Team News

January 1, 2026 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

2026 will be the 28th year of the Blazing Stars! Good luck to all Blazing Stars athletes who will be participating this year and a sincere thank you to all of the Coaches and Volunteers for your commitment and dedication. 

Below is a reminder about Snowshoeing and Poly Hockey practice and also news about upcoming 2026 sports and events:

Snowshoeing

Snowshoe Team practice begins this Sunday, January 4 at Oakdale Nature Center.  Details at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/snowshoeing

Poly Hockey Practice Reminder

Poly Hockey practice will start again on Monday, January 5 at the regular times. 

Each of our 3 Blazing Stars teams will play 2 games at the Metro Regional Tournament at Breck High School on Saturday, January 24. We will communicate specific game times as soon as they are published by Special Olympics Minnesota. Poly Hockey information is at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey

2026 Reminders:

Mark your calendars for upcoming 2026 registrations and events:

• Basketball and Swimming registration will open in late January and begin practice in March. Both sports will have a Regional Tournament, however, will not have State Tournaments due to the 2026 USA Games to be held in Minneapolis. We do plan to have a full season that may include scrimmages in addition to the Regional Tournament.

• Polar Plunge is coming to Woodbury on Saturday, February 14. Take the plunge at Carver Lake this year with the Blazing Stars. The Blazing Stars will receive 50% of Plunge revenue generated by the team. Information, registration and donations to team members at https://reg.plungemn.org/team/13wdfblazingstarssteam

• Mark your calendars for Jersey Mike's Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Blazing Stars Athlete Ambassadors will be at our local Jersey Mike's stores (1 in Cottage Grove and 2 in Woodbury) to greet customers and promote Special Olympics. Jersey Mike's donates 100% of sales of the day to Special Olympics. 

Questions? Simply reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you soon. 

Happy New Year,

The Blazing Stars

December 17, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Below is a reminder about Poly Hockey practice and also news about 2026 sports and events:

Poly Hockey Practice Reminder

Our three Blazing Stars Poly Hockey teams have completed two practices. This year, 42 athletes and 17 coaches are off to a strong start. Here's a few reminders:

• No Poly Hockey practice for the next two Mondays (12/22 & 12/29)

• Practice will start again on Monday, January 5 at the regular times.

• The Regional Tournament will be held on Saturday, January 24 or Sunday, January 25 at Breck School. Each team will play 2 games on one of the days. We will have tournament days/schedules for each team available early in January. 

Snowshoeing

Snowshoe Team practice begins on Sunday, December 28 at Oakdale Nature Center. There is still time to register and participate with the team. Find out more and register at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/snowshoeing

2026 Events

Mark your calendars for upcoming 2026 registrations and events:

• Basketball and Swimming registration will open in late January and begin practice in March. Both sports will have a Regional Tournament, however, will not have State Tournaments due to the 2026 USA Games to be held in Minneapolis. We do plan to have a full season that may include scrimmages in addition to the Regional Tournament.

• Polar Plunge is coming to Woodbury on Saturday, February 14. Take the plunge at Carver Lake this year with the Blazing Stars. The Blazing Stars will receive 50% of Plunge revenue generated by the team. Information, registration and donations to team members at https://reg.plungemn.org/team/13wdfblazingstarssteam

• Mark your calendars for Jersey Mike's Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Blazing Stars Athlete Ambassadors will be at our local Jersey Mike's stores (1 in Cottage Grove and 2 in Woodbury) to greet customers and promote Special Olympics. Jersey Mike's donates 100% of sales of the day to Special Olympics. 

Questions? Simply reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you soon. 

Happy Holidays,

The Blazing Stars

November 14, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here's a few quick updates on Snowshoe and Poly Hockey and some fun activities for all:

Snowshoe Team 

Now’s the time to try Snowshoeing with the Blazing Stars! No snowshoes – no problem – our team can supply up to 10 sets of snowshoes to use at practice and tournaments at no cost. Learn more and register at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/snowshoeing

Poly Hockey Registration is Still Open

We have a few open spots on each of our 3 Poly Hockey teams if you would like to return or try Poly Hockey for the first time. It’s a fun team sport and provides an excellent opportunity to develop skills – and burn off some energy during the colder winter months. Practice begins on Monday, December 8. Details and the link to registration is at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey

Please register by this weekend as we need to check application and medical status to submit our final rosters to Special Olympics Minnesota.

Maplewood YMCA Free Event for Special Olympics Athletes

We received an email below from the Maplewood YMCA. Note that preregistration is required at the link below. Sounds like a fun event!

Here is the note from the Maplewood YMCA:

Hello Blazing Stars

Your delegation to a special free event on Dec 6 at our Maplewood YMCA location.

This is a day to celebrate abilities, build community and have fun!  It is totally free, open to the public and jam packed with things to do, including Running, Swimming and Basketball fun events plus games, challenges, music, dance, information, swag, prizes and FREE FOOD!

Please note, 

• Track Fun Run events are 9am-11am, Baskeball Drills and Skills is 11am-1pm and Swimming Fun Swims are 1-3pm.

• These are fun first timer friendly events. Not competitions!

• Athletes will receive a free t-shirt and medal.   

• Preregistration for athletes of all abilities is required. Participant Sign-up link click here

• Carnival games, DJ/Music and Info Expo go on all day.

• Lunch Buffet (Asian and Mexican) will run ~11:30-1:30. Other refreshments throughout the day.

• The Carnival games, Lunch Buffet are open to all, no registration required.

Info Expo will have a host of IDD community related service providers. It is a great chance to gather info and do some networking with like-minded people.

We are in contact with various SOMN departments and many other organizations. It should be a GREAT day.  Please help spread the word!

2026 USA Games shop now open at Mall of America

If you are at the Mall of America or looking for a reason to make the trip, don’t forget to stop by the official 2026 USA Games store. The store opened today and is located on the 2nd floor (218 N Garden). More detail at https://mailchi.mp/2026usagames.org/free-beanie-promo-10347789?e=01098b02ff

If you have any questions, please reply to this email.

Happy Thanksgiving,

The Blazing Stars 

October 22, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Registration for Snowshoeing and Poly Hockey is now open – read the details below, complete with links to registration! Also check out dates for team bowling practices and our last Out & About walk/roll of the season. 

Out & About Walk/Roll

Join us for the last Out & About walk/roll of the season this Saturday, October 25 at 10:00 a.m. The leaves will be full color as we walk along the Mississippi River in Hastings. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Schaar’s Bluff Gathering Center, 8395 127th St. E, Hastings. 

Bowling

Bowling registration is now closed. The two team practice times have been set for October 26 and November 2 at Concord Lanes in South St. Paul from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30. All the Bowling details are at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bowling

Snowshoeing Registration

Our Snowshoeing team invites you to join them to try a new sport that is fun and awesome exercise. Practice will begin on Sunday, December 28 from 11:00 a.m. to Noon. Details and Registration at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/snowshoeing

Poly Hockey Registration

Poly Hockey practice begins on December 8, 2025, and runs through February 23 with the Minnesota Special Olympics State Poly Hockey Tournament held on February 28 – March 1. We intend to have 3 Blazing Stars Poly Hockey teams again this year. Details and Registration at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey

We need Coaches! We have a great group of experienced Coaches for our teams throughout the year, however, each team needs one Coach for each 4 athletes on a team. That means we typically need at least 4 Coaches for each team. Please consider joining our Coaching Staff or recruiting a family member or friend to get involved. Reply to this email if you are interested. Thank you!

The Blazing Stars

October 8, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here's a few updates for the coming weeks:

Out & About Walk/Roll this Saturday, October 11

Join us for a walk/roll around Colby Lake in Woodbury at 10:00 a.m. this Saturday, October 11. We will meet at Edgewater Park, 3100 Edgewater Drive, Woodbury.

Bowling Tournament at Treasure Island Lanes

Blazing Stars Bowling is off to a rolling start :)  Bowlers can look forward to the Special Olympics Minnesota State Bowling Tournament on Sunday, November 16 at Treasure Island Resort.  

Join the Blazing Stars Coaching Staff

Planning is underway for the Blazing Stars 2026 season and we welcome new coaches to join our experienced coaching staff. Coaches must be a minimum of 16 years old, complete an online training course and complete a background check. The background check is also completed online. You can be a coach without experience in a sport or coaching expertise. Learn more about becoming a Special Olympics Coach at Special Olympics Minnesota Coach Resource.  Please reply to this email if you are interested in coaching or have questions about coaching.

1,2, 3 Stars!

The Blazing Stars

September 25, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Fall is in the air and there are still plenty of Blazing Stars activities before we start planning for 2026. Here's a few highlights:

Out & About Walk/Roll this Saturday

The next Out & About Walk/Roll will take place this Saturday, September 27  at 10:00 a.m. at Vermillion River Falls, Hasting. Meet at Vermillion Falls Park, 215 21st E., Hastings. (Please note: Coach Mike and Coach Rich are not available for this walk/roll so please meet up in the parking lot and enjoy the walk.)

Bowling Registration

Registration for Bowling is still open. There are many ways you can participate in order to qualify for the Special Olympics Minnesota State Bowling Tournament. Find the details and the red "Registration" button on the website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bowling

The Blazing Stars Unified Flag Football teams are practicing for the upcoming tournament on October 11 at the MHealth Fairview Sports Center in Woodbury. We also just completed our first Blazing Stars Cornhole season, had a great time, and we look forward to adding Cornhole to our sports for 2026. 

Questions? Please reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you. 

1,2,3 Stars!

The Blazing Stars 

September 3, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here's an update of Blazing Stars early fall activities:

Bowling Registration Now Open

Athletes can join the Blazing Stars Bowling Team by registering with the team and participate in a number of ways - bowling in the Special League at Park Bowl or any league, or bowl with family and friends. Just keep track of your bowling average. The Blazing Stars will also have two team practices to prepare for the Minnesota Special Olympics State Bowling Tournament. The tournament dates will be November 15-16 at a location to be determined. All the details and a link to registration can be found on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bowling

Cornhole Tournament on September 22

Cornhole is a new sport for Special Olympics and 40 Blazing Stars Athletes have been trying out the sport at Arbor Meadows Park in Cottage Grove. Participating Athletes will compete in a Blazing Stars team tournament at Arbor Meadows Park on Monday, September 22 at 6:00 p.m. All fans are welcome to attend the tournament and see how this sport works. 

Out & About Fall Schedule

The next Out & About walk/roll is scheduled for Saturday, September 13 at Markgrafs Lake in Woodbury with additional events scheduled into October. You do not have to pre-register to join a walk/roll - just show up at 10:00 a.m. and join the fun! Check out the full schedule at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

St. Paul Saints Exhibition Game

Congrats and good luck to members of the Blazing Stars Red Softball Team who will be participating in an exhibition before the St. Paul Saints game on September 8. Go Stars!

More than 130 Athletes and 20+ Coaches participated in Blazing Stars sports and activities this summer - a record year for the team! Thank you to all our Coaches who made this a great summer for athletes and fans!

If you have a question about the Blazing Stars or would like to volunteer to coach or join our planning team, please respond to this email and a volunteer will contact you.

Go Stars! 

Blazing Stars Special Olympics

August 16, 2025 - Updated Softball Schedule for Sunday, August 17

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here is the updated State Softball Tournament schedule for Sunday, August 17 at the MHealth Fairview Health Sports Center at 4125 Radio Drive, Woodbury. Please plan to arrive at least one hour before your game time. To maintain the schedule, new innings will not begin after 50 minutes of play. Each team will play 2 games. Bring water and sunscreen!

Game Schedule

White Team

• Sunday, August 17, 1:00 p.m. - Game 1 vs. NEW Wild Bunch - Field 9

• Sunday, August 17, 2:00 p.m. - Game 2  vs. BFC Mustangs - Field 9

Black Team 

• Sunday, August 17, 9:00 a.m. - Game 1BUR Blast Red - Field 8

• Sunday, August 17, 11:00 p.m. - Game 2 vs. Winner or Loser of Game 1 - Field 8 or 9

Red Team

• Sunday, August 17, 10:00 a.m. - Game 1 vs. BFC Colts  - Field 11

• Sunday, August 17, 12:00 p.m. - Game 2 vs. Winner or Loser of Game 1 - Field 10 or 11
  
  

The Blazing Stars website has been updated with the new schedule at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

Go Stars,

The Blazing Stars

August 16, 2025 - Important Softball Schedule Update!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Please see the note from Special Olympics Minnesot below - no Softball games today (Saturday) because of rain. We will plan to send an update with Sunday's Softball schedule (each team will play 2 games) by 5:00 p.m. today. We will also update the website asap at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

There is no change to the Bocce State Tournament as all matches are indoors. The Blazing Stars Bocce players have all their matches on Sunday.

Good Luck Stars!

The Blazing Stars

Note from Special Olympics Minnesota:

We have made the difficult decision to cancel today's portion of the State Softball Competition. To ensure everyone plays two games tomorrow, we will be redoing Sunday's schedule. PLEASE, be prepared for your games times on Sunday to change!

August 15, 2025 - Softball Schedule Change for Saturday, August 16

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We have received a schedule update for this weekend's Softball Tournament. The change is for the Saturday schedule. Specific games times for each team's Saturday games have been updated on the website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

The update from Special Olympics Minnesota is below. We will provide additional updates, if needed. Special Olympics sends email updates to all registered participants. Athletes are asked to arrive one hour before each game time unless your coaches have requested a different arrival time. 

1, 2, 3, Stars!

The Blazing Stars

Message from Special Olympics Minnesota:

Due to the heavy overnight rain, we have decided to delay all game start times on Saturday, by one hour. Please see the updated general schedule below:

• 9:00 AM – Team check-in begins

• 9:45 AM – Opening ceremonies

• 10:00 AM – Games begin/Skills Begin

• 4:40 PM – Final games begin

We will continue to monitor the weather forecast closely and share any additional updates regarding this weekend’s schedule. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Sunday's games will take place as scheduled. 

August 4, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We've got a full schedule in the weeks ahead so here's a few reminders. Coaches will have details for Athletes at practice.

Bocce Special Olympics Minnesota State Tournament is set for August 16 & 17 at MHealth Fairview Sports Center in Woodbury. All Blazings Stars events are scheduled for Sunday, April 17. Coaches will have details and match times at practice. 

Softball Special Olympics Minnesota State Tournament is set for August 16 & 17 at MHealth Fairview Sports Center in Woodbury. Each team will play 3 games. Game dates, time, and details are at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

Out & About Walk/Roll - Our next Out & About is scheduled for this coming Saturday, August 9 along the river in Hudson. Don't miss this beautiful walk! Meeting locations and dates for the remaining season are located at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Flag Football and Cornhole registration is now closed. Details about each sport season are forthcoming. 

