Road To Minneapolis

A single letter changed everything. Zach opened it with his brother by his side and burst into tears—Davis County’s Special Olympics flag football team was headed to the USA Games in Minneapolis. From that moment, our “Road to Minneapolis” took shape, fueled by family, grit, and a community that shows up.

We dive into the surge of Special Olympics energy in Owensboro—seven basketball teams on Sundays, a thriving flag football program that Zach helped start, and a culture where athletes lead. Coach Kim Johnson shares how intensity and care can coexist, the way clear expectations and real trust push players to master plays, and how a single practice interception sparked joy on both sidelines. We unpack what inclusion actually looks like: unified trips to Purdue, Notre Dame, Maryland, and Wisconsin; Louisville and Kentucky students teaming with Special Olympics athletes; and a leadership pipeline that turns quiet voices into confident advocates.

The heart of this story is ownership. Athletes recruit teammates, coordinate events, and protect the standard. Partners like Kentucky Wesleyan, Independence Bank, and Visit Owensboro amplify the effort with facilities and volunteers, proving how a small city powers big dreams. We also talk costs and commitments—the team needs to raise $25,000 to make sure money doesn’t bench an athlete poised for the national stage—plus what game days feel like at Owensboro Middle School: clean routes, honest sportsmanship, and noise in all the best ways.

If you’ve ever wondered what inclusion can accomplish when athletes lead and a community stands behind them, this is your playbook. Ride with us on the Road to Minneapolis, share it with someone who loves sports with heart, and help spread the word so every athlete gets to take the field. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us your favorite moment from the episode—then come see a game and feel the energy for yourself.

Daviess County Special Olympics (KY)
Kim Johnson (Area 2 Director / Daviess County contact): kjohnson@soky.org
| 270-314-7621
Special Olympics Kentucky (official site + local contact list):
Special Olympics Kentucky+1
Facebook Groups (Daviess County Special Olympics / Area 2):
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Road to Minneapolis (Nationals fundraising): Details coming soon.

Check out All Things Owensboro's Facebook!

It's been a great episode and I hope you share this with all your Owensboro friends! Thanks for the support and again, if you have questions or guests ideas, send a text!

Transcript

The Moment They Got The Letter

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Pretty excited. I mean.

SPEAKER_00 0:02

What did you do when you opened your letter?

Setting The Stage: Road To Minneapolis

SPEAKER_03 0:04

Cried. Yeah. My brother was right there with me and he gave it to me and I opened it and I started to cry. Oh wow. That's really cool. It was a really good moment because I got to spend it with him.

SPEAKER_02 0:15

Welcome back to All Things Owens for O podcast. You just heard Mr. Zach, captain of the Davis County Special Olympics flag football team, describing the moment they found out they're headed to nationals in Minneapolis this June. Today's episode is about opportunity, community, and a journey we're calling the road to Minneapolis. Hey guys, welcome back to All Things Owens Per O. We're so glad you joined us for the new year in 2026. And this is a special episode because I've been talking to Ms. Kim Johnson and Miss Janine Hurst, who you'll see her episode in just a few weeks. But and their flag football team for Special Olympics is going to nationals in Minneapolis. And so I asked them to come on and talk about that. And so Ms. Kim Johnson and Mr. Zach, team ambassador here for Special Olympics, is with us today. So guys, welcome to the show.

SPEAKER_01 1:01

Thanks for having us. We're looking forward to talking with you.

SPEAKER_02 1:05

Yeah, and a lot of people may know Ms. Kim through her husband. Jeff Johnson's really been involved in Owensboro sports. I mean, in fact, I asked my employee when you guys were coming, do you know Jeff Johnson? And they're like, Jeff, Jeff. Like Mr. Johnson. Oh, yeah, yeah. I know Mr. Johnson. So uh you guys have touched a lot of lives in Davis County. It's been really cool. So it's cool to have you guys on. Are you guys ready to jump in?

SPEAKER_00 1:24

Sure.

Davis County’s Surge In Special Olympics

SPEAKER_02 1:24

Yes. All right. So all right, Ms. Kim and Mr. Zach. How would you describe the energy and size Special Olympics Davis County right now?

SPEAKER_01 1:33

I would say it is high. We're excited about national games, but we also have big growth in our local program and have seven teams playing basketball right now every Sunday afternoon.

SPEAKER_02 1:44

Oh wow. And so you say it's Sunday afternoon. Where do you guys play? And it's is it every Sunday?

