UCO Endeavor Games Expands, Adds New Event

Jan. 19, 2017

Media Contact: Sarah Neese, Communications and Marketing Coordinator, UCO University Communications, 405-974-2121, sneese@uco.edu

UCO ENDEAVOR GAMES EXPANDS, ADDS NEW EVENT

Athletes with physical disabilities will have more opportunities for competition as the University of Central Oklahoma Endeavor Games becomes a series with the addition of another event.

UCO, in partnership with Turnstone, will host the 2017 Turnstone Endeavor Games in Fort Wayne, Indiana, April 21-23, the first event of the newly created Endeavor Games Series.

Turnstone is a not-for-profit organization providing therapeutic, educational, wellness and recreational programs to empower people with disabilities throughout northwestern Indiana.

“Turnstone is pleased to partner with UCO and the Endeavor Games in being their first partner in creating the Endeavor Games Series,” said Mike Mushett, CEO of Turnstone.

“Turnstone and the Fort Wayne community are excited about extending the games to the Midwest. Combining Turnstone’s event hosting experience and facilities with the Endeavor Games expertise, brand and resources promises to produce a first-class event.”

The creation of the series is a part of an overall inititive to extend the reach of the event to more cities throughout the nation. The result would be increased opportunities for competition for children, adults and military service members with physical disabilities.

The UCO Endeavor Games has grown in participation over the past 17 years, showing there is a demand nationwide for such competitions.

“It has been a dream to expand the Endeavor Games model for several years,” said Katrina Shaklee, co-founder of the UCO Endeavor Games and senior director for the UCO Wellness Center.

“We are beyond excited about the possibilities in front of us and are forever grateful to Turnstone and the community of Fort Wayne, Indiana for their belief in this event. When the Endeavor Games began in 2000, the hope was simply to provide a quality athletic competition to athletes with physical disabilities. After 17 years, this has remained the driving force, and we will continue to broaden our reach so that we may serve as many athletes as possible.”

The 2017 Turnstone Endeavor Games, presented by Parkview Physicians Group, will feature events for seven sports, including air rifle shooting, boccia, goalball, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, track and field and wheelchair basketball. The event also will offer sports clinics for air rifle shooting, boccia, goalball, swimming and track and field, as well as classifications for swimming and track and field. Registration opens Feb. 1 at www.endeavorgames.com.

UCO will host the second event of the series, the 18th annual UCO Endeavor Games, June 8-11 on Central’s campus. The UCO Endeavor Games will feature 10 sports, including archery, air rifle shooting, cycling, powerlifting, 4-on-4 sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, track and field, 3-on-3 wheelchair basketball and wheelchair softball. Registration will open later in the spring.

For more information about the Endeavor Games Series, visit www.endeavorgames.com.

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Editor’s Note: To download art associated with this release, visit www.media.uco.edu/press/EndeavorGamesSeries01.17.

Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma proudly announces the creation of the Endeavor Games Series, an expansion of the UCO Endeavor Games, with the 2017 Turnstone Endeavor Games from April 21-23 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.