Eastern Kentucky University Campus Recreation has been selected as one of three hosts for the Special Olympics North America Fall Rocket League tournaments. Joining the University of Louisiana and Dixie State, EKU will host a virtual Rocket League tournament that will see teams made up of athletes and partners from across the country to face-off in virtual soccar competition.
Kyle Reece, Coordinator of Competitive Sports at EKU, was asked about what set EKU apart from other potential hosts, "I think it has a lot to do with the success we had with our rocket league tournaments that we had last fall and spring, where we partnered with Special Olympics Kentucky. Karen Michalak-Parsley, Hunter Brislin, and the rest of SO Kentucky team are amazing to work with. They were really supportive of the idea to try and have a virtual event last fall and it just kind of took off from there into the success it is now."
In October 2021, EKU and Special Olympics Kentucky put on the first ever virtual Rocket League tournament. The teams consisted of Special Olympics Kentucky Athletes and their partners who were members of the EKU Club Rocket League team. Since then, Unified Virtual Tournaments have taken off across the country on college campuses, which was capped off with the NIRSA Virtual Championship Series last April.
When asked about what it means for EKU Campus Rec to be selected, Reece is over the moon, "It's amazing, to even be considered for an opportunity like this, let alone be selected. It's another opportunity to showcase what EKU Campus Rec is capable of as well as putting into practice one of our beliefs which is inclusion for everyone. being able to partner with an amazing organization like Special Olympics something that we dont take for granted and something we are super excited about!"