Please reply to this email if you have questions. A volunteer will contact you with information.

See you at the tournaments,

The Blazing Stars

July 25, 2025 - Unified Flag Football Registration Now Open

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Unified Flag Football registration is now open! Practice will begin on Monday, August 18 from 6-7 p.m. through October 6 at Arbor Meadows Park, 8505 Johansen Ave. S., Cottage Grove. (No practice on Labor Day, September 1) 

The Regional Unified Flag Football Tournament will be held on Sunday, September 14 in West St. Paul and the State Unified Flag Football Tournament will be held on October 10-12 in Woodbury. Athletes and Unified Partners are required to participate in the Regional Tournament to qualify for the State Tournament. Exceptions include illness, injury or family emergencies. Details and the red "Registration" button are at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/flag-football-unified

Please reply to this email with questions.

The Blazing Stars

July 11, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here's a few reminders for the coming weeks:

Out & About

Join us tomorrow, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. for an Out & About Walk/Roll at Oakdale Nature Preserve, 4444 Hadley Ave N, Oakdale. Out & About is open to all athletes and guests - registration is not required.

Regional Tournaments

It's Regional Tournament time for Bocce, Golf and Softball. Please remember that athletes are required to participate in their Regional Tournament to participate in the Special Olympics Minnesota State Tournaments. Exceptions are illness, injury or family emergency. Tournament details will be listed on the Blazing Stars website and details will be communicated as soon as we receive them from Special Olympics Minnesota. Regional Tournament dates:

July 19 - Softball details are published at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

July 27 - Bocce details coming soon at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bocce

July 28 - Golf details coming soon at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/golf

Reminder on Applications/Medicals

All Athletes are required to have current applications/medicals on file before participating in a sport. Special Olympics no longer requires a visit to a medical office to complete the medical portion of the Athlete Application. Athletes can check their application/medical expiration dates at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/athlete-coach-status

1, 2, 3 STARS!

The Blazing Stars

July 10, 2025 - Softball Regional Tournament Schedule and Details

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

The Metro Regional Softball Tournament will be held on Saturday, July 19 at The Ponds Athletic Complex in Prior Lake, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please plan to arrive at least one hour before your game time. (note that travel time is 45 min. to an hour travel time to Prior Lake) The field map is attached.

Game Schedule

White Team

• 10:20 a.m. - Game 1 vs. RSO Flyers Blue - Field 4

• 1:00 p.m. - Game 2 vs. Waseca Community or PAW Tigers - Field 3 or Field 4

Black Team 

• 9:00 a.m. - Game 1 vs. BUR Blast Red - Field 4

• 11:40 a.m. - Game 2 vs. SRG Blue Crew or NEW Wild Bunch - Field 3 or 4

Red Team

• 11:40 a.m. - Game 1 vs. BUR Blast Onyx - Field 6

• 2:20 p.m. - Game 2 vs. RSO Flyers or WSC Waseca Community - Field 5 or 6

Additonal Notes from Special Olympics Minnesota:

• No meals will be provided.

• As of now, concessions will be available. Please note, this may change pending the facility.                       

• Please bring your own food and plenty of water. Athletes may eat anywhere except on the field or in the dugout.

• Please bring a water bottle. There is a refill station located in the pavilion near the restrooms. 

• Sunscreen is strongly encouraged—please plan accordingly!

Coaches will answer questions at practice on Monday. The schedule is posted on the Blazing Stars Website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

Good Luck Softball Teams!

The Blazing Stars

July 7, 2025 - Cornhole Registration Now Open!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Cornhole (also known as Bean Bag Toss or Bags) is a new sport offered by the Blazing Stars and Special Olympics Minnesota. Join our team!

Team and Practice

The Blazing Stars Cornhole season will begin on Monday, August 18 and run through September 22.  Practice will be held from 6 – 7 p.m. at Arbor Meadows Park, 8505 Johansen Ave. S., Cottage Grove.

This will be a new sport and we would like to provide an opportunity to any Athlete that is interested in trying Cornhole. No experience is necessary - we will help each Athlete learn the game and build skills. Based on the number of Athletes that are interested and the number of Coach volunteers, we will pick one of the options listed below:

Option 1 (more than 32 Athletes registered):

• Athletes will be assigned to a team.

• Team A will have 2 practices on August 18 and September 8. (No practice on Labor Day, September 1)

• Team B will have 2 practices on August 25 and September 15. (No practice on Labor Day, September 1)

• Teams A & B will compete in a Blazing Stars Team Tournament on September 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Option 2 (32 or fewer Athletes registered):

• All Athletes will have 4 practices and a team tournament. Practice will be held on August 18 and 25, September 8 and 15. (No practice on Labor Day, September 1)

• The group will be divided into 2 teams. 

• A Blazing Stars Team Tournament will be held on September 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

About Cornhole

Standard size boards (2 by 4 foot) with standard bags filled with beans. Athletes will be able to participate in one of two distances – boards 27 feet apart or 18 feet apart.

For additional details, check out the Special Olympics Minnesota Cornhole Handbook. 

Registration

Registration for Cornhole will be open by July 8 on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/cornhole 

Questions? Please reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you.

The Blazing Stars

June 26, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Congratulations to our Blazing Stars Basketball and Swim Teams for the awesome work at the Special Olympics Minnesota Summer Games at the U of M last weekend. The competition was hot (so was the day!) and you all lived the motto, "Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." It was another active weekend and there's more Blazing Stars action ahead:

Softball,  Bocce and Golf Practice 

Please remember that we will not have practice next week because of the holiday week. We will meet again on Monday, July 7 (Softball and Bocce) and July 8 (Golf). Please check your calendars for upcoming Regional Tournament dates and locations as they are coming fast.

Bocce information at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bocce

Golf information at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/golf

Softball information at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

Athletes are required to participate in the Regional Tournaments to be eligible for the State Tournament. Exceptions would include illness and family emergencies. 

Pizza Party This Saturday

As a reminder to those who have RSVPed for Saturday's Pizza Party, the fun will start at 4:30 p.m. at Gethsemane Lutheran School (Now Korean Immersion School) in Maplewood. This will be a casual event with a chance to grab some pizza, visit with friends and test your skills at Cornhole, a new Blazing Stars sport coming later in August. See you on Saturday!

Out & About Walk n' Roll

Join us for the next Out & About activity at Battle Creek Park Trail this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. We will meet at the parking lot at Battle Creek Park Trail (trail at South Parking lot - Lower Afton Rd just East of McKnight)   Everyone is welcome - no need to register. 

Please respond to this email with questions or comments. A volunteer will respond as soon as possible.

Have a great summer!

The Blazing Stars

June 12, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

In addition to Summer Sports, here's a couple of fun activities we'd like to highlight:

Out & About this Saturday, June 14

Join a great group for our next Out & About "Walk 'n Roll" this coming Saturday at Ravine Park in Cottage Grove. Meet at 10:00 a.m. in the City Hall Parking lot behind the Washington County Service Center) Check out the attached poster created by Natalie Renalls, Blazing Stars Athlete and SOMN Athlete Leader. Natalie created this poster to make sure everyone knows that you are welcome and encouraged to "Walk 'n Roll" with us this summer and fall. Information about Out & About is also available at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Blazing Stars Pizza Party on Saturday, June 28

Join us for a Blazing Stars Pizza Party to continue our tradition on Saturday, June 28 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. for pizza from the Little Oven.  We will meet at  Gethsemane Lutheran School. Join us for pizza and try your skill at Cornhole (bean bag toss). Please register by June 18 (Athletes and Guests - click on the red banner on our Team News Page ) at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/team-news

There is no fee to attend the pizza party, however, we will have a bowl for donations to help cover the cost of pizza. We would also appreciate some volunteer help to serve pizza, help with games, etc. You can sign up on the registration form. 

Please reply to this email if you have questions. 

The Blazing Stars

May 29, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We've got a busy state tournament ahead for Basketball and Swimming and a full summer schedule planned. Here's a few notes on upcoming activities:

Team Pizza Party - Save the Date!

We've scheduled an all-team Pizza Party to continue our tradition. Mark your calendar for  Saturday, June 28 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. for pizza from the Little Oven. (25th Anniversary Pizza!) We will meet at Gethsemane Lutheran School. Join us for pizza and try your skill at Cornhole (bean bag toss). We will send a separate email with an RSVP form to complete if you would like to attend the pizza party. 

Out and About

Our next Out & About Walk/Rolls will be on Saturday, June 14 (Ravine Park, Cottage Grove) and June 28 (Battle Creek Park, Maplewood). Information about Out and About is at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Summer Sports

Summer Sports practice begins soon: Bocce and Softball on Monday, June 23 and Golf, on Tuesday, June 24. All of our team rosters are full at this time so registration is closed and we are not able to register additional athletes. We will communicate if we do have any openings. 

Please let us know if you have questions by replying to this email.

The Blazing Stars

May 5, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here we go! Below is information about Summer Sports registration and other fun activities:

Out & About Walk/Roll Begins May 10

Our 2025 schedule for Out & About begins this Saturday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to about noon at Markgraf Lake Trail in Woodbury. Anyone can join - no pre-registration required - just show up at 10! The first half-year schedule is available at: https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Golf, Bocce and Softball Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for Bocce, Golf, and Softball. Follow the links below to information and online registration. Please read all the details about each sport before registering:

Golf practice begins on Tuesday, June 24 at Eagle Valley Golf Course in Woodbury.  We do have a team size limit so please review the process for eligibility listed in the details. Information and registration at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/golf

Bocce practice begins on Monday, June 23 at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove. Information and registration at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bocce

Softball practice begins on Monday, June 23 at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove. Information and registration at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

Additional reminders for summer sports:

• Please check the dates for regional and state competitions as athletes must participate in region to be eligible to play in the state competition. Exceptions include sickness, injury or family emergency. 

• Registration fee is $40 for each sport. Registration fees cover state tournament fees ($20 per athlete) and support for team expenses ($20) including practice facility rental, equipment and uniforms. 

• The number of teams and team size is based on having the required number of coaches for each sport (1 coach for 4 athletes). No prior coaching experience is needed. The application and training process is quick and easy so please consider joining our awesome coaching staff. Please reply to this email if you are able to coach. 

Dunkin' Donuts Cop on a Rooftop

Please join us for the annual Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser to support Special Olympics Minnesota on Friday, May 16 from 6 to 11 a.m. at either Dunkin' Donuts locations in our area - Cottage Grove and Woodbury. Please let us know if you can attend and represent the Blazing Stars and support our local Law Enforcement. Please reply to this email with location/times you can participate. Even a half hour will make a difference!

Coming Later this Summer - Flag Football and Cornhole

We have confirmed practice space at Arbor Meadows Park in Cottage Grove for Flag Football and Cornhole (bean bag toss). Both sports will begin practice on Monday, August 18 from 6-7 p.m. 

Cornhole is a new sport supported by Special Olympics Minnesota and our team size will be based on the number of volunteer coaches so please let us know if you can join our coaching staff. 

Registration for Flag Football and Cornhole will be announced later in June. 

Get Ready for a Busy Summer!

The Blazing Stars

April 24, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We've got two new opportunities to announce this week:

Dunkin' Cop-on-a-Rooftop

Dunkin' Donuts is sponsoring the annual Cop-on-a-Rooftop event to support Special Olympics on Friday, May 14 from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This is a great opportunity for Athletes to support our local Law Enforcement and Special Olympics.

Please reply to this email if you would be available to represent the Blazing Stars at anytime during this event at either the Cottage Grove (7584 80th St S) or Woodbury location (6671 Valley Creek Road) Dunkin' Donut locations. Please let us know your preferred location and times you could attend to greet customers and support the officers on the roof! 

Out & About Walk/Rolls Start May 10

Please join us for our first Out & About Walk/Roll of the season on Saturday, May 10 at 10:00 a.m. at Markgrafs Lake in Woodbury. (meet at the clock tower across from Sam's Club) our walks are comfortable strolls and all are welcome to participate. Details, directions and a schedule is available on our website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Good luck to the Blazing Stars Basketball Teams and Swimmers at the Regional Tournaments this weekend!

The Blazing Stars

March 28, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Fans,

We are off to a great start in 2025, our 27th year of the Blazing Stars. With a great group of coaches and volunteers, we are offering sports and activities to more athletes than ever before. 

As we look to the future, we would like to expand our volunteer planning team that supports the Blazing Stars. Our volunteer planning team is called the Local Sports Management Team (LSMT). While it may sound a little formal, we are simply a small group of volunteers that work together to plan sports and activities, secure practice facilities and equipment, encourage coaches, and manage our team budget, registration, and team communications.  We are also affiliated with Special Olympics Minnesota for all activities and to provide input on behalf of our team. 

We currently have 3 volunteer members on the Blazing Stars LSMT. We would like to expand this group to support team growth and ensure that we have continuity for the future. It's also important that we have more people with working knowledge and experience in managing team operations. The good news is that most of our work can be done virtually at your convenience - most of our work is online or through email. Many of the jobs are also perfect for job-sharing and can be completed in a few hours a month. We would also meet as a group a couple times during the year or as needed. 

We would like to invite you to learn more at a one hour “behind the scenes” information meeting. We are offering 2 meeting times on Monday, April 14 during half-court (6-7) or full-court (7-8) Blazing Stars Basketball Practice:

What: Blazing Stars Local Sports Management Team Information Meeting

When: Monday, April 14 (during Basketball Practice)

Times: Either 6-7 p.m. or 7-8 p.m. (same information at each meeting)

Location: Gethsemane Lutheran School (cafeteria – turn left as you enter)

Please let us know if you have questions and thank you for supporting the Blazing Stars!

Mike Diegnau                          Barbara Morgan                      Rich Stoebe

Co-Head of Delegation           Treasurer                                 Co-Head of Delegation

March 23, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here's a few reminders for this week:

Jersey Mike's Day of Giving

Please join the Blazing Stars at one of our local Jersey Mike's this Wednesday, March 26 to participate in Jersey Mike's Day of Giving to support Special Olympics Minnesota. Blazing Stars athletes will be at 3 locations: Katie at Cottage Grove, Kayla will be at the Valley Creek location and April will be at the Commerce location. 100% of sales (Yes, total sales!) for the day will go to Special Olympics Minnesota. SOMN has secured grants for our Blazing Stars operating budget the past 3 years in addition to making programming and competition possible for our athletes and team. We are grateful for our partnership!