SPEAKER_01 1:49

Yes, it's every Sunday. We practice and we practice at Owensboro Middle School. We play our home games there, and then we're also traveling to a couple of tournaments here in the next few weeks.

SPEAKER_02 1:58

That's nice, nice. Zach, for you, what what's the energy? How do you feel that the energy is right now in Special Olympics? Pretty good. Yeah. I mean, it's the same. The same, yeah. I know earlier you were so excited about the amount of uh basketball teams you guys are having right now, so that's really cool.

SPEAKER_03 2:12

It'd be nice to have all seven teams uh make it to state this year.

SPEAKER_02 2:16

Okay. Yeah, so let's try to get all seven teams to state. And again, so if somebody were to come and watch a game, this is it free. Do you got is the cost to get in? How's that work?

SPEAKER_01 2:26

Yeah, it is free. Um, everyone's welcome to come and watch, and I guarantee you will have a great time because not only will you see great basketball, but you will also see incredible sportsmanship from our athletes.

Why This Team Feels Different

SPEAKER_02 2:37

I would agree. So we actually did like a grads of basketball league, and that was probably the coolest like form of sportsmanship I've ever seen. Uh it was it was pretty neat. So I would totally agree there. All right, so let's switch gears a little bit. You guys are going to do flag football, and you guys have been selected for Team Kentucky to represent Kentucky at the Nationals in Minneapolis, which is a pretty far away drive, but pretty cool nonetheless. And so, what did you each feel when you heard the flag football team was selected for nationals?

SPEAKER_01 3:05

I was excited. We had been hoping for this for quite some time, and so I'm excited for the team, and then I was also excited to be selected as an associate coach for the first time. So this will also be my first national games.

SPEAKER_02 3:18

That's really neat. What about you, Zach?

SPEAKER_03 3:21

Pretty excited.

SPEAKER_00 3:22

I mean, what did you do when you opened your letter?

SPEAKER_03 3:25

Cried. Yeah. My brother was right there with me, and he gave it to me, and I opened it, and I started to cry. Oh wow, that's really cool. It was a really good moment because I got to spend it with him.

SPEAKER_02 3:36

Yeah, that's awesome. All right, so you know, obviously uh you guys have been working together for a long time as far as being athletes, being on the same team, and so what makes this team special on and off the field?

SPEAKER_03 3:49

Let's see. So I mean, on the field we encourage each other to we push each other to do better. And then off the field we do the same thing. Uh yeah, off the field. And then off the field we do the same thing. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 4:04

All right, and then Miss Kidd, you got to see it from the outside, kind of looking in. What makes this team so special?

SPEAKER_01 4:09

Well, first of all, they are a very hard-working team, they're very dedicated to training um and learning the plays, working together, performing well. And I would agree with Zach, like they do a really good job of encouraging each other both on and off the field, and they really have a good time together. Yeah, no, I bet.

Leadership, Teamwork, And Big Goals

SPEAKER_02 4:27

It's like a party every practice, I'm assuming. All right, so you know, obviously going to the U.S. games is a big deal. It's more than just playing bowling green. I mean, so how has preparing for the U.S. games changed the way you look at teamwork and leadership?

SPEAKER_01 4:47

Well, I think that what we've seen with the athletes is they're they have really seen how good teamwork and strong leadership, like Zach's leadership, pays off. So because of uh all of that great teamwork, they are now getting an opportunity that not many athletes get an opportunity um to do.

The Interception Everyone Still Talks About

SPEAKER_02 5:07

Yeah, and I know you guys are talking about maybe doing some fundraising. It's not cheap. In fact, I think it's about$25,000 for you guys to get up to Minneapolis, which is a big chunk of change. Yeah. And so be on the lookout. I know we've talked about maybe some ways to we as a podcast come along and support you guys and get help that money be raised. I mean, so yeah, so be on the lookout for that. So if you're listening to this, you're in Owensboro, uh, there's a way to help them get to Minneapolis to feel like you're part of the team, and I'm excited to see that get launched. And so, you know, Zach and Miss Kim, what's a moment from practice or competition that really has stuck with you over the last year?

SPEAKER_01 5:43

Do you remember that when we were being filmed for the TV commercial? Tell about that. Tell about that experience.

SPEAKER_03 5:49

So our quarterback was thrown to somebody else as uh on offense, and our some a kid that was on defense and uh read it right and intercepted it and took it back to the other side of the football field and got excited.

SPEAKER_01 6:06

And both sides of the field went crazy. It was a it was a great interception and run back.

