Y-Abilities Athletes Thrive at Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games
Every year in June, athletes, families, and volunteers gather for the Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games. Athletes from the Merrimack Valley YMCA’s Y-Abilities programs participated in the Powerlifting event on June 6 at Harvard’s Palmer Dixon building, where they performed a combination of the Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift. The day marked the end of a full year of training led by coach Jake Risacher, a personal trainer who works closely with athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. During the year, Y-abilities athletes work with Y staff and volunteer coaches to build confidence, set goals and then achieve them. The Special Olympics are the pinnacle of everything these athletes work for and allow them to break their own records and celebrate how hard they’ve worked all year.
Jake’s mission for these athletes at the Y is more than pushing for heavier weights and beating last year’s numbers. For him, the work is deeply personal. “This is a very important aspect of my life,” he explains, sharing that his Godmother, Beverly, has Down Syndrome and has been a powerful motivator in his life. Supporting athletes with disabilities is important to him. It’s why he often says, “This class is my baby.” His coaching style reflects that: smiles first, records second. He wants his athletes to enjoy being there, even on tough days. “I try to make sure in my class, everyone is having a good time,” Jake said.
The success of this program shows in both big and small moments, each one reminding Jake why the work matters. Take Solomon Segaloff, a Y-Abilities powerlifting athlete who started out “quiet as a mouse,” barely speaking and keeping to himself. But week after week, rep by rep, Jake watched him blossom and eventually, “all the shyness went out the window.” Solomon became one of the more social participants in the class.
Then there are moments of pure emotion, like the day an athlete wrapped Jake in what he calls “one of the biggest hugs I’ve had in my life,” a gesture that said more than any medal ever could. Still, Jake loves seeing his athletes succeed on the platform.
“I like to watch my athletes walk away with medals… it means a lot to watch them place,” because those medals represent structure, routine, and growth. That same spirit came to life when David Flores stepped onto the platform after months of hard work. Nerves were high, but his determination was higher, and he broke a personal record for his deadlift that sent the room into cheers. “It was hard to contain my own excitement for him,” Jake said proudly, knowing just how much effort had gone into that single lift.
Do you want to get involved with our Y-Abilities programs? Visit our website to learn more about our offerings at the Andover/North Andover YMCA, or reach out to inclusive@mvymca.org.