Basketball Starts this Monday

44 Blazing Stars Athletes and our awesome team of volunteer Coaches will begin Basketball practice on Monday, April 24. Details are on our team website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/basketball

Additional Notes

• Our Swim team got off to a great start last week with 22 Swimmers. 

• Ever wonder how the Blazing Stars is organized? Watch your email for details about one-hour information meetings to discuss the Blazing Stars Local Sports Management Team (LSMT) and how you can be involved. We will have two identical meetings (6 & 7) on Monday, April 14 during Basketball Practice. More information coming!

Questions? Please respond to this email and a volunteer will contact you.

The Blazing Stars

February 17, 2025 - State Poly Hockey Schedule

Hello Blazing Stars Poly Hockey Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

The Special Olympics Minnesota State Hockey Tournament Schedule has been released and below are team schedules. The tournament will be held at Stillwater High School on March 8 -9. 

White Team Schedule - Division T 

March 8 - 2:50 p.m. Court 8 vs. BFC Clydes 

March 9 - 9:50 a.m. Court 3 USA Bears

March 9 - 2:00 p.m. Court 6 vs. OMG Fire 

Black Team Schedule - Division J 

March 8 - 10:40 a.m. Court 6 vs. SVG White

March 8 - 2:50 p.m. Court 5 vs. WAT Wild West Blue 

March 9 - 2:00 p.m. Court 8 vs. OSO Owatonna Blue 

Red Team Schedule - Division A 

March 8 - 9:00 a.m. Court 3 vs. SRG Gold 

March 8 - 12:20 p.m. Court 4 vs. OMG Thunder 

March 9 - 9:50 a.m. Court 6 vs. SVG Blue 

Here's additional details:

• The Blazing Stars will have a designated staging area for teams and equipment in the school cafeteria. Look for our Blazing Stars banner!

• Athletes are asked to arrive at least one hour before each game time. 

• Lunch and other details will be available soon. 

• We will distribute a hard copy of the schedule at practice on 2/24.

Questions? Please respond to this email or check with your coaches at practice.

Go Stars!

February 17, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Good morning on a chilly day! Here's a few notes about current Blazing Stars activities:

Poly Hockey

• Practice tonight for those able to attend!

• Game schedule for the state hockey tournament on March 8-9 will be out soon. 

Snowshoeing

• State snowshoeing tournament on March 2 at Wild Mountain by Taylors Falls. Skiing and Snowboarding competition also. 

Swimming Registration

• We still have room in the pool! Practice starts on Wednesday, March 19 so learn more and register at Blazing Stars Swim Team. 

Basketball Registration

• Basketball practice starts on Monday, March 24 so learn more and register at Blazing Stars Basketball. 

Save the Date for Jersey Mikes on Wednesday, March 26!

• Blazing Stars athletes Katie, Kayla and April will be greeting guests at our 3 local Jersey Mike's locations on Wednesday, March 26. Proceeds from all sales on Jersey Mike's Day of Giving will go to Special Olympics Minnesota. Thank you athletes!

Have a question? Please reply to this email and a volunteer from the Blazing Stars will contact you.

Stay Warm,

The Blazing Stars

January 21, 2025 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here's an update on our team activities in the coming weeks:

Polar Plunge - Saturday, February 8, Carver Lake, Woodbury

Support the Blazing Stars and Special Olympics Minnesota in the Polar Plunge by:

• Joining the team Chicken Plunge (stay dry!) or jump in the refreshing water - it's your choice!

• Sponsor Mike and Katie in the Chicken Plunge with your donation.

Find out more about the Polar Plunge, join the team and/or donate at https://reg.plungemn.org/team/13wdfblazingstarschickens

Basketball and Swimming Registration Now Open

Don't delay - register today for our next sports season of Basketball and Swimming. All details and the red registration link is available on the Blazing Stars website.

• Basketball practice begins on Monday, March 24 https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/basketball

• Swimming practice begins on Wednesday, March 19 https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/swimming

Poly Hockey and Snowshoeing Regional Tournaments Coming

Blazing Stars Poly Hockey and Snowshoeing Teams will be competing in regional tournaments so join us to cheer on our athletes.

• Poly Hockey Regional information and schedule for January 25 at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey 

• Snowshoeing Regional information for February 1 https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/snowshoeing

Save the Date for Jersey Mike's

Mark your calendars to have dinner out at Jersey Mike's  Cottage Grove or Woodbury locations on Wednesday, March 26. Blazing Stars athletes will welcome guests for Jersey Mike's Annual Day of Giving for Special Olympics Minnesota. Our team receives awesome support from SOMN so this is a great way for us to say thank you and support our state organization.

If you have questions about the Blazing Stars or Special Olympics, please reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you. 

Go Stars,

The Blazing Stars

January 17, 2025 - Basketball and Swim Team Registration Now Open

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Registration is now open for our Blazing Stars Basketball and Swim Teams. Below are the starting dates, locations and link to the Blazing Stars web pages and the red button for online registration.

Basketball

Blazing Stars Basketball practice will begin on Monday, March 24 at 6 p.m. (half court) and 7 p.m. (full court) at Gethsemane Lutheran Church School (now Korean Immersion School). Details and the red registration button is available at Blazing Stars Basketball Team

Swimming

Swim Team practice will begin on Wednesday, March 19 at Lake Middle School in Woodbury. Swimmers will arrive at 7:00 p.m. and practice will run from 7:15 to 8:15. Details and the red registration button is available at Blazing Stars Swim Team

Interested in Coaching or have a question? Please reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you. 

Go Stars,

The Blazing Stars

December 16, 2025 - Poly Hockey Schedule Reminder

Hello Blazing Stars Poly Hockey Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We are off to a good start on our Poly Hockey season - great job at practice Athletes and thank you coaches!

Here's a reminder about our practice schedule and 2025 tournament dates:

• December 16 - Practice tonight at 6 pm (White and Black Teams) and 7 pm (Red Team)

• December 23 & 30 - No Practice - off for the holidays!

• January 6 - Practice resumes

• January 25 or 26 - Metro Regional Hockey Tournament, Breck School (each team will play 2 games on one of the tournament days. We will receive the schedule soon.)

• March 8 & 9 - State Poly Hockey Tournament, Stillwater High School (each team will play 3 games spread over the 2-day tournament) The schedule will be available after the Metro Regional Tournament.

A note on tournaments - Special Olympics Minnesota requires that all athletes participate in the Regional Tournament to be eligible to compete at the State Tournament. Exceptions to the rule includes illness or a limited number of other situations. 

Please respond to this email if you have questions! 

Thank You,

The Blazing Stars

December 5, 2025 - Poly Hockey Practice Starts Monday, December 9!

Hello Poly Hockey Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

( Note: This email is intended for everyone registered for Blazing Stars Poly Hockey - please let us know if we added your email by mistake)

Poly Hockey practice starts this coming Monday, December 9! Here's a few notes to help us all get started:

• Practice starts at 6:00 p.m. (White and Black teams) and 7:00 p.m. (Red team). Practice runs for 1 hour for each team.

• 2024 practice dates will be 12/9 and 12/16, no practice on 12/23 or 12/30. We will resume practice on 1/6/25.

• The location is Gethsemane Lutheran Church gym, 2410 Stillwater Rd. E, Maplewood. It's the same location as always, however, the school is now a Korean immersion charter school. No changes in that we rent from the church and have full access to the gym, restrooms, open cafeteria, and equipment storage (basement storage area)

• We will still enter the school doors off the parking lot. The school day ends at 5:30 p.m. so we will be able to enter the gym around 5:45. 

• The first night will include equipment sizing and labeling and teams will get started playing hockey as soon as you are ready.

• We plan to replace any of the old black helmets that are still in use and will check sizes at this first practice so we can place an order. (will probably be here by January 6 practice)

• Registration fees will be collected at practice. ($40 per athlete that are able to pay)

Details and tournament information is at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey

Please reply to this email if you have questions. 

See you Monday!

The Blazing Stars

November 25, 2024 - Blazing Stars Update 

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Congratulations to all Blazing Stars Bowlers who demonstrated their strength and accuracy at the Special Olympics Minnesota State Bowling Tournament in Bloomington last weekend! With plenty of fan support, it was great to see our Blazing Stars red shirts throughout the bowling alley. 

Here's an update on upcoming activities:

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing registration is still open. All are welcome - even if you'd just like to give it a try. Details and registration at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/snowshoeing

Poly Hockey

Poly Hockey registration is now closed as we've reached our capacity for 3 teams. If you did not register but have an interest, please respond to this email to be placed on a waiting list if we have openings. Practice starts on December 9. Details are available at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey

Looking Ahead

We are already making preparations for our 2025 Blazing Sports season and updating the Blazing Stars website as we set dates for registration, practice and tournament dates. 

One interesting note is that the 2025 Special Olympics Minnesota Summer Games (that would be Basketball and Swimming for the Blazing Stars) will be held at the University of Minnesota. These same facilities will be used for the 2026 USA Games.

New Coaches Always Welcome

We are grateful for the awesome Blazing Stars Coaching Staff that makes our sports possible. And, new coaches are always needed, welcomed, and we will help you get started!  Special Olympics Minnesota has just introduced a new Coach Portal that has streamlined the Coach Certification Process and provides new resources. For new coaches, please follow the "New to SOMN" notes and FAQs at https://specialolympicsminnesota.org/special-olympics-registration-portal/

As always, please reply to this email with questions and a Blazing Stars volunteer will contact you.

Happy Thanksgiving,

The Blazing Stars

November 1, 2024 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here's a few reminders about upcoming activities:

Poly Hockey Registration Now Open!

Teams rosters are filling in for our 3 Poly Hockey teams (White-novice, Black - intermediate, Red-advanced) so please register now if you would like to play this season. Practice starts on Monday, December 9. Find all the details and register online at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey

We need Poly Hockey coaches to fill out our team coaching staff (4 per team) so please reply to this email if you have an interest or know someone who would be willing to support our team as a coach. No experience necessary - we will train!

Snowshoeing Registration Now Open!

Try something new! Our small but mighty Snowshoeing team was enthused about seeing a few snowflakes last night and ready to hit the trails on December 15. Information and online registration is on our website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/snowshoeing

New Coaching Portal Coming

Special Olympics Minnesota is introducing a new Coach Portal that will provide "self-serve" access to the registration and training process as well as resources. Coaches can check on their renewal status and will also receive email renewal reminders. This will be a nice upgrade to the coach registration process. 

Medical Reminder

Special Olympics Minnesota no longer requires an athlete to have an exam by a medical professional when renewing an application. A parent, guardian or self-guardian now completes the medical section. The Blazing Stars team volunteers will contact athletes when renewals are due. 

Questions? Please reply to this email if you have questions about this email or other Blazing Stars activities and a volunteer will contact you soon. 

1, 2, 3, Stars!

The Blazing Stars

October 21, 2024 - Poly Hockey and Snowshoeing Registration Now Open!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Blazing Stars Poly Hockey (indoor floor hockey) and Snowshoeing registration is now open as we plan to begin practice in December. Below is information for each sport and a link to details. As with all our activities, registration is online.

Poly Hockey

Poly Hockey practice will start on Monday, December 9 at 6 pm (White and Black teams) and 7pm (Red team). We will practice on December 9 and 16, take 2 weeks off, and start up again on January 6. Practice will be held at Gethsemane Lutheran School in Maplewood. 

Please consider coaching and/or help us recruit coaches for Poly Hockey. We are required to have one coach for every 4 athletes or a minimum of 4 coaches per team. The White and Red Poly Hockey teams need additional coaches to practice and compete this season. The good news is that we have experienced coaches, practice routines and support to help you get involved. 

More details, tournament dates, and the red registration button are available online here

Snowshoeing

The Blazing Stars Snowshoe team will begin practice on Sunday, December 15 and willmeet every other week. All practice dates are listed on the Snowshoe webpage. Practice will be held at the Oakdale Nature Center. If you would like to try out snowshoeing, come on out to the first practice!

Details and a red registration button are available here

If you have questions about these sports, the team, or would like to know more about coaching, please reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you soon.

The Blazing Stars

September 25, 2024 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here's a few reminders for upcoming activities:

Out & About Walk/Roll

Our last Out & About walk/roll for the season is this Saturday, September 28 at Schaar's Bluff in Hastings. This is a beautiful accessible path along the river. We will begin our walk/roll at 10:00 a.m. at the Gathering Center, 8395 127th St E, Hastings. All are welcome!

Bowling Registration

Bowling registration will remain open through October 5 online at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bowling 

25 athletes have registered for Bowling so far - join the team as we prepare for the mid-November Special Olympics Minnesota State Bowling Tournament. We will have more tournament details soon. 

Medical Reminder

As a reminder, new and renewing applications/medicals no longer require a medical exam by a medical professional. The Health History section of the application is still required, however, can be completed by a parent, guardian or self-guardian. This change was effective on August 15, 2024 for new athletes and renewals when they are due. Information and links are available on our website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/join

Have a question or suggestion? Reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you with information.

Good luck to the Blazing Stars Flag Football teams at the state tournament on October 11-13 at M Health Fairview Center in Woodbury. 

The Blazing Stars

September 13, 2024 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here's a few reminders for fun-filled activities:

Out & About Walk/Roll

Join us for an Out & About walk/roll tomorrow, September 14 at 10:00 a.m. for a walk around Markgrafs Lake in Woodbury. Details and directions are at xhttps://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

You will also see a walk/roll scheduled for September 28 at Schaar's Bluff in Hastings - we should see some nice color along the river by that time!

Bowling Registration

Bowling registration is now open. There are a number of ways for you to participate in Bowling as you prepare for the mid-November Minnesota Special Olympics State Bowling Tournament. Read all the details and register online at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bowling

Blazing Stars Red Softball Team Sportmanship Showdown

Our Red Softball Team has been selected to play in the Minnesota Twins/Special Olympics Minnesota Sportsmanship Showdown. They will play a team from Buffalo, MN on Tuesday, September 17 at 6:00 p.m. at the Nieman Sports Complex, Field 5 in St. Paul.  Teams were selected based on their extraordinary sportsmanship during the recent state softball tournament. The event is sponsored by the Minnesota Twins and United Healtcare and is free and open to the public. The game will include the look and feel of a Twins game with guest appearance from a Twins alumni player and T.C. Bear!

Have a great weekend!