What Inclusion Looks Like In Practice

SPEAKER_02 6:11

That's really great. That's awesome. All right, so you know, Spe Special Olympics is about inclusion. In fact, I've been to a track and field game, and there's people from all over the really the region that can participate in this. And so, what does inclusion mean to each of you personally?

SPEAKER_01 6:26

Well, for me, inclusion in Special Olympics is about bringing individuals without disabilities and with disabilities together. Okay. It's not about someone helping our Special Olympics athletes, it's about learning to participate and and have that opportunity to compete together. So, Zach, tell about the opportunity we had for inclusion just recently at Purdue University.

SPEAKER_03 6:49

We got to team up with team with UK and go down to Purdue and play Nord Notre Dame and Purdue. Oh, really? Okay, that's really cool.

SPEAKER_01 6:59

And how was the team comprised? Like who was on the team?

SPEAKER_03 7:03

UK, UK students.

SPEAKER_02 7:05

Okay, that's neat. All right.

SPEAKER_03 7:07

Did you guys win? We won one and lost one. Okay. Hey, that's still cool.

Unified Sports On College Campuses

SPEAKER_02 7:11

That was a neat experience. So you got to go to Purdue or Notre Dame? Purdue. Okay, that's still cool. Yes. And now was that football or basketball? Football. Okay. Yes. That's really cool.

SPEAKER_01 7:20

But we've also, Zach particularly, has had the opportunity to do that twice with the University of Louisville. Where did you go?

SPEAKER_03 7:27

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:28

Um with unified basketball.

SPEAKER_03 7:30

I went to Maryland and Wisconsin. Oh, wow. Okay. That's really neat. Did you get the was it at a college campus? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:38

Yes. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:38

Um, and it was a part of the intercollegiate NERSA. NURSA, yeah. I was trying to remember the whole part of NERSA, but it's the intercollegiate uh intermural competition.

SPEAKER_02 7:49

That sounded really familiar.

SPEAKER_01 7:50

Yes, they have an inclusion strand, and so it includes unified teams from universities that include university students and uh Special Olympics athletes.

SPEAKER_02 7:58

Oh, okay. That's really cool. Do you have any fun memories from either Maryland or Wisconsin?

SPEAKER_03 8:02

We in Maryland, we made it all the way to the championship and lost to Florida. Okay. Wow.

What People Miss About These Athletes

SPEAKER_02 8:11

The last second shot. The last second shot. Oh man, it's crazy. Those are like the craziest games for sure. Oh yeah. Well, so you know, we talked about inclusion, and I think it's really cool how that's expanding and has been expanding over the last 20 or 30 years. But what do you wish more people understood about Special Olympic athletes?

SPEAKER_03 8:29

I mean, regular kids have the I mean, we have the same opportunity that regular kids have. So I mean, they need to just let us show uh show them what what we can do as athletes. Because we have the same thing as them. So I mean.

SPEAKER_02 8:49

I know you've been working with special interests for about 30 years, so what would you what do would you want people to know?

SPEAKER_01 8:53

Yeah, I I would kind of go along with what Zach says. Our athletes are athletes, they train, they compete, they like to win. That you know, they're gonna be good sports about it, but that you know, that is their goal. The big thing for when you look at individuals with disabilities is individuals with disabilities are much more like everybody else than they are different. We just all have something or challenges we have to overcome, and they overcome those challenges and succeed very well.

Zach’s Path To Athlete Ambassador

SPEAKER_02 9:18

That's really cool. We're gonna shift this conversation and really focus on you, Zach. And so you're an ambassador for Special Olympics, and so how did you become that ambassador? And then what does that role mean to you?

SPEAKER_01 9:29

So, what was the first step you had to do to become an ambassador?

SPEAKER_03 9:34

Do give a speech.

SPEAKER_01 9:38

Well, first you had to complete an application.

SPEAKER_03 9:40

Oh, give an application and get selected, and then get selected.

SPEAKER_01 9:43

And there are only how many ambassadors each year in each class?

SPEAKER_03 9:47

Like twelve twelve or thirteen. Oh wow.

SPEAKER_01 9:50

And then what what do you do as an athlete? What is an athlete, an athlete ambassador?

SPEAKER_03 9:55

You learn, you give speeches, and then you learn about Kennedy Schreiber. Okay. And how she took all these uh these kids like us to her backyard.

SPEAKER_02 10:06

Okay. That's what I need. So the speeches, what what was one of your favorite speeches you've done?

