helpful. For them to do this has been fantastic; for Austin especially because it takes a lot of time, a lot of effort.
“We are very appreciative to say the least,” Trainer added.
The proceeds will help to send local athletes to the Ohio Special Olympics this summer as well as possibly purchasing new uniforms and other costs.
“It’s a very important part of their lives,” Trainer said on the significance of athletics for individuals at CCBDD. “Those are things they really look forward to and want to be a part of . . . I think it gives them an identity: they are a member of the Crawford County Chargers. And I think that’s very, very important.”
The CCBDD offers a variety of sports to its individuals from basketball and bowling to track and field and volleyball and even a successful softball program that was state-runner up last year. Anyone wishing to donate can send a check to the Crawford County Board of Disabilities, Attention: Jim Trainer, 1650 East Southern Ave., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820. Checks should be made out to the Crawford County Special Olympics Program.
“It’s really a neat experience, I’ll say that,” Trainer said. “If anybody has never been to any Special Olympics events, if they get the opportunity they really should go. It’s a great experience.”
The Ohio Special Olympics will take place June 26-28 at The Ohio State University.