It’s Special Olympics Maryland weekend in Garrett County with our MSP/NRP Deep Creek Dunk leading into our first time back at Wisp in over a decade.
WHAT- We are excited to announce Special Olympics Maryland (SOMD) will be taking over Garrett County once again for a fun and competitive jam-packed SOMD weekend! To kick off the weekend, the Deep Creek Dunk hosted by Maryland State Police and Natural Resources Police is BACK! With The Cool Schools Dunk and Goosebumps Grapes and Growlers on Friday February 24th, 2023 and the 24th Deep Creek Dunk on Saturday, February 25th at Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland.
More than 400 participants from across the state will plunge into the chilly waters of Deep Creek Lake to raise funds for Special Olympics Maryland (SOMD). All funds will benefit Garrett County Special Olympics Maryland athletes. Registration is now open at www.DunkMD.com or by calling 410-242-1515.
Participants must raise a minimum of $75 in pledges and will receive a commemorative event sweatshirt and the great feeling of freezing their “fur” off for a truly worthy cause.
We are also proud to announce we will be back at Wisp Resort for our annual Special Olympics Maryland Winter Games in over a decade. From Sunday February 26th, 2023 to Tuesday February 28th, 2023 almost 200 Special Olympic Maryland Athletes, from across the state will showcase their skills and athletic ability in various alpine and snowshoeing events, including: • Alpine – Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced Slalom, Giant Slalom, Glide & Super G • Snowshoeing – 25m, 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m races as well as 4x100m, 4x200m, and 4x400m relay races We have some quotes from our supporters in Garrett County discussing the impact and excitement around bringing back not only the 2023 Deep Creek Dunk and our 2023 Winter Games to the county.
“Uno’s, the Honi-Honi, Arrowhead Market and Garrett 8 Cinemas are excited to welcome Special Olympics back home! We hope that the athletes and their families enjoy the area and all it has to offer and will return again and again. Every year at the Deep Creek Dunk we look forward to meeting the athletes and hearing the stories of their favorite activities and sharing in the joy of their competition and success! With the return to the Wisp, we look forward to coming out to the slopes and cheering everyone on!” – Bill Ingram, Director of Operations of Honi-Honi, Arrowhead Market and Garrett 8 Cinemas “I have been talking with Mr. Schmutz (President and CEO of Special Olympics Maryland) about bringing the winter games back to the Wisp for a long time now. I appreciate his efforts! It only makes sense to bring this amazing event back to Maryland and we are honored to have it in Garrett County!
“What an excellent way to showcase our county and these excellent athletes!” – Paul Edwards, Garrett County Public Schools Director
“The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce welcomes the athletes, families, and volunteers to Garrett County for the 2023 Winter Games. We are delighted with the return of the Games to Wisp and appreciate the work of all those who made this happen. We’re excited about the 2023 Winter Games and the opportunity for our community to share in the joy they provide.” – Will Wrobleski, President of Garrett County Chamber of Commerce
WHO- Special Olympics Maryland supporters and athletes
WHEN- February 24-28, 2023
ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND (SOMD) Special Olympics Maryland (SOMD) is a year-round sports organization dedicated to providing quality sports training and competition opportunities to Maryland’s children and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or closely related development disabilities. SOMD currently provides thousands of sports experiences annually for athletes statewide, and offers 27 sports, all at no cost to the athletes or their families. For more information about SOMD visit www.somd.org or call 410-242-1515.