SPEAKER_03 10:10

I've done a flag football speech about my brother and my nephew. Oh, cool. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 10:17

This June, the Davis County Special Olympics flag football team is heading to Nationals in Minneapolis, representing our county on the highest level. They've earned their spot. Now we're raising$25,000 to make sure money is never the barrier. Join us on the road to Minneapolis with details coming soon on how you can support the team. That's really neat. Well, you know, you I found out before the podcast that you actually started the fly football team, which is really cool. And so one, I well, actually, two questions I have for you is one is can you tell us a story about how that all started? Like why did you start the flight football program? And then two, what's your favorite part of being a part of the team?

Game Day Atmosphere And Ten-Year Journey

SPEAKER_03 11:00

So when I started it It was four years ago, and I s I was hearing other people say something about flight football, and I kept I kept asking Kim what are they talking about flag football? And I really she said, Well I do have a flag football team, but we have to come up with two coaches and ten athletes. I said, Well, if I if I can get that going, can we do it? She's like, sure. So I got the first person I went straight straight to was my brother and asked him. And then from there we we picked the uh players and then he asked my nephew to go coach.

SPEAKER_02 11:48

So it's your brother and your nephew, that's really neat. Yeah. So alright, well what what's but is that your favorite part of being part of the team is that you get the experience of the family?

SPEAKER_03 11:56

It's that brother really bond. Uh we have actually we have two other players that are brothers. Oh, really? Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:03

That's really neat. So that's cool. Well, you know, if someone's listening and they've never been to Special Olympics, which I know Miss Kim's kind of sparked on that a little bit earlier. On it's a fun it's a fun environment, you'll have a lot of fun. Uh, how would you describe that a game atmosphere uh for a Special Olympics game?

SPEAKER_03 12:18

Energy.

SPEAKER_02 12:19

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 12:20

Good energy, good teamwork, good sportsmanship. I mean, we we we play really good with t with each other. We cheer each other on.

Seattle Memories And Big-Stage Lessons

SPEAKER_02 12:37

That's really cool. Yeah, so you know, you've done Special Olympics for quite a quite a while now. Ten years. Ten years, okay. I didn't realize it was ten years. That's awesome. And so uh out of those ten years, I know it's probably hard to pick one thing, but but what's something you're proud of that you accomplished through Special Olympics over the last 10 years? Yeah, Seattle. Seattle, okay. What'd you go to Seattle for? Basketball. Okay, cool. Did you how did you guys do at that tournament? We got third. Third, okay.

SPEAKER_01 13:00

And was that out of the whole country or yeah, that was another USA USA games opportunity for basketball. Did you guys get a bronze?

SPEAKER_02 13:07

I don't know how does that work? Do you guys get a bronze for that? That's really cool.

SPEAKER_03 13:09

And they're pretty big trophy or they're pretty big medals. Are they? Okay.

SPEAKER_02 13:12

Yeah, you're gonna like hang out with pride in your room. Yeah, yeah, that's really cool. Uh so out of curiosity, so I've been to Seattle once before. What was it? What was your favorite thing outside of playing basketball that you got to do in Seattle? Well, I got to go see the Space Needle. Oh, did you? Okay. Did you get to see Mount Rainier from there? Or was it I know when I'm line it was pretty cloudy, so I didn't get a chance to see it.

SPEAKER_01 13:30

You can see it in the distance.

Looking Ahead To Minneapolis

Thirty Years Of Growth And Athlete Leadership

SPEAKER_02 13:31

Yeah, okay. And we got to go to the uh food market. Oh, did you? Okay. Yeah, we smell bad fish. Oh, yeah. That's awesome. That's really cool. Well, you know, we talked about Seattle. You know, you're now going to Minneapolis, which is another cool city to check out. And so what are you most excited about when it comes to traveling to Minneapolis? How big it is. Okay. Are you do you like the Vikings or anything? Like when it comes to football or is there any interest? Oh, yeah. I don't know if you want to go see US Bank or stadium or not. So yeah, well, that's cool. I know it's kind of cold up there, so I'll be dressed warm even in June. I don't know, maybe like 65 degrees. So uh well, let's let's transition to Ms. Kim over here. And so, Ms. Kim, you have seen athletes grow. You've been a part of this for 30 years. So you've seen them grow not just in sports and a lot of different things. So confidence, independence. And so can you kind of just give us some highlights of those that you've seen over the last, I know that's a lot, but a lot last 30 years.