The Blazing Stars 

September 8, 2024 - Blazing Stars Update - Bowling and Out & About

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Congratulations to our Unified Flag Football teams! Both finished in 1st Place at the Regional Tournament. Here’s information about more fall activities:

Bowling Registration Now Open

Blazing Stars athletes can participate in bowling in several ways to practice for the state bowling tournament. The Blazing Stars will participate as a team in the Special Olympics Minnesota Bowling Tournament in mid-November. Tournament details will be announced at a later date. (Each team requests a tournament location. The Blazing Stars will request to participate in the State Tournament at Treasure Island Xtreme Bowl in Welch, MN on November 16-17)

 Blazing Stars Bowlers have the following options to participate:

• Bowl regularly (bi-weekly or more) with a group (family, friends, social group, church, etc.) and keep a record of your bowling scores.

• Bowl as a member of any league (example: Special League at Park Grove Bowl, St. Paul Park meets every other week from 11am -12:45 p.m. The next league date will be Saturday, September 21. If you are interested in the Special League, please email meier.mp@comcast.net. As in past years, the league may not have immediate openings, however, you may be able to join a waiting list. Special League is not a Special Olympics team, however, a number of Blazing Stars athletes participate in the league.

Athletes will be asked to track and submit their bowling average to bowling coaches prior to the Special Olympics Minnesota State Tournament. The “average” is the sum of 3 bowling game scores divided by 3. Coaches will provide contact information for reporting scores. Coaches will get Special League bowler averages from the league. 

All registered Blazing Stars Bowlers will be invited to participate in 2 team bowling practices prior to the State Tournament. The location will be Park Bowl in St. Paul Park. Dates and times will be communicated to Bowlers.  

Bowling Registration

Athletes must be registered for bowling to participate in the Special Olympics Minnesota State Bowling Tournament. Coaches will contact registered bowlers with additional information about Blazing Stars practices, scoring and the State Tournament.  Bowling details and registration are available at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bowling

Out & About Dates for September

We will finish our Out & About season with two events in September. The activity is open to all Blazing Stars athletes, family members and caregivers. All walks/rolls began at 10:00 a.m. 

Remaining Walk/Rolls for 2024 include:

September 14 - Markgrafs Lake Trail, Woodbury. (meet at CityWalk Tower/Play Area between ATT store and Dunn Bros - 10060 City Walk Drive - across Woodbury Drive from Sam's Club). Free parking is available. 

September 28 - Schaar’s Bluff Trail, Hastings (Meet at Gathering Center, 8395 127th St E, Hastings)

If you have a question about these activities or any other question about the Blazing Stars or Special Olympics, please reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you.

Have a Great Fall!

The Blazing Stars

August 21, 2024 - Important Update: Medicals by Health Professional No Longer Required

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We have received an important update from Special Olympics Minnesota regarding the Medical Section of the Athlete Application. Effective August 14, 2024, a physical examination by a medical practitioner is no longer required. The Health History section will still be part of the Athlete Application, however, the Health History section can now be completed by a parent, guardian, or an athlete who is their own guardian.  The Athlete Application/Medical form is still available on the Special Olympics Minnesota website at https://specialolympicsminnesota.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024_somn_application_athlete.pdf

(Please note: the current Application/Medical form has a red “X” through the section that is no longer required to be completed by a medical practitioner. A new form will replace this one in the future.)

There is no change to the Consent form that is part of the Application/Medical. Consent forms are required for new Athletes and for Athletes that have guardianship changes.

Additional information regarding the change:

• The Application/Medical form must be submitted annually, instead of every three years. 

• Athletes with current forms on file (before 8/14/24) will remain valid until their original three-year expiration date. 

• Any form (old or new) submitted on or after 8/14/24 will be valid for one year. 

• No change in the way the Application/Medical form is submitted at this time. 

• This new policy affects all Special Olympic teams in Minnesota and other states. Your Application/Medical will be accepted by all teams.

• Athletes selected to participate in competitions above the state level, such as USA Games, NITs, and World Games, will still be required to complete a physical exam with a medical practitioner.

Special Olympics made this change after a thorough evaluation that included input from many perspectives. The overall goal of the change is to support inclusion by removing barriers to participating in Special Olympics activities in our communities. 

We will provide additional information as it becomes available. If you have questions, please reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you.

The Blazing Stars

August 13, 2024 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans, 

It’s tournament time! Below is a reminder about upcoming competition for Bocce, Softball and Golf along with information about other upcoming events.

Bocce & Softball Competition

Bocce Athletes will be competing this Sunday, August 18 at MHealth Center in Woodbury.

Blazing Stars Softball teams (White, Black and Red) will compete on Saturday and Sunday, August 17 & 18 at MHealth Fields in Woodbury.

All athletes received match/game time details at practice. If you have a question about the schedule, please reply to this email and a volunteer will respond. 

Additional information about the Bocce and Softball competition (venue map, Healthy Athletes, food trucks, merchandise sale) is available on the Special Olympics Minnesota website at https://ssclassic.specialolympicsminnesota.org/?_gl=1%2Axxu4o%2A_ga%2AMTU3Mjk2NjE2LjE3MjM1ODQzMjQ.%2A_ga_WT63HYSJRW%2AMTcyMzU4NDMyNC4xLjEuMTcyMzU4NDMzMi4wLjAuMA..

Golf

The State Golf Competition will be held on Sunday, August 25th at Oak Marsh Golf Club in Oakdale. Golfers will receive tournament details at practice. 

Flag Football Begins Monday, August 19!

Flag Football practice begins on Monday, August 19 at 6:00 p.m. at Arbor Meadows Park in Cottage Grove. Information about the Flag Football season is at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/flag-football-unified

Dunkin’ Donuts Cop on a Rooftop this Friday!

Stop by Dunkin’ Donuts in Cottage Grove (new on 80th St) or Woodbury this Friday morning between 6 – 11 a.m. to support Special Olympics Minnesota. A portion of sales will go to support our state organization. Blazing Stars athletes will welcome guests – if you would like to join them, come on out and stay as long as you’d like. 

2026 USA Games Coming to Minnesota

Special Olympics Minnesota will serve as host of the 2026 USA Games for Special Olympics Athletes and Teams. If you would like to know how you can apply to participate, please check out the details and application process at https://specialolympicsminnesota.org/2026-usa-games/

Thank you to all Blazing Stars Coaches and Volunteers that have supported our Athletes this summer and throughout the year. 2024 will be a record breaking year for participation because of your support!

Good Luck This Weekend,

The Blazing Stars

August 5, 2024 - Bocce and Softball Practice Cancelled, August 5

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Unfortunately, Bocce and Softball practice is cancelled tonight, August 5. Continued rain is predicted and Lamar Fields are too wet for practice. See you next Monday.

Stay dry,

The Blazing Stars

July 31, 2024 - Blazing Stars State Softball Tournament Details

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

The Special OIympics Minnesota State Softball Tournament will be held on August 17-18 at MHealth Fairview Sports Center in Woodbury, MN. Following is the game schedule for each team and details. 

All athletes are asked to arrive at the tournament at least one hour before their game times. Coaches will be able to answer questions at the next two practices. Information is also posted on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

State Softball Tournament Game Schedule

Blazing Stars White:

Saturday, August 17 at 3:40 p.m. - Field 11 vs. BFC Mustangs

Sunday, August 18 at 11:40 a.m. - Field 9 vs. NEW Red

Sunday, August 18 at 2:20 p.m. - Field 9 vs. CHH Ninja Cobras

Blazing Stars Black:

Saturday, August 17 at 3:40 p.m. - Field 8 vs. RVA Flames Sizzling Sluggers

Sunday, August 18 at 10:20 a.m. - Field 9 vs. RSO Flyers Blue

Sunday, August 18 at 1:00 p.m. - Field 8 vs. SRG Red

Blazing Stars Red:

Saturday, August 17 at 10:20 a.m. - Field 12 vs. RVA Flame Heat

Saturday, August 17 at 1:00 p.m. - Field 13 vs. BUR Blast Black

Sunday, August 18 at 2:20 p.m. - Field 11 vs. HFH Healey

Tournament Details

General Information:

• All registered participants will receive lunch tickets for Saturday and Sunday

• Please have athletes bring a water bottle

• There will be several activities for participants to enjoy such as healthy athlete activities and FanStop for Special Olympic merchandise. Food trucks willbe at the tournament.

Awards:

Awards will take place on the field, immediately following the last two games in each division. Event Managers will bring the awards onto the field and announce the placings.

Good Luck Stars!

July 25, 2024 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here’s a rundown on the rest of a fun-filled July and month of August:

Out & About

Join us for our next Out & About walk/roll this Saturday, July 27, 10:00 a.m. at Oakdale Nature Preserve, 4444 North Hadley, Oakdale. No need to pre-register – just show up at 10!

Important note: we are not scheduling Out & About walk/rolls during the month of August because of tournaments, team practices and other schedule conflicts. We will announce the September & October schedule soon.

Golf

Blazing Stars golfers will compete in the Regional Tournament on Monday, July 28 at Hidden Greens Golf Course in Hastings. Good luck golfers!

Softball

Congratulations to our teams that played their hearts out on a hot Saturday in Prior Lake at the Metro Regional Competition! Teams did great – White Team taking 3rd place in their bracket and the Black and Red Teams taking 1st place in their divisions. 

Practice starts again on Monday to prepare for the Special Olympics Minnesota State Competition on August 17 & 18 at MHealth Sports Center in Woodbury. Details about the state competition are coming.

Bocce

The Blazing Stars Bocce team will be held this Saturday, July 27 at West St. Paul Sports Center in West St. Paul. Good luck athletes!

Unified Flag Football

Practice will begin on Monday, August 19 at 6:00 p.m. Practice will be held every Monday through October 7th from 6 -7 p.m.  Practice will be held at Arbor Meadows Park, 8505 Johansen Ave. S., Cottage Grove.

On a final note, congratulations to athletes Adam, April, Bennet, and Katie for sharing your Blazing Stars stories with Woodbury magazine. Read the story here. 

Questions? Simply respond to this email and a volunteer with contact you soon. 

Have a great summer!

The Blazing Stars

July 12, 2024 - Blazing Stars Update: Bocce, Golf, Softball & More!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Another active week ahead for the Blazing Stars! Here’s an update on practice for next week:

Bocce Practice

Bocce practice will be held on Monday, July 15 as scheduled, and activity adjusted to the weather. As everyone has a different tolerance for heat & humidity, we totally understand if you attend practice for a shorter time period or decide to skip this practice. Please bring water!

Golf Practice

We expect to have Golf practice on Tuesday, July 16 as scheduled.

Softball Practice

Softball practice will be held on Monday, July 15 for team meetings and an adjusted practice as weather allows. As the Regional Tournament will be held on Saturday, July 20, Coaches and Athletes need time to talk about their team plan for the tournament, discuss positions, and provide details. Please bring water!

If you are not able to attend Monday’s practice for whatever reason or would like to come for a shorter time, that’s ok. Please be sure to read the Softball Regional Tournament information below. 

Softball Metro Regional Tournament

The Metro Regional Softball Tournament will be held on July 20 at The Ponds Athletic Complex in Prior Lake. Athletes: please plan to arrive at least one hour before game time. (Please note: there is road construction on 494 that may affect your travel time to Prior Lake)

Regional Tournament Game Schedule for Saturday, July 20:

• White Team: 1:00 p.m. and 2:20 p.m.

• Black Team:  9:00 a.m. and 11:40 a.m.

• Red Team:    10:20 a.m. and 11:40

Athletes are required to participate in the Regional Tournament to be eligible to play in the Special Olympics Minnesota State Tournament. Excused absences from the Regional Tournament are possible, however, they are not automatic. If you know that you will not be able to attend the tournament, please provide the reason for your absence to your coach as soon as possible and before the game(s) start.

Out & About Walk/Roll

Our next Out & About Walk/Roll will be held this Saturday, July 13 at 10:00 a.m. We’ll take a leisurely stroll along the Mississippi before it gets too hot. We will roam Schaar’s Bluff Trail in Hastings. (Meet at Gathering Center, 8395 127th St E, Hastings)

Flag Football Registration is Still Open

We still have openings for the Blazing Stars Flag Football team for both athletes and Unified Partners. Find all the details and register at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/flag-football-unified

Have a question? Please respond to this email and a volunteer will contact you.

Play Ball!

The Blazing Stars

July 8, 2024 - Flag Football Registration Now Open!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Flag Football registration is now open! We have also added information about the Blazing Stars registration process.

Flag Football Registration Now Open

Special Olympics Flag Football is a "Unified" sport, which means individuals with and without disabilities play on the same team. Flag Football is a "5 on 5" sport. We are able to support 2 teams with a maximum of 16 total athletes and an additional 6 Unified Partners.

• Practice will begin on Monday, August 19. Practice will be held every Monday at 6-7 p.m. through October 7.

• Practice will be held at Arbor Meadows Park, 8505 Johansen Ave. S., Cottage Grove. 

• The fee for Flag Football will be $40 per athlete for the season, if your budget allows. $20 covers Special Olympics tournament fees and $20 helps cover team expenses. Fees are collected at the first practice.

• Please check regional and state tournaments dates before registering as teams need all athletes to participate in both tournaments and regional participation is required to participate in the state tournament. 

We welcome new Unified Partners and Coaches! All Unified Partners and Coaches are required to complete Level 1 Coaches Certification and Background Check. The certification is completed online and takes less than an hour. Blazing Stars volunteers are available to walk you through the details. Learn more here.

Register for Unified Flag Football online at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/flag-football-unified

 About Registration and Team Rosters

The Blazing Stars Special Olympics team goal is to provide inclusive sports and activities for all athletes. We recruit coaches, arrange practice locations, and secure equipment and uniforms to meet the interests of athletes. The good news is that our team is growing!

The Blazing Stars uses an online registration system for all sports and activities. An email is sent to announce that registration is “open”, and athletes can register for that sport. Registration for each sport is typically open for two weeks with reminder emails. Here’s some important details about registration:

• All athletes are required to register for each sport. We do not have a process to register for multiple sports at one time.

• Final team rosters will be determined when registration is complete. Some sports have team limits. When registrations reach the team limit, the online registration form closes, however, there may be openings after duplicate registrations are removed or athletes decide not to participate. If you are interested but unable to register online for any reason, please email woodburyblazingstars@gmail.com.

• Team limits are based on practice facility capacity and volunteer coach needs. We continue to recruit new coaches so we can include more athletes.

•  “Walk Ons” are discouraged as we may not have openings on teams, coaches or practice space. As we are part of Special Olympics Minnesota, we follow all policies for team size and coach to athlete ratio requirements. 

