These athletes put the “amazing” in Amazing Games

By Reagan Rozzi

Photo of athletes during the 50 yard dash taken by Reagan Rozzi

Every fall in the chill of October, the Owasso High School football field transforms into an  Olympic-like setting filled with athletes competing for their medals. Pop music blares from the speakers as laughter roars from the crowd while players and volunteers alike gather to support each other during Owasso’s tenth annual Amazing Games—this year falling on the evening of Oct. 20, 2024. These games consist of all-age athletes with various disabilities who show off their shining abilities, including a 50 and 100 yard dash, long jump, softball throw and cornhole tournament.

Various photos taken by Reagan Rozzi

The event begins with a commencement ceremony including an introduction, a thank-you to the sponsors, the national anthem and an opening prayer. But what set this year’s ceremony apart from the previous years is the moment of silence used to honor the passing of co-founder of the games, David Steward.

After this tragic loss, the Steward family, First Church—where Steward served as outreach director—and the Owasso community rallied around each other to make the 2024 games a larger than life experience that honored both its athletes and Steward.

Various photos taken by Reagan Rozzi

Zach Hunter, the new outreach director of First Church, organized this year’s games for his first time. Hunter spoke about the process of organizing this year’s games, saying, “[Steward] had always kind of worked with somebody from First Church, and with me coming into this role we started talking a few months back about just what the event would be like and how we could make it happen.” He smiled, “It came as part of the job responsibilities.”

Members of the Bailey Medical Center, First Church, First Assembly, OHS basketball team and the community help organize and run the yearly two-hour event. 

Hunter also shared, “The thing I’ve enjoyed the most is just the fact that the athletes get so into it and love it so much. It’s just a cool opportunity to come together and serve the community that can oftentimes just be underserved

An example of these competitive athletes is Bryan Six, who has been attending the games since 2018. Six plays on the Collinsville Wildcats softball team, a team designated to specifically include athletes with various special needs. Hearing about the Amazing Games through his teammates, his parents encouraged him to give the event a try. 

Photo of Bryan Six (middle) with his medal after the softball throw event taken by Reagan Rozzi

Six loved the games so much that he’s been a returning athlete ever since. He couldn’t choose a favorite part, but instead shared, “I like all [of the] games. They’re all fun!”

Jessie Marksberry, another member of First Church, knew Steward through his small group and was a part of the original conception of the games. She has volunteered for the past five years and plans to continue volunteering.

“It is so fun to watch people pair up and compete … [and] everyone loves getting medals!” Marksberry expressed. 

In addition to the church volunteers, Coach Brian Montonati and the OHS basketball team have been volunteering since the event first began in 2014. 

“I think [being here] is just a good way to give back, you know; I mean, so many people support us, so I think it was a good cause. It’s a way for us to give back to the community and be around some great athletes,” Montonati shared. 

Junior Jalen Montonati, Coach Montonati’s son, has been volunteering with his dad and the rest of the team since his freshman year of high school.

When asked for his motivation to volunteer, he shared,“I think we all came to the conclusion that we needed to be out here for all of these athletes today.” 

Regardless of which group that brought them to the events, each volunteer shared the same “favorite part” of the Amazing Games: seeing the authentic joy on each athlete’s face. 

Various photos taken by Reagan Rozzi

As the games came to a close, as per tradition, every single athlete and volunteer joined each other in the closing run—where everybody competes with, no longer against, each other. Because in competition, it should not be about being better than the other, it should be about supporting each other to be the best players we can be.