Community Partnerships That Make It Possible

SPEAKER_01 14:26

Yeah, the hardest part is to keep it short and sweet. Um, it is amazing to see how our athletes have grown. We have had, I think we've had almost a dozen athletes now go, like particularly through the athlete leader program. Oh, cool, okay. Um, where they learn about the history of Special Olympics, they learn how to advocate, they learn how to use their voice. And so I have seen um athletes, and Zach would be an example of one of those. I think about Jennifer Hamilton is another one, that they're they're they're they tend to be a little bit quiet, you know, in in terms of talking in front of others. And they went from being a nervous wreck sitting in the back of the room, like I'm gonna have to get up and give a speech, to now regularly giving interviews and telling their story and really leading our program because we're really moving from I'm kind of here just to support what our athletes want to do. Like they are coming up with the ideas, like Zach started the flag football. We started with one flag football team with 10 players. Now we have four years later, we have four teams. So that we have grown that, you know, grown that program.

SPEAKER_02 15:29

You guys you guys play OMS uh football field?

SPEAKER_01 15:32

Sometimes we'll use the OMS field. Um we all use a variety of places um to to practice and to prepare. And then we were able to partner this year with Kentucky Wesleyan College to actually bring the region one tournament um here.

SPEAKER_02 15:45

Okay, but it's I didn't see that, but it was a Sunday morning.

SPEAKER_01 15:47

I was like, Yeah, and so but our athletes are the ones that are moving the program. That's they're recruiting um athletes. Zach's another example, he's one of many examples. I'll get phone calls. Hey, I'm here with this person and they're interested in Special Olympics, or I'm here, he called me from work from with this grandmother, and she would like to get her son involved. So, can you help her do that? So they're out doing the work. I'm just here to help support what they're what they're uh putting together.

Coaching Styles, Louisville Ties

SPEAKER_02 16:17

Which is neat because anytime you kind of get involved at the beginning, I feel like it's a lot of work on the leader. And then when you get when you get the chance to delegate that and see the fruit from that, it's pretty cool. And so it's really neat that they've been uh advocates, they've been going out there recruiting coaches for you. So that's really neat to see. And that's really awesome, Zach, that you do that. And it sounds like you're a go-getter. So sometimes you need those kind of people. All right. Well, Miss Kim, you and your husband Jeff, which, if you're familiar with the Owensboro community, you probably know Mr. Jeff or Mr. Johnson. He's coached football and basketball and several other sports over the years, but you guys are both coaches at heart, so how does that partnership support the athletes in the program? Hey, quick pause. I'm Brad Winter, host of All Things Owensboro Podcast. If you're looking for a church that feels like home, we'd love to invite you to First Baptist Church Owensboro. We gather Sundays at 10 30 a.m. right next to the Blue Bridge. Infos in the show notes, and if you reach out, my family will gladly sit with you.

SPEAKER_01 17:18

Well, um, I'll I'll tell you kind of a funny little story, and we could not do Special Olympics without the support of Jeff Johnson. But when we initially started 30 years ago, then we coached together, uh, which is, you know, early in our marriage, what we determined that it was best that maybe we not coach together as our marriage continued. So he went more with the expertise with the coaching. I do more of the coordinating. Okay. But we are definitely a partnership. Um he helps make sure that all of our fields are set up, that we have officials, that everyone understands the rules and and what's going on. And then I kind of and more of the behind the scenes, like taking care of the paperwork and communicating with athletes and that type of thing. So it's a it's a fabulous partnership. I couldn't do it without him. And it really is a core foundation of our life. Our our plans are completely around when we have special Olympics events. I think we had one, I think we've had maybe one weekend and two months that we did not have a special Olympics event. So it is we're busy, but we love it.

Rapid Fire: Team Kentucky Up Close

SPEAKER_02 18:22

Yeah, I'm sure you can say the same thing about you, you know, it can happen without you there. So that's really cool. My wife works with your husband a little bit at Cravens and uh she loves Jeff. And I've I've met him once or twice, and he I just remember him pretty well. You know, you're talking about uh Jeff and you, you guys are huge Louisville Hearts fans, which is for better or for worse. But you know, does that fandom show up in your coaching style at all? Uh how do you how do you integrate being a Cardinals fan with that?

SPEAKER_01 18:45

Well, I think probably the connection with Special Olympics is we are big Louisville Cardinal fans, but when we're a fan, like we are dedicated. And we are the same way uh with Special Olympics. Um, if you've never seen Jeff Johnson coach, Zach, would you say he's a little intense?

SPEAKER_03 19:00

Oh yeah, he's um totally intense.