• All athletes must have current medicals on file before the first practice of their sport. Medical expiration dates can be checked on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/athlete-coach-status (Please note: if you recently submitted a new medical, there may be some delay in updating the chart.

 If you have questions about participation, registration status or medical status, please email woodburyblazingstars@gmail.com and a volunteer will contact you. 

The Blazing Stars

June 27, 2024 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

No Practice Next Week Due to July 4th Holiday

Summer sports teams will not practice on July 1 (Bocce, Softball) or July 2 (Golf) due to the July 4th Holiday week. Practice will resume the following week. 

Out & About Walk/Roll this Saturday

Join us for a nice walk/roll this Saturday, June 29 in Battle Creek Park at 10:00 a.m. The parking lot is on Lower Afton Road. The schedule and locations for Out & About can be found on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Summer Tournament Schedule

Mark your calendars for the summer Special Olympics Minnesota competition schedule. Please remember that athletes must participate in regional competitions to participate in state competition. Exceptions include illness or other situations that cannot be prevented. Coaches will follow-up with all athletes that are not able to attend their regional tournament. Spectators are welcome at all events!

Bocce tournament dates are at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bocce

Golf tournament dates are at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/golf

Softball tournaments dates are at  https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

Have a question? Please reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you. 

Have a great 4th of July Holiday!

The Blazing Stars 

June 13, 2024 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We are off to a “blazing” start to our summer so here’s some highlights and reminders:

Spring Sports

Good luck to all our Swimmers and Basketball athletes as they prepare to compete in the Special Olympic Minnesota State Tournaments. If you would like to cheer them on, here’s the details:

Swimming State Tournament – this weekend, June 15 – 16 at Century Middle School in Lakeville.

Basketball State Tournament – June 22 – 23 at Stillwater High School

Summer Sports 

Our summer sports teams are all filled, and our first practices are just around the corner:

• Bocce – Monday, June 24, 6 -7 p.m., Lamar Fields, Cottage Grove

• Softball – Monday, June 24, 6 -7 p.m., Lamar Fields, Cottage Grove

• Golf – Tuesday, June 25, 6 – 7 p.m., Eagle Valley Golf Course, Woodbury

(Reminder – no practice on July 1 or July 2 due to the July 4th week)

Practice Reminders:

• Please arrive a few minutes early so we can start practice on time.

• All athletes are requested to have a parent, guardian, or caregiver attend practice so that coaches have immediate contact in case of an emergency. 

• Bring your water bottles. 

• Blazing Stars volunteers will collect registration fees at the first 2 practices for each sport. Registration is $40 per athlete per sport for those who are able to pay. $20 is a Special Olympics State Tournament fee and $20 supports team expenses (field rental, equipment, uniforms).

• If bad weather forces us to cancel practice, we will post an announcement on each sport web page and send an email. As a reminder, the Blazing Stars home page is at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/home

Coaches

We are grateful for our fantastic volunteer coaches that teach and support our athletes each week at practice and at tournaments. We are always looking for new coaches so please let us know if you have some time to volunteer or know of someone who would like to coach. Information about becoming a Special Olympics Coach is at https://specialolympicsminnesota.org/get-involved/coaches/

Out & About

Athletes and guests are invited to join us for a leisurely walk/roll every other Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to noon. No registration is necessary. Join us this Saturday at the Ravine in Cottage Grove! Meeting locations and details for each activity is at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Do you have a question about the Blazing Stars or Special Olympics, or you would like to get involved as a volunteer coach or help us with team management/administration? Simply reply to this email and a Blazing Stars volunteer will contact you. 

Have a great summer!

The Blazing Stars

May 30, 2024 - Out & About Walk/Roll This Saturday

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Join us this Saturday, June 1 at 10 a.m. for our next Out & About Walk/Roll at  Markgrafs Lake Trail, Woodbury. (meet at CityWalk Tower/Play Area between ATT store and Dunn Bros - 10060 City Walk Drive - across Woodbury Drive from Sam's Club). Free parking is available. 

Information about all Out & About activities is on our website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Have a great weekend!

The Blazing Stars

May 10, 2024 - Out & About Starts on Saturday, May 18

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

The first Out & About walk/roll will be held on Saturday, May 18 as our first event was rained out last Saturday. We will  meet at Jaycee Park in Hasting and walk East along the Mississippi River and stop at some interesting sites. Out & About is open to all athletes, family members and caregivers. 

Out & About details and schedules are at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Join us on Saturday, May 18 for a nice walk/roll along the river!

The Blazing Stars

May 2, 2024 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

While our Blazing Stars basketball teams and swimmers have just completed successful regional tournaments, we are preparing for a very busy summer season of sports and activities. Here’s a few reminders and some new information from Special Olympics Minnesota:

Out & About 

Our Out & About Walks/Rolls Starts this Saturday, May 4, along the Mississippi River in Hastings. It’s hard to believe this is our third year of getting out and about on the trails in our area. Everyone is welcome to join us - just show up at the meeting site by 10:00 a.m. Check out the bi-weekly schedule and meeting site details at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Summer Sports

Bocce registration is still open. Practice starts on Monday, June 24 at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove. To date, we have 27 athletes registered. Information and the red Registration button is at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bocce

Softball registration is still open. Practice starts on Monday, June 24 at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove. To date, we have 39 athletes registered. Information and the red Registration button is at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

Golf registration is closed as we have a full team of 24 golfers. Information will be sent to all athletes on the team. Special thanks to Eagle Valley Golf Course for welcoming the Blazing Stars golfers again this year. 

Without rushing ahead into fall, we do want you to know that we will have Blazing Stars Unified Flag Football and Bowling later this year and information will be communicated this summer. 

Special Olympics USA Games

You might have heard that the 2026 Special Olympic USA Games will be held in the Twin Cities but do you know how athletes can participate? Blazing Stars athletes have competed in past games! Details about the games and how athletes can qualify and apply to become a member of Team Minnesota are at https://specialolympicsminnesota.org/2026-usa-games/

That’s plenty of information for one email! If you have questions, please reply to this email and a volunteer will respond as soon as possible. 

1, 2, 3, Stars!

The Blazing Stars

April 24, 2024 - Bocce and Softball Registration Now Open

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes and Fans,

Registration for Bocce and Softball is now open! Pick your sport(s) below and follow the link to the Blazing Stars website to register. Registration is online – click the red “Registration” button on the bottom of the web page. 

All athletes must have current applications/medicals on file by the first day of practice. You can check athlete status on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/athlete-coach-status

Please check regional and state tournament dates as athletes must participate in the regional tournament to qualify for the state tournament. Exceptions include sickness or other unexpected situations. 

Bocce Registration

The 2024 Bocce season will begin on Monday, June 24 at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove. Register by clicking on the red “Registration” button at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bocce

Bocce Practice:

Practice begins on Monday, June 24 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Practice will be held every Monday night through August 12. (No practice on July 1 due to 4th of July week)

Practice will be held at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove. 

Tournament Information:

The Metro Regional Bocce Tournament will be held on July 27 at the West St. Paul Sports Center in West St. Paul

The Special Olympics Minnesota State Bocce Tournament will be held on August 17-18 at M Health Fairview Sports Center in Woodbury.

 Softball Registration

The 2024 Softball season will start on June 24 at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove. To register, click the link and the red “Register” button, then select “Softball” as your sport.

https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

Softball Practice:

Softball practice will begin on Monday, June 24 from 6 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Practice will be held every Monday through August 12. (No practice on July 1 due to 4th of July week)

Practice will be held at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove.

Tournament Information:

The Metro Regional Softball Tournament will be held on July 20 at The Ponds Athletic Complex in Prior Lake. 

The Special Olympics Minnesota State Softball Tournament will be held on August 17-18 at M Health Fairview Sports Center in Woodbury.

 Registration Fees

Registration for each sport is $40 per athlete for the season for those who are able to pay. Fees cover Special Olympic Tournament fees ($20 per athlete and coaches) and contribute to team equipment and practice field rental. A registration table and sign will be set up at the first practice of each sport. Volunteers will be available to collect fees and answer questions.

Questions? Simply reply to this email and a Blazing Stars volunteer will respond.

Have a great summer and we’ll see you at practice!

The Blazing Stars

April 24, 2024 - Golf Registration Open

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Golf registration is open. Golf practice begins on Tuesday, June 25 at Eagle Valley Golf Course in Woodbury and will continue through the state tournament on August 25. Details and the online Red Registration button is available at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/golf

Golf Details:

 Start time is 6 pm. Practice will last until 7 p.m.

•  Practice will be held at Eagle Valley Golf Course, 2600 Double Eagle Lane, Woodbury.

• No practice on July 2 because of the July 4 holiday week. 

As we will have a cap on team size of 20 Special Olympics Athletes, participation priority will be based on the following criteria:

•  Athletes represented by a Golf team coach, active Blazing Stars coach (other sports) or team organization volunteer.

• Athletes that are currently on the Blazing Stars roster. If more athletes register than we have available team spots, selection will be based on a random drawing.

• If more athletes from other delegations register than we have available team spots, selection will be based on a random drawing.

Athletes must compete in the Metro Regional Golf Tournament to participate in the State Tournament so please check the dates below before registering. Tournament information:

• The Metro Regional Golf Tournament will be held on July 29 at Hidden Greens Golf Course in Hastings, MN.

• The Special OIympics Minnesota State Golf Tournament is scheduled for August 25 at Oak Marsh Golf Course in Oakdale, MN. Questions? 

Please respond to this email and a volunteer will contact you. Bocce and Softball registration information is coming soon!

Have a great Spring!

The Blazing Stars Special Olympics Team

April 21, 2024 - Out & About Starts May 4!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes and Fans,

We are excited to announce the 2024 Blazing Stars Out & About Team season. Out & About is a new activity to support fun, fitness, and social activity. We will get together for walking/rolling along the great accessible trails in our area. Each trail covers 2-3, however, athletes and friends can participate for as long as they choose. The activity is open to all Blazing Stars athletes, family members and caregivers. Special Olympics Minnesota is encouraging and supporting local recreational activities.  

Our first walk/roll will be held on Saturday, May 4 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Levee Park in Hastings. We will meet at Jaycee Park in Hastings. Jaycee Park is located on the river just West of the new Confluence Hotel. Turn right after crossing the Hwy. 62 bridge and follow the river to the parking lot. 

Out & About events will be held from Spring through Fall - typically every other Saturday unless there are holidays or Special Olympic competitions. More information and the schedule through July is posted on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

We would ask that all athletes register online for Out & About in advance by clicking on the red Registration button on the web page. Please respond to this email if you have questions. 

Join us on the trail!

The Blazing Stars

March 21, 2024 - Jersey Mike's Supports Special Olympics, March 27

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Jersey Mike's will have a Day of Giving to support Special Olympics Minnesota (SOMN) on Wednesday, March 27. Proceeds from ALL SALES (that's correct...All Sales) next Wednesday will benefit Special Olympics Minnesota. As you know, the Blazing Stars is an affiliate of SOMN, so if you are able, please have lunch or dinner at one of the Jersey Mike's in our area: 

Jersey Mikes - 8800 East Pt. Douglas Road, Cottage Grove (by Menards)

Jersey Mikes - 7455 Currell Drive, Woodbury (Shoppes of Woodbury Village)

Jersey Mikes - 429 Commerce, Woodbury (across Commerce from  Sam's Club)

Blazing Stars athletes will be at all 3 locations during dinner hours to greet and thank customers. Thank you for supporting the Special Olympics Minnesota and the Blazing Stars!

The Blazing Stars

February 23, 2024 - State Poly Hockey Schedule - March 9 & 10, Stillwater High School

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

The 2024 Special Olympics Minnesota State Poly Hockey tournament will be held on Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10 at Stillwater High School. Blazing Stars game times are listed below. Tournament information sheets will be given to athletes at practice on Monday and all details are on the Blazing Stars website. All fans are welcome! (No admission fee for fans)

Tournament Schedule

White Team – Division N

Saturday, March 9 - 1:10 p.m.    vs. ACC Red (Court 7)

Saturday, March 9 - 3:40 p.m.    vs. Rave White (Court 8)

Sunday,    March 10 - 9:00 a.m.  vs. STC Grey (Court 4)

Black Team – Division G

Saturday, March 9 – 9:50 a.m.     vs. NLI Rockets (Court 4)

Saturday, March 9 - 12:20 p.m.    vs. Owatonna Blue (Court 6)

Sunday,    March 10 - 11:30 a.m.  vs. STC Grey (Court 5)

Red Team – Division E

Saturday, March 9 – 2:50 p.m.      vs. Flame Heat (Court 5)

Sunday,    March 10 - 10:40 a.m.   vs. WNG Black (Court 8)

Sunday,    March 10 – 1:10 p.m.    vs. ACC White (Court 6)

Tournament Details

• Athletes are asked to arrive at the tournament 1 hour before each game time. 

• Lunch from Jersey Mike’s will be provided to athletes and coaches both days. 

• Healthy Hearing and Health Promotions will be held on Saturday from 9-3.

• FanStop merchandise will be available for sale. 

Athletes will be demonstrating their skills at practice on Monday, February 26, scrimmaging the Woodbury Royals Girls Hockey Team. This is our second year of the scrimmage – thank you Royals!

Question? Please respond to this email and a team volunteer will respond. 

Go Stars!

The Blazing Stars

February 8, 2024 - Blazing Stars Update - 25th Anniversary, Basketball, Swimming

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here’s a reminder of upcoming activities and links to RSVP and register for sports. Don’t miss out on the fun – register today!

25th Blazing Stars Anniversary Celebration – March 23

The Blazing Stars Special Olympics team began in 1989 – 25 years ago! To recognize our team, please join us for a 25th Blazing Stars Anniversary Celebration. The event will be held on Saturday, March 23 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Gethsemane Lutheran School in Maplewood. (our Poly Hockey and Basketball practice location)

Activities will include a short program, refreshments, music, games, and surprises! Details are on the website. The event is open to all Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches, family members and staff. There is no participation fee. We will have a donation box if you are able to contribute to support the event.

Complete an online RSVP so that we can complete our planning. Please RSVP by February 15 at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/25th-anniversary-celebration

Basketball Registration Now Open – Practice Begins March 25

Registration for Blazing Stars Basketball is now open! The Blazing Stars will offer both half court and full court teams for athletes of all abilities. Not sure which team is best for you? No problem, just come to the first practice at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 25 at Gethsemane Lutheran School in Maplewood. Blazing Stars volunteer coaches will help you select the team that’s right for you. Basketball details and online registration are available on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/basketball

Swimming Registration Now Open – Practice Begins March 27

Registration is now open for the Blazing Stars Swim Team! Practice starts on Wednesday, March 27 at Lake Middle School in Woodbury. Special Olympics is a competitive sport, offering events for all swimming abilities. Please note that this sport does not include swimming lessons.

