Bryce Michaelis fills many roles at Oak Hills Country Club in his hometown of Girard. He fills golf carts with gasoline, serves as a dishwasher, and also cooks meals. His versatility has been valuable in four years on the job.
By Randy Kindred
Bryce Michaelis fills many roles at Oak Hills Country Club in his hometown of Girard. He fills golf carts with gasoline, serves as a dishwasher and also cooks meals. His versatility has been valuable in four years on the job.
It is not surprising, however, in light of what Michaelis has done at Special Olympics Illinois.
He got involved many years ago as an athlete and continues to compete in basketball, track and field, and golf. This year, he added the title of volunteer, serving as an official at the regional and state basketball tournaments. And in September, he took on the role of fundraiser, organizing a golf outing to support the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge.
Oh, and there’s this: when a parade is held in or near Girard, Michaelis arranges for Special Olympics Illinois to be included.
Why?
“To bring awareness to the place where I live,” Michaelis said.
He wants others to reap the benefits he has, whether it be as an athlete, a volunteer, or a Polar Plunge participant. If you’re curious about getting involved, Michaelis has a simple message for you:
“Come out to an event and see some of the athletes and watch how they interact with each other,” he said. “You’ll see a big change in the way they act in high school grade level to how they act in Special Olympics Illinois.”
Michaelis is proof. Now 30, he said when he began as a Special Olympics Illinois athlete – he represents Region H with the Chatham Chargers – “I came in with no sportsmanship whatsoever.”
Quickly, he learned a lack of sportsmanship would not be tolerated. It changed his attitude, made him grow as a person, and has led to a spirit of cooperation and service.
His inaugural golf outing on September 13 raised $720, after expenses, for the Polar Plunge. Michaelis is looking for it to be bigger and better next year.
He’s hoping to move the outing to June so it will not conflict with the high school golf season. The name also will change from the Polar Plunge Golf Outing to Golfing for the Champions.
A North Mac High School graduate, Michaelis has become an Illinois High School Association registered basketball official after his volunteer work at Special Olympics Illinois events.
He admits he “didn’t know anything about officiating” when he volunteered at the regional level. However, he secured rule books and took an online training course through the IHSA.
That led to feeling more comfortable at the state tournament, which included a touching moment following one of the games he officiated. An athlete on a competing team was retiring after the tournament because of health issues. He was given the sportsmanship award for the game.
“They had me hand it to him because it was my first year officiating and his last year in the program,” Michaelis said. “He said, ‘I’ll never forget this one!’”
Nor will Michaelis. He cherishes the compassion and caring that Special Olympics Illinois provides.Now, he’s inviting you to take the leap, too.