SPEAKER_01 19:04

He's intense and he but he gets great results. You know, our our athletes do very well under him, but you have to be ready to learn over Jeff because he doesn't he doesn't hold back, does he?

SPEAKER_02 19:13

No, no, he does not. You need that though, you need that.

SPEAKER_01 19:18

And we've had some really cool opportunities, particularly with Louisville. Um they are Unified Champion School, the first college in or university in the state of Kentucky. Okay. So we've had several unified opportunities to go and play with U of L students, both traveling out of town and then also working with the University of Louisville's uh women because they do a little four by four tournament and they coach every fall. So we've been a part of that and even developed a good friendship with Haley Van Lith when she was at uh uh uh University of Louisville. She even came and watched our guys. They went and cheered her on, and then she came and cheered them on. So it was a really that's one of my one of my highlight. Uh yeah, that's really neat.

SPEAKER_02 19:59

That's really cool. And so, you know, we're gonna we're gonna share it a little bit from the coaching, but you know, you born and raised in Owensboro, I would assume, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:06

Um actually I came here when I started teaching. So I've been I've been here 35, 36 years. So I feel like I'm born and bred in Owensboro, but actually I relocated here when I started teaching.

SPEAKER_02 20:16

Okay, well, you you've been here a while. So for you, what makes Owensboro Owensboro?

Final Takeaways And How To Help

SPEAKER_01 20:21

I'll be honest, and I'm gonna connect it to Special Olympics. The community support in l in Owensboro is incredible, whether it's getting access to facilities, supporters, volunteers, they are constantly amazed. They'll they'll at Special Olympics Kentucky, they'll say, Hey, do you need us to put out something to recruit volunteers? I'm like, nope, we're good. We've got it. And we have so many ongoing groups that come in, like Apollo's Bowling Team, Owensboro Catholics track team, now Kentucky Wesley and football team, and they come back year after year to continue that support. So that is one of my favorite parts of Owensboro, is just that incredible support. We've now partnered with Visit Owensboro, and they have become a great supporter of our Special Olympics program and given us some brand new opportunities that we never had before.

SPEAKER_02 21:06

That's really neat.

SPEAKER_01 21:07

So you said Kentucky Wesley and do they help coach with flag football or they do not help coach, but they allowed us to use the field and then they provided volunteers on the day of our tournament, like doing the line markers and the scores and that type of thing. We're hoping that's something that's gonna grow. Um and then we were also able to go and watch them play and tear them on the day before our tournament. That's cool. Okay, that's really neat.

SPEAKER_02 21:28

Yeah, and I hear that a lot. Like you know, there's there's several different things that people describe Ellen's role as, but supportive of like being a tight-knit community has been a pretty common, I guess you would say, word or description of Owensboro. So it's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_01 21:42

And it and it keeps growing and changing. Okay, we've got those regulars, like we brought on a partnership with Independence Bank and our state softball. They provided probably a hundred volunteers for our state softball tournament. And so that was a whole new group of people to come in and really learn about the um fantastic things that happened with the city.

SPEAKER_02 22:00

And you got the host that here, right? In Owensboro.

SPEAKER_01 22:01

Yes, we've we've had it here the last two years, and it'll be back at least the next two years. We hope for we hope for a long time. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:07

No, that's neat. I know it was here last year, I didn't get a chance to go to it, but I'm hoping that when it comes back, I get a chance to go out there.

SPEAKER_01 22:12

I hope so.

SPEAKER_02 22:13

All right, well, Miss Kim, this is probably the most morbid question I asked, all the yes, and probably the most native one I get. I wouldn't I wouldn't say native. It's just when it comes off is that way. So, you know, on the tombstone there's a dash, and obviously at the end of the day, it's a dash that matters. And so you've been here 30 years with Special Olympics 35 teaching. I mean, so when people think of Kim Johnson, what do you want your legacy to be?

SPEAKER_01 22:33

I really want it to be that a connection with a Special Olympics program, and I would want that legacy to be that it continues long after me because it's not about me, but I just love that I have been a part of it to build such a big, strong program. And I hope that we're putting things in place so that it will continue for athletes for a long uh for a long time to come. Because we in Special Olympics people may not know, but you can start competing at the age of eight. But right now, our oldest participant is 87. So we are truly bridging a lifetime of experience. She does bowling. Okay. And she's a good bowler. She even does a little dance in between her, in between her bowling. So we want that that lifetime opportunity for our athletes to participate in sports training, competition, leadership, good health. So that's what I that would be what I would want that legacy to be, is that it just continues long after we're gone.

