This is Lelo’s second year on the MSU Pompon team, which was just one group out of thousands of volunteers who helped with this year’s State Summer Games. The team did not perform any routines, but they did cheer on athletes while they were competing. Other volunteers included members of local police departments and the U.S. Army.

SOMI is a nonprofit organization that provides fee year-round sports training for more than 23,000 children and adults from Michigan who have intellectual disabilities. Athletes can choose from 24 sports to participate in. Hundreds of events take place around the state every year, including six state-level competitions and four district basketball tournaments, but the State Summer Games is the largest annual event with about 2,600 athletes participating.

The State Summer Games started with an opening ceremony Thursday night, followed by a busy Friday full of competitions in several different sporting categories, including weightlifting and volleyball. During the opening ceremony, MSU Pompon walked in their uniforms with the athletes down to the CMU’s Kelly/Shorts Stadium for the torch lighting.

Madalyn Geletzke, a junior packaging major, said there was more interaction with athletes this year because MSU Pompon gave awards to the track and field athletes and walked them to the podium. Those who did not hand out awards were “huggers” who high-fived and hugged the athletes for a job well done. The MSU Pompon team was the first group of people track and field athletes saw when they finished their races.

“(Volunteering at the State Summer Games) is a rewarding and very special experience for all of us,” Geletzke said. “Cheering the athletes on and helping out is always very cool to see.

This is Geletzke’s third year on the MSU Pompon team, but her second year volunteering at the State Summer Games.

MSU Pompon primarily assisted with track and field, but also helped wherever needed.

Lelo said she enjoyed watching athletes get excited over their awards. “No matter what place they got, they would go to you and show you their ribbon and go, ‘Look what place I got!’”

Both Lelo and Geletzke said the SOMI State Summer Games is one of the MSU Pompon team’s favorite events to participate in every year.

“Our team is grateful to be invited back each year to volunteer,” Geletzke said. “It’s a very rewarding experience for our team and athletes all around.”

“I think definitely overall it’s just one of those days that you feel so blessed to be there,” Lelo said. “Everything these athletes do, even just saying hi, warms your heart. This is their big day. This is their big weekend. It’s their big moment, and to be there and be a part of that is just amazing.”

Other philanthropic events MSU Pompon participates in include hosting a fitness clinic at MSU’s Grandparents University, volunteering as a hospitality team for the Michigan International Speedway during NASCAR races, volunteering as route greeters at check-in during the JDRF One Walk at MSU every summer and more. 

The MSU Pompon team is an award-winning competitive collegiate club sport recognized by MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness Services. It consists of 31 students who compete in two Mid American Pompon competitions per year - high kick championship in the fall semester and the collegiate championship in the spring semester. Most recently, MSU Pompon won the collegiate championship in 2012 and the high kick championship in 2013.