Click on the link below to the Blazing Stars Swim Team web page, review the details and click on the red “Registration” button. The registration form includes contact information and a chance to choose the swimming events you like - if you know them. If not, that's ok, coaches will help athletes pick events. Review information and register online at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/swimming

 Go Stars!

The Blazing Stars

February 5, 2024 - 2024 Swim Team Registration Now Open!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Registration is now open for the upcoming Blazing Stars Swim Team! Practice starts on Wednesday, March 27 at Lake Middle School in Woodbury. Special Olympics is a competitive sport, offering events for all swimming abilities. Please note that this sport does not include swimming lessons.

Please review the swim team information and click on the link below to the Blazing Stars Swim Team web page and red “Registration” button. The registration form includes contact information and a chance to choose the swimming events you like - if you know them. If not, that's ok, coaches will help athletes pick events. Review the information and register at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/swimming

2024 Team Size:

Our Swim team size will be based on the pool capacity for swimmers and the required number of volunteer coaches (1 coach to 4 swimmers). If we have more athletes register than we have openings, participation priority will be based on the following criteria:

1. Athletes that are currently on the Blazing Stars roster. (Athletes represented by a Blazing Stars Certified Coach or team management volunteer will receive priority) If more Blazing Stars athletes register than we have available team spots, selection will be based on a random drawing of athletes.

2. Athletes from other delegations. If more athletes register than we have available team spots, selection will be based on a random drawing.

Practice:

Dates: Practice will begin on Wednesday, March 27 and held on Wednesday nights through June 12.

Time: Practice is from 6:45 – 8 p.m.

Location: Lake Middle School, 3133 Pioneer Drive, Woodbury 

Tournaments: 

Athletes are required to participate in the Regional Tournament in order to participate in the State Tournament. Exceptions would include illness or family emergency. Please check the following tournaments dates before registering:

Metro Regional Tournament: April 20, St. Catherine’s University, St. Paul

State Tournament: June 15 and June 16, Century Middle School, Lakeville. 

Registration Fees:

The fee for Swimming will be $40 per athlete for the season if your budget allows. $20 covers Special Olympics tournament fees and $20 helps cover team expenses, including pool rental. Fees are collected at the first practice.

Please respond to this email if you have questions about Swimming or the Blazing Stars.

“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

The Blazing Stars

February 3, 2024 - 2024 Basketball Registration Now Open!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Registration for Blazing Stars Special Olympics Basketball is now open! The Blazing Stars will offer both half court and full court teams for athletes of all abilities. 

 Please review the details below and click on the link to the Blazing Stars website. The website has a red registration button to sign up online at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/basketball

Blazing Stars Basketball Practice 

2024 Practice will be held at Gethsemane Lutheran School in Maplewood beginning on Monday, March 25 through Monday, June 17 (No practice on May 27, Memorial Day):

§ 6 - 7 p.m. - Half Court Practice

§ 7 - 8 p.m. - Full Court Practice

Not sure if half-court or full-court is best for you? Please attend the 6 p.m. practice on March 25 and the Blazing Stars volunteer coaching staff will help you select the team that’s right for you.

The registration fee for basketball is $40 per athlete, if your budget allows, to cover the cost of tournament fees, gym rental and team equipment. Please bring a check or cash to the first practice. 

Basketball Tournament Information

The Blazing Stars will participate in the following 2024 Basketball Tournaments:

Regional Tournament - Sunday, April 21, Hastings High School

State Tournament - Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23, Stillwater High School

Please note - athletes are required to participate in the Regional Tournament in order to participate in the State Tournament. Exceptions would include illness or family emergency. 

Check Your Paperwork

As a reminder, all athletes must have current registration and medical information on file with Special Olympics Minnesota before attending practice. If you are unsure of your status, please check the Blazing Stars roster at Athlete & Coach Status.

Have questions? Please email woodburyblazingstars@gmail.com and a Blazing Stars volunteer will contact you.

Go Stars!

The Blazing Stars

February 1, 2024 - 25th Anniversary Celebration RSVP

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

The Blazing Stars Special Olympics team began in 1989 – 25 years ago! To recognize our team, please join us for a 25th Blazing Stars Anniversary Celebration. The celebration is open to all Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches, family members and staff. Please complete an online RSVP so that we know that you will be there. RSVP by February 15 at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/25th-anniversary-celebration

Celebration Details

25th Blazing Stars Anniversary Celebration

Saturday, March 23

2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Gethsemane Lutheran School, 2410 Stillwater Rd E., Maplewood, MN 55119 

Celebration Activities

2:00 – Arrive and register

2:10 – Short program followed by a team photo (wear your Blazing Stars t-shirt!)

2:30 – Refreshments (Little Oven pizza slices (inc. GF), snacks, beverages)

2:30 – 4:00 Special Olympic Games of Skill (athletes can try all games and receive a 25th Anniversary gift)

2:30 – 5:00 – DJ/Dancing and Roaming Entertainment

Please join us to celebrate. There is no participation fee. We will have a donation box if you are able to make a contribution to support the event. Thank you!

Go Stars!

The Blazing Stars

January 23, 2024 - Poly Hockey Tournament Details

Hello Blazing Stars Poly Hockey Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

 Here’s a reminder of the details for the Metro Regional Poly Hockey Tournament this coming Sunday, January 28 at Breck School, 123 Ottawa Ave., Golden Valley.

 Athletes are asked to arrive 1 hour before game times. All Blazing Stars teams will gather in Room M1. All equipment and game jerseys will be available in the room. A map of the school with room assignments and gym locations is attached. (Note to Coaches bringing equipment – there is a second entrance to the school that is just outside our gathering room)

 Game Schedule for Sunday, January 28:

· Red Team - 9 a.m. (Court 2) and 10:40 a.m. (Court 3 or 4)

· Black Team - 9 a.m. (Court 4) and 11:30 a.m. (Court 1 or 4)

· White Team - 10:40 a.m. (Court 2) and 12:20 p.m. (Court 3 or 4)

Tournament Details:

· Each team will play 2 games.

· Each game will last approximately 50 minutes. 

· Lunch will not be served - concessions are available for purchase and you can bring your own food/drink. 

· Opening ceremonies will be held at 8:45 a.m.

Please reply to this email if you have questions. 

Have a great tournament!

The Blazing Stars

January 18, 2024 - Poly Hockey Regional Tournament Schedule

Hello Poly Hockey Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We have just received the game schedule for our upcoming Metro Regional Poly Hockey Tournament on Sunday, January 28 at Breck School in Golden Valley. 

Game Schedule for Sunday, January 28:

• Red Team - 9 a.m. (Court 2) and 10:40 a.m. (Court 3 or 4)

• Black Team - 9 a.m. (Court 4) and 11:30 a.m. (Court 1 or 4)

• White Team - 10:40 a.m. (Court 2) and 12:20 p.m. (Court 3 or 4)

Tournament Details

• Each team will play 2 games

• Each game will last approximately 50 minutes (3 - 9 minute periods, shift changes every 3 minutes)

• Athletes are asked to arrive at least 45 minutes before the first game. 

• All teams will have a gathering spot. Volunteers at the main entrance will direct you to the Blazing Stars room.

• Lunch will not be served - concessions are available for purchase and you can bring your own food/drink. 

• Opening ceremonies will be held at 8:45 a.m.

We will have printed tournament handouts for all athletes at practice on Monday. Questions? Please reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you. 

Go Stars!

The Blazing Stars

January 9, 2024 - Poly Hockey Metro Region Tournament Update

Hello Poly Hockey Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We just received schedule information about the Metro Regional Poly Hockey tournament. All three Blazing Stars teams (White, Black & Red) will play both of their games on Sunday, January 28 at Breck School. Games are scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. and all games are expected to be completed by early afternoon. We will provide exact game times for each team as soon as the schedule is published by Special Olympics Minnesota. 

As mentioned in an earlier email, we will not have team practice on Monday, January 29. Please reply to this email if you have questions and a volunteer will contact you. 

Thank you,

The Blazing Stars

January 8, 2024 - Poly Hockey Update

Hello Poly Hockey Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We had an excellent practice on Monday night! Here’s the schedule for the rest of the season including updated information about the Regional Tournament on January 27 – 28. 

January 15 & 22 – Team Practice 

January 27 or  January 28 – Regional Tournament at Breck School in Golden Valley  (Please note this important update – we had previously announced this as a one-day tournament on the 27th, however, some Divisions will play on the 28th)

• Each Blazing Stars team will be assigned a Division and will play 2 games on the same day, either the 27th or 28th.

• Games will begin at 9:00 a.m. each day. 

• Saturday, January 27 will be the longest day with the largest number of teams competing throughout the day. Games on Sunday are expected to be completed by early afternoon.

• We expect to receive Division and day assignments later this week and will communicate those as soon as we get the information.

January 29 – Team Practice

February 5, 12, 19, 26 – Team Practice

March 4 – Team Practice

March 9 & 10 – State Poly Hockey Tournament, Stillwater High School

• Each team will play 3 games over the 2-day state tournament. Teams will compete on both days. 

• Schedules will be posted after the Regional Tournaments. 

If you have questions, please reply to this email or ask your coaches at practice. 

Thank you,

The Blazing Stars

December 29, 2023 - Happy New Year Update 

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here's an update as we say goodbye to 2023 and look forward to a new year of Blazing Stars fun:

• Poly Hockey practice resumes on Monday, January 8. Don't forget to mark your calendars for the tournaments in late January and early March. Details at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey

• Snowshoeing registration is still open and practice begins on Sunday, January 7 (snow or no-snow!) Details at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/snowshoeing

• We are making plans for our Blazing Stars Swimming team now so watch for information in early January. 

• Also, mark your calendars for a Blazing Stars 25th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, March 23 from 2-5 pm. More details to come!

Happy New Year!

The Blazing Stars

December 14, 2023 - Poly Hockey Information - Practice Starts Monday!

Hello Blazing Stars Poly Hockey Players, Coaches and Fans,

Poly Hockey practice begins this coming Monday, December 18 for all 3 teams. Below are some notes in preparation for our first practice:

• Practice location is Gethsemane Lutheran School building at 2420 Stillwater Rd. Maplewood. The building is usually open by 5:45.

• Practice for the White and Black teams is from 6-7 pm. 

• Practice for the Red team is 7-8 pm.

• If you are unsure of your team, please come at 6 and coaches will help you select the right team for you. 

• The first practice will include collecting fees,  fitting and labeling equipment, meeting teammates and coaches, and playing some hockey. 

• No practice on December 25 or January 1. Our next practice will be January 8, 2024.

• Information about the season and tournaments is at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey

We are grateful to the 11 coaches who are committing their time to create a great experience for the athletes. And, we can always use more coaches so please let us know if you or someone you know is interested.

Participation Fees

The Poly Hockey participation fee is $40 for athletes that are able to pay.  $20 of the fee is for the state tournament fee and $20 supports our equipment and practice rental budget. Team Treasurer Barbara Morgan will be at practice to collect fees via cash, check or Venmo. A QR code will be available for Venmo.

Please reply to this email if you have questions and a volunteer will respond.

Happy Holidays!

The Blazing Stars

December 6, 2023 - Snowshoeing Registration Now Open

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Believe it or not - we are expecting to get snow this winter so Snowshoeing season will start on Sunday, January 7! You can find all the details and register online on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/snowshoeing

Please note that there is also an opportunity to participate as Unified Partners this year. 

Happy Holidays,

The Blazing Stars

December 6, 2023 - Poly Hockey Practice Starts Monday December 18

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Our Blazing Stars Poly Hockey season begins with the first practice on Monday, December 18 at Gethsemane Lutheran School in Maplewood.  (Please note: the school has closed, however, we are continuing to rent the gym from Gethsemane Lutheran Church)

Practice times

6 - 7 p.m. - White and Black Teams

7 - 8 p.m. - Red Team

If you are unsure of your team or are a new poly hockey player, please attend practice at 6:00 p.m. and coaches will help you pick the team that is best for you.

Please bring your $40 registration fee to practice if you are able. 

Poly Hockey details are on the website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey

Thank you to our returning coaches and our two new Red Team coaches. We do need at least one more assistant coach for our Red Team so please let us know if you are willing to coach. 

Please reply to this email if you have questions and a volunteer will contact you. 

See you at practice!

The Blazing Stars

November 21, 2023 - Blazing Stars Update: Save the Date & Poly Hockey

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here's an update on Blazing Stars activities:

Save the Date - 25th Anniversary Celebration

The Blazing Stars are completing 25 years of continuing operations so it's time to celebrate! Please save the date - Saturday, March 23, 2024, 2-5 p.m. at Gethsemane Lutheran School in Maplewood  for an afternoon of fun, food and activities for all as we celebrate our team's 25th Anniversary. More details and a formal announcement will be sent in early January. 

Poly Hockey Registration

There is still time to join Poly Hockey! Register online by December 1 at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey. 

We are also recruiting assistant coaches for the Red Team - please respond to this email if you or anyone you know would be interested. We do have a Head Coach and one Assistant Coach so we need 2 more to meet the athlete to coach ratio of 4:1 for the Red Team. 

Swimming

Plans for swimming are underway for our 2024 Blazing Stars Swim Team. We are tentatively planning to begin practice at the end of March, 2024. More information will be available in early January.

Also, congratulations to our Blazing Stars bowlers who participated in the state tourney this past Sunday at Treasure Island Extreme Bowl. Our bowlers brought home many ribbons and plenty of great memories. Anyone have pics from the event? We'd love to add bowling photos to our website. 

Happy Thanksgiving,

The Blazing Stars

November 10, 2023 - Become a Blazing Stars Coach

Hello Blazing Stars,

Have you ever considered becoming a Coach for the Blazing Stars? With our team growth in 2023 and a full schedule planned for 2024, we will need additional Coaches for all sports. Information and Coach resources are available at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/athlete-coach-status

In particular, we are looking for at least 3 Coaches (1 head and 2 assistants) to coach the Red Team for Poly Hockey. The Red Team Poly Hockey coaching staff retired after many dedicated seasons so we need to fill their positions to field the team. No experience is necessary as coaches from the Black Team have offered to provide practice routines and mentoring to help new Coaches. Information about Poly Hockey is available at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Blazing Stars coach, please respond to this email and a volunteer will contact you. 