SPEAKER_02 23:31

That that's all I think that's awesome. Well, before we go into the two seconds of fame, Zach, I have two questions for you. And I didn't prepare beforehand, so I'm sorry. But for you, you know, you lived in Owensboro. I was born and raised? Yes. Okay, so for you, like what makes Owensboro Owensboro?

SPEAKER_03 23:46

The same thing that Kim said. And then we got the hostile here this second year this year, and I can't wait to do it again next year.

SPEAKER_02 23:56

That's awesome. And then I would the other question would be just like Miss Kim, people think of Zach, what do you want your legacy to be?

SPEAKER_03 24:03

That I've motivated other athletes to do their best. And I want to encourage them to try their best down the road. Okay. Alright, no, I think that's great.

SPEAKER_02 24:18

Alright, so let's go to 270 seconds of fame. So that's based off our ear code. It's I'm not gonna count it. It's supposed to be like four and a half minutes technically. I don't record it, but it's just fast thing fast questions, fast responses. Are you guys ready? Yes. Alright, so one word to describe Team Kentucky.

SPEAKER_01 24:35

Enthusiastic.

SPEAKER_02 24:37

Alright, what do you got, Zach? Energy? Energy, okay. Uh, Zach, what's your favorite warm-up drill? Uh routes. Routes, okay. You're receiver one? Yes. There you go. Alright, uh, what's the first thing you packed for a tournament? Um Jersey, shorts, and cleats. Okay, there you go. And in Minneapolis, it's coming up, and I know you're going in June, but cold weather, do you love it or hate it? Hate it. Hate it. Okay. Ms. Kim, do you love it or hate it?

SPEAKER_00 25:08

I love it.

SPEAKER_02 25:08

You love it? Okay. Uh, your go-to hype song. Do you have a song that that just gets you going for your games? Uh WWE music. Okay. All right, there you go. Uh, they got some pretty good music there. Uh, if you had to play offense or defense forever, what would you play? Offense. Offense, okay. Wide receiver again? Yes. Okay. Uh, what's your favorite Special Olympic sports besides flag football? Basketball. Okay. And Miss Kim, what's your favorite uh Special Olympic sport?

SPEAKER_01 25:34

I don't have one. I like I like them all. Okay, that's okay. That's cool.

SPEAKER_02 25:38

Uh Zach, what's the best part of being on a team? Teamwork. Okay. Uh, what's an athlete that you look up to? Or who's your favorite athlete you look up to?

SPEAKER_03 25:49

No, there's several. Um I'd say Jen.

SPEAKER_02 25:56

Jen, okay. And Jen is a local athlete here in Owensboro. Okay. Uh, Miss Kim, Louisville Cardinals. And then I'll ask you, Zach, what's your favorite memory for Louisville Cardinals?

SPEAKER_01 26:07

Okay. I have two. Okay. One, Orange Bowl against Wake Forest. Exciting. Uh, number two, beating West Virginia in a Thursday night game, blackout.

SPEAKER_02 26:17

Oh, yeah. Love the football batch. That's cool. And you got to go to Miami this year, right? And see that about.

SPEAKER_01 26:23

I'll put that right up there. There you go.

SPEAKER_02 26:25

All right, Zach. Do you have any uh favorite Louisville memories?

SPEAKER_03 26:28

Other than going to um the four-on-four tournament and playing with Haley Van Witt and Nimble.

SPEAKER_02 26:35

Okay. Yeah, that's pretty cool. I mean, she's a high-level athlete, so that's really neat. Uh, stadium on your bucket list. I I don't know if you have a stadium with Zach, but Ms. Kim, do you have one?

SPEAKER_01 26:43

I don't have a particular one, but my goal was to hit all the D1 college football stadiums. So I only have about a hundred more to go.

SPEAKER_02 26:51

Two more to go. Good luck with that one. So Zach, do you have a stadium on your bucket list that you like to go play in or see? Uh we have to go to the UK. Okay. At Kroger Field. Yep. There you go. That's nice. Uh alright. So favorite uh Owensboro food spot. Zach, do you have one? McDonald's. McDonald's. Okay, Miss Kim, do you have a favorite food spot?

SPEAKER_01 27:12

I like them all. You like them all?

SPEAKER_02 27:13

Okay, that's fine. Uh harder day for you, Zach. Is it practice day or game day? Game day. Okay. Uh your what's your favorite way to celebrate after a win? Um telling the other team good job. Okay. All right. Uh teammate who always makes you laugh? Isaiah. Isaiah. Well, why does he make you laugh? Because he's he's energetic like me. Okay. All right, gotcha. All right. Uh three words describe Special Olympics, Ms. Kim.

