Del Campo Alumnus Wins Gold Medal At Special Olympics

Though he was born with special needs, 29-year-old Del Campo alumnus Patrick Underly never let his condition stop him from getting what he really wanted: a gold medal at the Special Olympics.

Underly, who was born with a neurological disorder, competed in Athens, Greece at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games from June 25 to July 4 winning fifth place in singles bowling, the silver medal in team bowling and a gold medal in doubles bowling.

“I won the gold medal on my golden birthday,” Underly said as he explained that he won a gold medal and turned 29 all on June 29.

According to his parents, Underly was just like any other baby when he was born, but the doctors noticed something about his eyes at a very young age, originally causing them to believe he was blind. He was soon after diagnosed with septo-optic dysplasia, a condition in which the optic nerve is not fully developed, causing visual disabilities as well as learning delays.

“Imagine a TV not being properly plugged into the wall. That’s how his left eye is – the optic nerve wasn’t all the way plugged in,” said his father Steve Underly.

While this condition does affect Patrick’s peripheral vision and depth perception, he has not let it hold him back from athletics.

“It doesn’t stop him from running,” said Joanie Underly, Patrick’s mother. “He just focuses on the end and keeps running.”

Growing up Patrick participated in a variety of sports including soccer, track and field, floor hockey and his favorite, bowling.

“I am really good at soccer, but bowling is my favorite,” Patrick said.

Patrick also tried out for Del Campo’s basketball team every year of high school. Though he never made the cut, he did land a spot as team manager and was a huge inspiration to everyone on the team, said Scott Evans, former boys basketball coach.

“He was always so positive and so energetic. It was a great influence to have around the team at the time,” Evans said. “He teaches you that no matter the obstacles in life, having a positive attitude and not quitting is going to make your life a lot better and is going to take you somewhere.”

During the last basketball game of Patrick Underly’s senior year in 2000, the team even gave him a chance to play.

“All the main starters were volunteering to sit out so Patrick could start,” Evans said. “This spoke volumes to how they felt about Patrick.”

Dave Nobis, teacher and current head coach of Del Campo’s boys basketball team, said Patrick is still important to the school. Nobis even uses the story of Patrick playing in the last game as a lesson in his sports psychology class.

“Patrick’s a staple of our program. He’s a big part of the Del Campo basketball family,” Nobis said. “I have a clip of him making that lay up and I show it to my sports psychology class. I use it to show them it’s not about winning, its about character building and memories.”

While Patrick may never have the chance to compete on traditional teams, he is still recognized as a very strong athlete, said Bob Wood, one of the original founders and coaches of the BVDC (Bella Vista, Del Campo) Special Olympics Team, which Patrick has participated in since he was six years old

“His skill level and athletic ability level is just a notch or two down from actually being able to compete on a traditional level,” Wood said. “He’s one of those tweeners, which can actually be more frustrating. So Special Olympics gives him a chance to compete in those same sports.”

Wood, who has worked with Special Olympic competitors in the area for about 28 years, said athletics can be monumental in shaping the life of a special-needs child.

“I’m a former high school teacher and coach so these things kind of apply to everybody in my philosophy, but especially special-needs athletes,” Wood said. “Athletics help with self confidence, socialization and motor skills in ways that traditional schools don’t have the chance to devote to.”

While Patrick hopes to compete in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games, competitors are picked at random from a group of state qualifiers – this way the selection is fair to all competitors regardless of their needs or abilities.

“Even if I don’t make the World Games, I’m going to volunteer,” Patrick said.

As for his parents, Joanie and Steve Underly said they are beyond proud of Patrick and will continue to support him however he needs. They both said he is a positive impact on his entire family, including two older and two younger siblings, as well as everyone who gets the chance to know him.

“He’s lucky to have us, but we’re also lucky to have him,” Steve Underly said. “He constantly reminds us what’s important in life. He teaches us something every week.”