President’s Corner: June
Thank You for a Successful 2026 Spring Season
This month’s message is simple: Thank you.
Thank you to our athletes and Unified teammates for your inspiring efforts during our spring season that culminated with the Interscholastic Unified Sports Outdoor Bocce State Tournament and Track & Field State Meet, along with our Summer Games and State Pickleball Championship.
Thank you athlete leaders for advocating for better healthcare and inclusive-unified leadership.
Thank you to our coaches for coaching your athletes and Unified teammates throughout the season.
Thank you to our volunteers for making all the qualifying competitions, State Games, and IUS state competitions possible.
Thank you to our Area Program Leaders for their incredible commitment and year-round efforts that intensify leading up to and during the spring season.
Thank you to our Unified Champion Schools administrators, teachers and coaches for your year-round commitment to competitive interscholastic Unified Sports®, Unified Physical Education, whole school engagement, inclusive youth leadership all of which intensify during the spring season which is the busiest of the year.
Thank you to our agency partners who are expanding athlete participation by creating in-house programs which help overcome barriers such as transportation, allowing more athletes to train and compete in sports like bocce and fitness.
Thank you to our family members and supporters for making sure athletes and Unified teammates had the opportunity to attend practices and competitions.
Thank you to our Healthy Athlete Clinical Directors and teams of volunteers who are committed to the health, fitness, and wellness of our athletes.
Thank you to our corporate partners, Plungers, Dunkers, individual supporters, and donors for investing in our athletes, all of whom train and compete free of charge.
Thank you to all law enforcement agencies across the state for you carrying the Flame of Hope during your Torch Runs and for presenting awards at event throughout the spring season.
And thank you SOMD staff for your efforts every day for our athletes and Unified teammates.
Check out some highlights (emphasis on highlights as there were more events not captured here) from our spring calendar to understand the magnitude of your impact.
2026 Spring Season Calendar Highlights
March 6
Motor Activities Training Program Challenge Day – C Elizabeth Rieg Regional School, Bowie
March 9
Brave X – Athlete Leadership Brave in the Attempt Talks
March 31
Swimming Coaches Training, Virtual training by Zoom
April 9
St. Mary’s County Spring Games
Track and Field and Bocce at Ryken High School, Leonardtown
Athletes lead Community of Champions 60-Day Fundraising Challenge Kick Off, Virtual
April 11
Loyola Swim Qualifier,Loyola University, Baltimore
April 16
Coaching Special Olympics Athletes Virtual Training
April 17
Inclusive-Unified Leadership Presentation to Coca Cola Consolidated, Baltimore
April 18
Anne Arundel County Swim Qualifier, North Arundel Swim Center, Glen Burnie
April 22
Swimming Coaches Training Virtual Training
April 26
Anne Arundel County Spring Games, Track and Field and Bocce in Annapolis
April 27
Interscholastic Unified Sports District 3 Track & Field District Invitational, Frederick
April 28
Interscholastic Unified Sports District 1 Track & Field District Invitational, Cumberland
Interscholastic Unified Sports District 6 Track & Field District Invitational, Northwestern High School, Hyattsville
April 29
Interscholastic Unified Sports District 2 Track & Field District Invitational, North Hagerstown High School, Hagerstown
May 2
Charles County Spring Games, Swimming, Track and Field, and bocce at Lackey High School, Indian Head
Harford County Swim Qualifier, Magnolia Middle School, Joppa
May 4
Interscholastic Unified Sports District 7 Outdoor Bocce District Tournament, North County HS, Glen Burnie
May 5–7
Baltimore City Spring Games, Track & field at Poly/Western Athletic Stadium, Baltimore
May 7
Interscholastic Unified Sports District 9 Outdoor Bocce District Tournament, Bohemia Manor HS, Chesapeake City
Torch Run, Garrett County, Northern Garrett High School
May 8
Healthy Young Athletes Screening, South East Early Head Start, Baltimore
Motor Activities Training Program Challenge Day, Ruth Parker Eason School, Millersville
HS/MS Unified Physical Education Showcase, Broadneck HS, Broadneck
May 9
Baltimore County Track and Field All Comers Meet, McDonogh School, Owings Mills
Allegany Swim Qualifier, Frostburg State University, Frostburg
Healthy Hearing Swim Molds, at Swim Qualifier, Frostburg State University, Frostburg
May 12–13
2026 Interscholastic Unified Track & Field Invitational, Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex, Laurel
May 16
Cheerleading Required Qualifier, Urbana High School, Ijamsville
May 17
Montgomery Spring Games, Track and Field and Bocce at Landon School, Bethesda
Softball Required Qualifier, Kiwanis Wallas Park, Ellicott City
Anne Arundel Swim Qualifier, Severna Park Community Center, Severna Park
May 19
2026 Interscholastic Unified Outdoor Bocce Tournament, Washington College, Chestertown
May 21
Health Messenger Presentation, University of Maryland School of Social Work, Baltimore
May 30
Howard County Track and Field Qualifier, Wilde Lake High School, Columbia
May 31
Howard County Swimming Qualifier, Stevens Forest Pool, Columbia
June 5
Motor Activities Training Program Challenge Day, Cedar Lane School, Fulton
June 6
Baltimore Area Track and Field Last Chance All Comers Meet, McDonogh School, Owings Mills
June 9
Torch Runs, Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Cecil County
June 12–14
2026 Special Olympics Maryland Summer Games – Towson University
Opening Ceremony, Champions Reception, Tour with Champions
Bocce, Cheer, Swimming, and Track and Field, Competition
Healthy Athletes – Healthy Hearing (Audiology), Special Smiles (Dentistry), Health Promotion (Prevention and Nutrition), Strong Minds (Emotional Health), FUNfitness (Physical Therapy), Fit Feet (Podiatry)
Young Athletes Demonstration
Softball Tournament, Kiwanis Wallas Park, Ellicott City
June 20 – 26
2026 Special Olympics USA Games, Team Maryland 52 Athletes Compete – Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Soccer, Swimming, and Track and Field, Minneapolis, MN
June 22
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Conference Health Messenger Presentation, Chicago, IL
June 28
2026 State Pickleball Championship – The Pickleball House, Baltimore
When you look at this list, you see more than dates and events. You see commitment. You see opportunity. You see athletes and Unified teammates working hard, coaches giving their time, schools creating a Unified generation, volunteers making competitions possible, families providing support, adult service providing agencies enhancing health through sport, athletes leading on and off the field, health and donors investing in a movement that changes lives.
Thank you, everyone, for a successful 2026 spring season.
Together, we are creating a Maryland where opportunity is not limited by disability.
Jim Schmutz
President & CEO
Special Olympics Maryland
Are you a fan of this content? Great! Share it with your friends on social media, and remember to tag Special Olympics Maryland.