SPEAKER_01 27:37

Community, uh, passion, um, dedication.

SPEAKER_02 27:41

Okay. All right. Favorite college stadium you've been to, Miss Kim?

SPEAKER_01 27:45

Um, actually, the Louisville Cardinals Stadium is the best stadium that we've been to. But uh in comfort in terms of comfort and not comfort and sad, but I really enjoyed getting to see the Oregon Ducks play.

SPEAKER_02 27:58

Oh, you you've been to Oregon? Oh, nice.

SPEAKER_01 28:00

And seeing Michigan was pretty amazing too. This the number, sheer number of people. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 28:06

That's awesome. Zach, is yours Kroger Field? Yes. All right. Uh let's see. Uh, what's a dream city that you have for USA Games? Um Cleveland. Cleveland? Okay, that's next, right? Yes. Next where you're so you get to go there. Hopefully, you get to go there in 2030. Uh, there's one they don't have they haven't chosen yet. Where would you want the USA games? New York. New York, okay. That would be cool, yeah. Spain in New York. Miss Kim, do you have a city that you like to see US games in? No. Oh, okay. All right. I know I asked beforehand I asked exactly St. Owensboro, which, you know, who knows? Maybe that could happen. Uh one thing you want people to know about Special Olympic athletes, Zach. Wait, what? Uh number, it'd be number 19 on your list.

SPEAKER_01 28:48

What do you want people to know about athletes? Special Olympics athletes.

SPEAKER_02 28:53

Um, they're in they're into it. Okay, all right. And Miss Kim, do you have do you have something that you want people to know about Special Olympic athletes?

SPEAKER_01 29:01

Um, it's really just that dedication and enthusiasm.

SPEAKER_02 29:05

Okay, and then the last question for Rapid Fire, and then we'll have one more question to ask every guest. Uh, but number 20 on this for Rapid Fire is what is Team Kentucky's spirit animal? A horse. A horse, okay. Yeah, gotta keep it true to Kentucky, you know. So that's really cool. Well, you guys passed, good job. Uh there, although you couldn't fail, so that's good too. Uh, but let's I got one more question I'd like to ask you guys. I asked every guest this. Um, and I'd like to hear from both of you guys, but uh, you know, my thing is people listen to our podcast, which is great. Thank you guys for listening. Uh, but uh sometimes it's hard to remember everything that you've heard over the last, well, for us, 29 minutes. And so if there was one thing you want them to remember or walk away with, something that's encouraging, challenging, inspiring, whatever the case may be, what would you want to leave the listeners? You want to go first, Ms. Kim?

SPEAKER_01 29:54

Sure. I would just say uh I would encourage people to find a way to get involved in Special Olympics, whether it's to come cheer on a sport or to work in a concession stand or to volunteer as a coach. Um, like I said, it is sports training competition eight, and our oldest athlete is 72 or 76. So it is just inspiring. If you want to be inspired, get involved with Special Olympics because you will be inspired by what you will see with our athletes.

SPEAKER_02 30:22

That's awesome, Zach. I know I didn't get a chance to ask you beforehand, but do you do you have anything you like to leave the listeners with?

SPEAKER_03 30:28

Just if you come out and watch, you won't leave disappointed. We always do our best to put on a show. So if you ever come out and watch, you won't be disappointed when you leave.

SPEAKER_02 30:46

Okay, alright, and they can watch right now for basketball at least Sundays at OMS in the afternoon. Come see them practice or even play. And then also, again, be on the lookout in the future, uh next week or two. We should be doing something with we're trying to call it the road to Minneapolis and trying to get the the flag football team to Minneapolis. Again, 25,000 is a lot, and so look out for those things that you can do to support Special Olympics. If you have any ideas, you're listening, and you just have 25,000 sitting around. I mean, that's awesome. Good job for doing being successful in life. But you know, they could use it. So just be on the lookout for that. Thanks for listening. Go check out Special Olympics. I'll have all their links in the show notes. So their Facebook page, their website will all be in there, and then I'll even have Ms. Kim's contact in there if you want to get involved as a coach, referee, concession worker, they always need help. So thanks again, guys, for coming on and Owensboro, enjoy the new year. Thanks for tuning in to All Things Owensboro, where we celebrate the stories, people, and places that make our city special. If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves this town as much as you do. Until next time, Owensboro, keep loving local, supporting one another, and making Owensboro a place we're all proud to call home.