Caitlin Van Ermen
Lansing Strong, an adaptive sports team made up of Michigan State Students and Lansing community members, celebrated its inaugural season by competing in the 2014 Michigan Victory Games. Lansing Strong battled in the annual games held at Michigan State and displayed athletic talent in true Spartan fashion.
Fifty-six individuals participated in the first Michigan Regional Cerebral Palsy Games in 1976. They started this organization to offer an opportunity for athletes with disabilities to compete in sports highlighting their capabilities.
Lansing Strong Team sporting their team shirts
This summer, 13 members of the new Lansing Strong team, joined by their coaches, added to the ranks as one of the largest teams to compete. The Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities sponsored participation of four students through the Michael J. Hudson Emerging Opportunities Endowment. Lansing Strong members trained inside Jenison Field house for the variety of events featured in the games.
A Lansing Strong teammate, Katie, participated “in competitive bowling, air pistol/cross bow shooting, and field events such as: club throw, discus throw, and javelin throw.”
Katie remarked, “The most rewarding thing about participating in the Michigan Victory Game was being able to compete in a sport.
"During my grade school years, I was always told I couldn’t play a sport due to “liability” issues. I didn’t start playing sports until May 2013, when I transferred to MSU.”
RCPD and the Bike Service Center funded repairs to the Victory Game equipment
The Michigan Victory Games community is working to bring the availability of resources to a large population of eager athletes. This inclusive organization offers events for all types of disabilities and emphasizes the equal opportunity of any size team to join.
Piotr Pasik, a Lansing Strong captain, emphasizes: “From my own experience, I know and have seen that individuals with physical disabilities are perfectly able to lead active lifestyles and benefit from them health wise, socially and psychologically”.
The success of Lansing Strong was due to coaches including Duncan Wyeth, a Paralympic athlete.
Coach Wyeth wearing his Paralympic jacket
Wyeth states “ The Victory Games are a valuable venue along the continuum from leisure recreation to the elite Paralympic Games.
"They provide an opportunity for individuals with disabilities to showcase their abilities and to be defined by what we can do not by what we can’t do.”
The talented Lansing Strong took home 49 first place ribbons, 14 second place ribbons, and 6 third place ribbons. Katie, Katelin, and Josh are among many students that demonstrated athletic ability and brought Spartan pride to the MSU community.