Thank you,

The Blazing Stars

November 6, 2023 - Poly Hockey Registration Open!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Don't forget to register for Poly Hockey! Practice starts on December 18th and we would like to have our team rosters created before Thanksgiving. Please find all the details and the familiar red "Registration" button on the Poly Hockey page of the website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey

We also need to recruit a new coaching staff for the Red Team as our coaching family has retired after many years of coaching. Please let us know if you would like to coach or if you know someone that would enjoy coaching our awesome Red Team. 

Thank you,

The Blazing Stars

October 23, 2023 - Poly Hockey Registration Now Open!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Poly Hockey Registration is now open! The 2023-24 Poly Hockey season will begin on Monday, December 18 at Gethsemane Lutheran School in Maplewood. Please read all the details and find online Registration on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey

Poly Hockey Overview:

·      Practice will begin on Monday, December 18 through March 4. No practice on December 25 or January 1. Practice will resume on January 8.

·      Black and White team practice from 6 -7 p.m. Red team practice from 7-8 p.m.

·      Practice at Gethsemane Lutheran School in Maplewood

·      Regional tournament on January 27, State Tournament on March 8-9. Please note tournament participation requirements on the website. 

·      All athletes must be registered as a Special Olympic athlete with a current medical check to attend the first practice. Check your status at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/athlete-coach-status

Coaches Needed! 

We always need new volunteers to help coach our teams! We have a particular need for a new coaching staff for the Blazing Stars Red team. Please read more details about coaching on the website and consider coaching or help us identify potential volunteers to fill our coaching staff. 

If you have questions about Poly Hockey, the Blazing Stars or Special Olympics, please respond to this email and a team volunteer will contact you. 

1, 2, 3 – Go Stars,

The Blazing Stars

October 6, 2023 - Bowling Registration Open Until October 14!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans!

There's still time to participate in Bowling and join the Blazing Stars team at the Special Olympics Minnesota State Bowling competition. The Blazing Stars will bowl on Sunday, November 19 at Treasure Island Xtreme Bowl near Welch. Details of the tournament will be communicated closer to the tournament date.

If you would still like to participate in Bowling and have not yet registered, you can register online by October 14 on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bowling

If you are unsure that you have already registered, we have posted a list of registered bowlers (as of October 6) on the Bowling web page just below the registration button. 

Once registered, you will be contacted by a Blazing Stars Bowling coach. A coach will tell you how to report your scores from bowling with family or friends, or from a bowling league. Tournament registration will close on October 23. 

Please reply to this email if you have any questions.

Enjoy the fall weather!

The Blazing Stars

September 15, 2023 - Out & About this Saturday!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Our last Out & About walk/roll for the season will be held this Saturday, September 30 at 10:00 a.m. We will walk/roll the Markgrafs Lake Trail, Woodbury. (meet at CityWalk Tower/Play Area between ATT store and Dunn Bros - 10060 City Walk Drive - across Woodbury Drive from Sam's Club). Free parking is available. 

We are completing our second season of Out & About! More than 20 athletes have participated this season and new athletes and partners are welcome! No registration is required – just show up a few minutes before 10 and join us!

See you on Saturday,

The Blazing Stars

September 16, 2023 - Let's Plan a Party!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Blazing Stars and many athletes have said that they would like to celebrate! 

Would you be willing to help plan a 25th Anniversary celebration? We are looking for a team of volunteers to plan a get together for athletes, coaches, and fans. The type of celebration and timing is open, and we do have money in the team budget to support an event. 

Please respond to this email if you would be willing to help us plan and we will organize a time get together for planning. Also, please let us know if you have suggestions and/or access to resources that could support an event.

Thank you,

The Blazing Stars

August 23, 2023 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

It was a busy weekend for the Blazing Stars Bocce and Softball teams! Bocce athletes came away from Saturday’s state tournament with 14 gold medals, 17 silver medals, 12 bronze medals and 4 fourth place ribbons. After a Saturday cancellation due to heat, the White Softball team left Sunday’s competition with a gold medal. The Black and Red teams finished in 4th place in their respective divisions with close games in very competitive divisions. Great job athletes! 

The Blazing Stars was among the largest delegations at the combined tournament – made possible by our volunteer coaches. Thank you!

Here’s what’s coming up for the Blazing Stars:

Golf

The Special OIympics Minnesota State Golf Competition will be held this Sunday, August 27 at the Oak Marsh Golf Course in Oakdale. Good luck Golfers!

Unified Flag Football

The first practice was held on Monday with 16 athletes and 4 unified players. We would like to add a couple more unified players (16+ age) so please reply to this email if you or someone you know is interested. Practice is on Mondays at 6:00 p.m. Learn more at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/flag-football-unified

Out & About

We have a few more Out & About walks/rolls scheduled through September. Check out the schedule and join us! Information at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Join the Blazing Stars “Move for Inclusion,” a Special Olympics joint fundraiser. 50% of funds raised comes to our team. You can join the walk and/or support our team at https://fundraise.somn.org/campaign/move-for-inclusion/c473743

Bowling

Bowling registration is now open and there are a number of ways to participate – join the Special League at Park Bowl, bowl in any league, or bowl with family and friends. The Blazing Stars will also schedule 2 team practices before the November tournament at Treasure Island. Find all the information and the red “Registration” button at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bowling

Free Health Care Screenings with Special Olympics Minnesota

Navigating health care is not easy! Join Special Olympics Minnesota at the Radisson Blu Mall of America on Sunday, October 29 for free health screenings. No appointments or insurance is needed. Information is at https://specialolympicsminnesota.org/get-involved/athletes/inclusive-health/health-fair/

"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

The Blazing Stars

August 19, 2023 - Important: New Softball Tournament Schedule for Sunday, August 20

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We have just received the new State Softball Tournament for this Sunday. The state Softball competition will be held at the M Health Fairview Sports Center is Woodbury. Each Blazing Star team (White, Black, Red) will play 2 games on Sunday, August 20. Athletes are asked to be onsite one hour before game times. Below are the new game time/field schedules for each team along with general tournament information. 

White Team - Arrive by 8:00 a.m.

Game 1 - Sunday, 9:00 a.m. Field 8

Game 2 - Sunday, 1:00 p.m. Field 8 or 9 (based on Game 1 results)

Black Team - Arrive by 8:00 a.m.

Game 1 - Sunday, 9:00 a.m. Field 10

Game 2 - Sunday, 1:00 p.m. Field 10 or 11 (based on Game 1 results)

Red Team - Arrive by 9:20 a.m.

Game 1 - Sunday, 10:20 a.m. Field 13

Game 2 - Sunday, 1:00 p.m. (Field 13 - winner of game 1) or 3:40 p.m. (Field 13 - loser of game 1)

The above times are also posted on our team website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

Additional information:

Lunch (Jersey Mikes Sandwiches) will be served for all registered participants (athletes and coaches) on Sunday, and will be available to be picked up in the upper level of the field house building from 10:30am-1:30pm. 

Concessions will be available inside the field house building during competition.

Additionally, merchandise at FanStop will be available for purchase. The FanStop tent will be located by the outdoor ice rink, which is adjacent to the entrance of the field house building.

Have a great tournament!

The Blazing Stars

August 19, 2023 - Important: Saturday Softball Games Cancelled - Still Playing Sunday

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

All Softball games scheduled for today, Saturday, August 19 have been cancelled due to the expected heat index. All Softball teams will play 2 games on Sunday, August 20 with an altered schedule.  We will communicate Sunday's game times as soon as we receive the new schedule from Special Olympics Minnesota. Please watch email and the website for new Sunday game times.

There is no change for the Bocce tournament as it will be held indoors. 

Stay cool today!

The Blazing Stars

August 15, 2023 - Unified Flag Football Partners Needed!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Our Unified Flag Football athletes and coaches are ready to start practice, however, we still need a few Unified Partners to complete the team. Flag Football is a "Unified" sport in that athletes with and without disabilities play together during 5 on 5 competition. Weekly practice  is on Monday evenings from 6 -7 p.m. in Cottage Grove.

Please let us know if you or someone you know (16 or older) would be willing to join our team as a Unified Partner. Practice and tournament information is available on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/flag-football-unified

No experience is necessary - our experienced players and coaches will help you learn the rules and develop skills while you're having fun. Unified partners complete an online application and short online training program, and complete an online background check. There is no fee to volunteer. 

Please contact us at woodburyblazingstars@gmail.com with any questions or if you/someone you know is interested. Thank you!

The Blazing Stars

August 14, 2023 - Bocce and Softball Practice Cancelled Tonight - 8/14 - Lamar Park Closed

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Lamar Fields have been closed tonight due to the rain. Fields have standing water. As a result, Bocce and Softball practice for tonight. is cancelled. Coaches will contact athletes about arrival times for the Special Olympics Minnesota State Competition this coming weekend. 

Have fun at the competition!

The Blazing Stars

August 9, 2023 - Bocce and Softball State Competition 

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We have one more practice and it's Special Olympics Minnesota State Competition time! Below is information about the tournaments. Coaches will have more details at practice. The following information is also posted on the Bocce and Softball pages of our website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/home

Bocce State Competition

The state Bocce competition will take place on August 19 & 20 at M Health Fairview Sports Center in Woodbury. Each delegation will compete on one day. The Blazing Stars Bocce Team will compete on Saturday, August 19. Blazing Stars Bocce Coaches will have details at practice.

Competition times on August 19 are as follows:

• 9:00 a.m. - Singles (Traditional, Modified, Ramp)

• 11:30 a.m. - All Doubles, some Singles (these Single competitions would include athletes that are not also doing Doubles)

• 2:00 p.m. - Singles (Traditional, Modified, Ramp)

Each athlete/pair will play 3 games.

Softball State Competition

The state Softball competition will be held on Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20 at the M Health Fairview Sports Center is Woodbury. Each Blazing Star team (White, Black, Red) will play 3 games over the 2-day tournament. Below are the game date/time/field schedules for each team. Coaches will provide more detail and arrival times at practice.

White Team 

Game 1 - Saturday, 10:20 a.m., Field 8

Game 2 - Sunday, 9:00 a.m., Field 8

Game 3 - Sunday, 10:20 a.m., Field 8

Black Team

Game 1 - Saturday, 1:00 p.m., Field 9

Game 2 - Saturday, 2:20 p.m., Field 10

Game 3 - Sunday, 1:00 p.m. Field 9

Red Team

Game 1 - Saturday, 11:40 a.m., Field 11

Game 2 - Saturday, 3:40 p.m., Field 10

Game 3 - Sunday, 9:00 a.m., Field 11

Additional Tournament information

• A brief Opening/Welcome Ceremony will take place at 8:30am on Saturday in the middle of fields 10-13.

• Lunch (Jersey Mike's Sandwiches) will be served for all registered participants (athletes, coaches and unified partners) on Saturday and Sunday, and will be available to be picked up in the upper level of the field house building from 10:30am-1:30pm. 

• Concessions will be available for sale inside the field house building during competition.

• The FanStop tent with Special Olympics Merchandise will be located by the outdoor ice rink, which is adjacent to the entrance of the field house building.

Athletes and Fans - please join us in thanking our Blazing Stars Coaches! More than 20 volunteers have made this a great season and we are grateful for your talent and time! Thank you!

 Good luck and play hard!

The Blazing Stars

August 8 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Hope you're enjoying summer! Below is an update on upcoming activities:

Out & About 

The next walk/roll is this coming Saturday, August 12 at Oakdale Nature Preserve, 4444 Hadley Ave. N. Oakdale. We meet at 10:00 a.m. - join us! Details for all Out & About activities are at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Unified Flag Football

Registration is still open for Flag Football and practice starts on August 21. We have a few more openings if you'd like to try it out. Details at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/flag-football-unified

Bocce and Softball

Our last practice will be on August 14 to get ready for the state competition. Tournament details are coming soon. 

Questions? Please send your questions to woodburyblazingstars@gmail.com and a volunteer will contact you.

The Blazing Stars

July 31, 2023 - No Golf Practice on August 1

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Here's a couple of notes for this week:

Golfers - no practice on Tuesday, August 1 because of today's tournament.

Bocce - Good luck at the Metro Regional Tournament on Saturday, August 5 at the West St. Paul Sports Center - fans are welcome!

"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

The Blazing Stars

July 18, 2023 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Our Softball teams had a great time at the Regional Tournament at Ojibway Park. Congratulations athletes and thank you to all Softball Coaches! 

Here’s an update on upcoming events:

Out & About – our next walk/roll will be held this Saturday, July 22 at the Ravine Park in Cottage Grove. We will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Cottage Grove City Hall located at 12800 Ravine Parkway S. in Cottage Grove

Golf – the Metro Regional Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, July 31 at Hidden Greens Golf Course in Hastings. Golf Coaches will have details at practice. 

Bocce – the Regional Metro Bocce competition will take place at the West St. Paul Sports Dome on Saturday, August 5. Bocce Coaches will have detailed information at practice. 

Flag Football – registration for Flag Football is now open and details can be found on our website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/flag-football-unified

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Special Olympics Minnesota State Competitions:

• August 19 & 20 – Bocce and Softball at MHealth Sports Center in Woodbury

• August 27 – Golf at Oak Marsh Golf Course in Oakdale

 If you are attending practice and competitions, please take time to thank our amazing Blazing Stars Coaches! With their leadership, athletes are building skills for their sports, how to be a team player, and building friendships.

It’s going to be a busy August! Have a great time at practice and competitions! 

The Blazing Stars 

July 14, 2023 - Flag Football Registration Now Open!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for Flag Football. Special Olympics Flag Football is a "Unified" sport, which means individuals with and without disabilities play on the same team. Flag Football is a "5 on 5" sport. We are able to support a team with a maximum of 16 Athletes plus Unified Partners. Information and the link to registration is available on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/flag-football-unified

Unified Flag Football Details

Practice will begin on Monday, August 21 at 6:00 p.m. Practice will be held every Monday through October 9 from 6 -7 p.m. (The first practice on August 21 practice will run from 6-8 p.m.)

Practice will be held at a new location:  Arbor Meadows Park, 8505 Johansen Ave. S., Cottage Grove.

The fee for Flag Football will be $40 per athlete for the season if your budget allows. $20 covers Special Olympics tournament fees and $20 helps cover team expenses. Fees are collected at the first practice.

Questions? Please reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you. 

Enjoy the summer!

Blazing Stars Special Olympics

July 11,2023 - Jersey Mikes Support Special Olympics!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

This is a big weekend for our Blazing Stars Softball teams as they compete at Saturday's  regional tournament at Ojibway Park in Woodbury. This is also a great weekend to stop by any Jersey Mike's location to support Special Olympics Minnesota. Jersey Mike's is donating 25% of all sales on Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16 to Special Olympics Minnesota. Wear a  Blazing Stars or Special Olympics shirt and a medal or two,  and thank the employees for their support -  it will bring a smile to them and customers alike. 

Three local Jersey Mikes:

Jersey Mikes - 7455 Currell Blvd, Woodbury

Jersey Mikes - 429 Commerce Drive, Woodbury 

Jersey Mikes - 8800 East Point Douglas Road, Cottage Grove (new location next to Menards)

Why is this important? Our team volunteers are working hard to get back to "normal" following COVID and we are including new athletes with every sport. In addition to all our state organization does  to make sports and activities possible, Special Olympics Minnesota staff led the effort to acquire a grant from Andersen Windows for the Blazing Stars annual operating budget. This support has helped our team purchase new equipment and uniforms, and pay for practice facility rental to support our team growth. 

Thank you for being a part of the Blazing Stars and Special Olympics Minnesota!

The Blazing Stars

July 8, 2023 - Regional Softball Tournament Information - July 15, Ojibway Park, Woodbury

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

The East Metro Regional Softball Tournament will be held on Saturday, July 15 at Ojibway Park, 2695 Ojibway Drive, Woodbury. Below are the game times for each team:

Black Team

9:00 a.m. - vs. SRG Blue, Field 3

10.20 a.m. - vs TBD, Field 4

White Team

10:20 a.m. - vs. PAW Tigers Field 2

11:40 a.m. - vs. Granite City Rocks, Field 2

Red Team

1:00 p.m. - vs. HeallyHomes, Field 3

2:20 p.m. - vs. Flame Heat, Field 3

Coaches will have more information at Softball practice on Monday, July 10 at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove.

Have a great tournament!

The Blazing Stars

July 5, 2013 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We hope you had a great weekend and are looking forward to getting back to practice next week. Here's a few reminders:

Saturday, July 8 - Out & About walk/roll at a new location! Join us at 10:00 a.m. to hike the South trail at Battle Creek Park. We will meet at the South parking lot on Lower Afton Rd just East of McKnight Rd.  The path is accessible and about 2 miles through woods and prairie. 

Monday, July 10 - Bocce and Softball Practice at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove at 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, July 11 - Golf at Eagle Valley at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 15 - Softball Regional Tournament at Ojibway Park in Woodbury. Game times will be announced soon.

See you at Practice

Blazing Stars Special Olympics

June 29, 2023 Summer Sports Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Summer sports practices are off to a great start! Here’s a few reminders about upcoming practices and regional tournaments that are coming soon.

No Practice on July 3 & 4

No practice on July 3 (Bocce and Softball) or July 4 (Golf) due to the long holiday weekend.

• Practice will resume on July 10 (Bocce and Softball at Lamar Fields) and July 11 (Golf).

• Reminder – Softball practice will move to Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove on July 10 for the remainder of the season.

Regional Tournament Dates

Special Olympics Minnesota organizes Regional Tournaments to provide competition and also to help create divisions for the State Tournaments. Please note – athletes are required to participate in Regional Tournaments in order to compete in State Tournaments. Some exceptions are accepted. (For example, sickness or unplanned events that conflict with the competitions)

• July 15 – Softball Regional Tournament at Ojibway Park, Woodbury

• July 31 – Golf Regional Tournament at Hidden Greens Golf Course, Hastings

• August 5 – Bocce Regional Tournament at the West St. Paul Sports Center in West St. Paul

We will communicate specific tournament game times as soon as the schedule is published by Special Olympics Minnesota.

Registration Fees

The Blazing Stars collects registration fees of $40 per sport for athletes that are able to pay. Fees cover the cost of tournaments ($20) and helps pay for field rental and team equipment. If you have not paid your registration fee, please bring cash or check (Venmo also accepted) to the next practice so we can complete our accounting for this season. 

Questions? Please reply to this email and a volunteer will contact you. 

Have a great 4th of July!

The Blazing Stars

June 16, 2023 - Summer Sports Start Next Week!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Summer sports start next week so check out the details below and please let us know if you have questions. Please note that there is no practice on July 3 or July 4.

Bocce

The 2023 Bocce season will begin on Monday, June 19 from 6 – 7 p.m. 

• Practice will be held at Lamar Fields, 7025 Lamar Ave S., Cottage Grove

• No practice on July 3.

• Tournament dates and information at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bocce 

Golf

Golf practice begins on Tuesday, June 20 from 6-7 p.m.

• Practice will be held at Eagle Valley Golf Course, 2600 Double Eagle Lane, Woodbury.

• No practice on Tuesday, July 4

• Tournament dates and locations at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/golf

Softball

Softball practice will begin on Monday, June 19 from 6 - 7:00 p.m. Please note that the first two practices (June 19 & 26) will be held at Gethsemane Lutheran School Fields in Maplewood due to scheduling conflicts at Lamar Fields. 

Practice dates and locations:

• June 19 & June 26 - Gethsemane Lutheran School, 2410 Stillwater Rd. East, Maplewood

• July 10 through the rest of the season - practice will be held at  Lamar Fields, 7025 Lamar Ave South, Cottage Grove.

• No practice on July 3. 

• Tournament dates and information at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball 

Other Details

Practice Cancellation

Any practice cancellations due to weather, heat or other conditions will be communicated via email by 4:00 p.m. on the day of practice. 

Application and Medical Status

All athletes are required to have current applications and medicals to participate in practice. You can check your status at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/athlete-coach-status

Registration Fees 

The Blazing Stars collects registration fees ($40 per sport) for athletes that are able to pay. Fees are collected at the first practice and cover the cost of tournament participation ($20 for each athlete and $20 to help fund team costs equipment, t-shirts, uniforms, and facilities rental). The Blazing Stars is a volunteer organization and responsible for fundraising to cover team costs. 

Regional and State Competitions 

Special Olympics Minnesota offers regional and state competitions for all sports. Athletes are required to participate in regional tournaments in order to participate in the state tournament. Exceptions include sickness or other issues that are unavoidable. Please let your coaches know if you are unable to participate in tournaments because of vacations or other conflicts. We include all athletes in practice regardless of tournament status!

Questions? Find the answer on our website or email woodburyblazingstars@gmail.com and a volunteer will contact you. 

Enjoy the Season!

The Blazing Stars

June 6, 2023 - Blazing Stars Update

Hello Blazing Stars,

Summer activities will be in full swing soon so be sure to check the details for each sport on the Blazing Stars website. Below are links for your reference:

Out & About

Our next Out & About walk/roll will be this Saturday on the Vermillion River Trail in Hastings. Meet at Vermillion Falls Park at 10 a.m. Information about all Out & About activities are at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Bocce

Bocce starts on Monday, June 19 at Lamar Park in Cottage Grove at 6:00 p.m. Details at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bocce

Softball

Softball starts on Monday, June 19 at 6:00 p.m. The first two Monday practices will be held at Gethsemane Lutheran School Fields in Maplewood and then we will move to Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove for the remainder of the season. Details at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

Golf

Golf practice starts on Tuesday, June 20 at 6:00 p.m. at Eagle Valley Golf Course in Woodbury. Details at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/golf

Have questions? Email us at woodburyblazingstars@gmail.com and a volunteer will respond to your request. 

See you at practice!

The Blazing Stars

May 23, 2023 - Out & About Walk/Roll this Saturday!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

If you are around this weekend, join us for our next Out & About Walk/Roll this Saturday, May 27 from 10 a.m. to noon for the Markgrafs Lake Trail, Woodbury. (meet at CityWalk Tower/Play Area between ATT store and Dunn Bros - 10060 City Walk Drive - across Woodbury Drive from Sam's Club). Free parking is available. 

Information about Out & About can be found at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

See you on the Trail!

The Blazing Stars

May 7, 2023 - Blazing Stars Summer Sports Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Registration is still open for Bocce and Softball, and everyone is invited to participate in our bi-weekly Out & About Walk/Rolls. Golf Registration is now closed. See below for links to the Blazing Stars website for more information.

Out & About

Our second Out & About Walk/Roll of the season is set for this Saturday, May 13, 10 a.m. to 12 noon on one of our favorite trails - Scharr's Bluff in Hasting. See details, directions and a list of trails through July at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

Softball Registration

The 2023 Softball season will start on June 19. Please see details online as we have a temporary location for the first two practices (June 19 & June 26 at Gethsemane Lutheran School) and then move to Lamar Fields. To register, click the link and the red “Register” button at the bottom of the page at

https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

Bocce Registration

The 2023 Bocce season will begin on Monday, June 19 at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove. Register by clicking on the red “Registration” button at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bocce

Golf Registration is Closed

The Blazing Stars Golf team is full for this season. 

Questions? Please reply to the email and a volunteer will contact you.

See you this summer!

The Blazing Stars

April 27, 2023 - Registration Now Open for Golf, Bocce, Softball!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes and Fans,

Registration for Summer Sports (Golf, Bocce, Softball) is now open! Pick your sport(s) below and follow the link to the Blazing Stars website to register. Registration is online – click the red “Registration” button on the bottom of the website page. 

All athletes must have current applications/medicals on file by the first day of practice. You can check athlete status on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/athlete-coach-status

Please check regional and state tournament dates as athletes must participate in the regional tournament to qualify for the state tournament. Exceptions include sickness or other unexpected situations. 

Golf Registration

Blazing Stars Golf will begin on Tuesday, June 20. The Golf team will be limited to 20 athletes. Register by clicking on the red “Registration” button at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/golf

Golf practice:

• Golf practice begins on Tuesday, June 20. Practice will run from 6 - 7 p.m. Practice will be held at Eagle Valley Golf Course, 2600 Double Eagle Lane, Woodbury.

 Tournament Information:

• The Metro Regional Golf Tournament will be held on July 31 at Hidden Greens Golf Course in Hastings

• The Special OIympics Minnesota State Golf Tournament is scheduled for August 27 at Oak Marsh Golf Course in Oakdale.

 (Note: Golfers can also participate in either Bocce or Softball as tournaments have different dates than Golf. Athletes must choose between Bocce or Softball as those sports have the same state tournament dates.)

Bocce Registration

The 2023 Bocce season will begin on Monday, June 19 at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove. Register by clicking on the red “Registration” button at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bocce

Bocce Practice:

• Practice begins on Monday, June 19 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Practice will be held every Monday night through August 14

• Practice will be held at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove. 

 Tournament Information:

• The Metro Regional Bocce Tournament will be held on August 5 at the West St. Paul Sports Center in West St. Paul

• The Special Olympics Minnesota State Bocce Tournament will be held on August 19-20 at M Health Fairview Sports Center in Woodbury.

 Softball Registration

The 2023 Softball season will start on June 19. Please see details below as we have a temporary location for the first two practices (June 19 & June 26). To register, click the link and the red “Register” button, then select “Softball” as your sport.

https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball

Softball Practice:

• Softball practice will begin on Monday, June 19 from 6 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Practice will be held every Monday through August 14. 

• The location for the first two practices (June 19 and June 26) will Gethsemane Lutheran School in Maplewood. (Ball fields are on the South side of the parking lot)

• Beginning July 3 through August, practice will be held at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove.

 Tournament Information:

• The Metro East Regional Softball Tournament will be held July 15 at Ojibway Park in Woodbury. 

• The Special Olympics Minnesota State Softball Tournament will be held on August 18-20 at M Health Fairview Sports Center in Woodbury.

 Registration Fees

Registration for each sport is $40 per athlete for the season for those who are able to pay. Fees cover Special Olympic Tournament fees ($20 per athlete and coaches) and contribute to team equipment and practice field rental. A registration table and sign will be set up at the first practice of each sport. Volunteers will be available to collect fees and answer questions.

Questions? Simply reply to this email and a Blazing Stars volunteer will respond.

Have a great summer and we’ll see you at practice!

The Blazing Stars

April 21, 2023 - Out & About Schedule for 2023

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes and Fans,

We are excited to announce the 2023 Blazing Stars Out & About Team season. Out & About is a new activity to support fun, fitness, and social activity. We will get together for walking/rolling along the great accessible trails in our area. Each trail covers 2-3, however, athletes and friends can participate for as long as they choose. The activity is open to all Blazing Stars athletes, family members and caregivers. Special Olympics Minnesota is encouraging and supporting local recreational activities.  

Our first walk/roll will be held on Saturday, April 29 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Ravine Park in Cottage Grove. We will meet at the Cottage Grove City Hall Parking lot at 12800 Ravine Parkway S. in Cottage Grove. Out & About events will be held from Spring through Fall - typically every other Saturday unless there are holidays or Special Olympic competitions. More information and the schedule through July is posted on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/out-about-team-walkroll

We would ask that all athletes register for Out & About in advance by clicking on the red Registration button on the web page. Registration is online.

Join us on the trail!

The Blazing Stars

March 29, 2023 - Blazings Stars Sports Update

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Spring sports are about ready to go and it won't be long before we start registration for summer sports. Here's a reminder and links to sports pages on the Blazing Stars website:

Spring Sports

Basketball practice will be held on Mondays from 6-7 p.m. (half-court) and 7-8 p.m. (full court) beginning April 3. There are still openings for new athletes so if you are interested and haven't registered, please register at the bottom of the Basketball page and attend practice on Monday. Details are at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/basketball

Swimming practice will be held on Wednesdays from 6:45 -8 p.m. beginning April 5. The swim team registration is closed. Details are at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/swimming

Summer Sports 

Registration for Golf, Bocce and Softball will be announced in late April. Here's the start dates and links to the details:

Bocce practice will be held on Mondays from 6-7 p.m. beginning on June 19. Details at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bocce

Golf practice will be held on Tuesdays from 6 - 7 p.m. beginning on June 20. Details at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/golf

Softball practice will be held on Mondays from 6-7 p.m. beginning on June 19. Details at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/softball  (A note on Softball practice - practice will be held at Lamar Fields in Cottage Grove beginning July 3. We are finalizing practice fields for June 19 and June 26 and plan to announce the location for those practices soon.)

Please respond to this email with questions. A Blazing Stars volunteer will respond to your question.

See you at practice!

The Blazing Stars

March 15, 2023 - Check Your Special Olympics Application, Medical and Coach Status Online

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

With Spring and Summer sports just around the corner, please check the status of your Special Olympics application/medical so that you are up to date. Your Special Olympics application and medical must be current for athletes to participate in practice and competitions. This application is separate from the Blazing Stars team registration for each sport. Below are links to help you:

Athletes

Check your Special Olympics application/medical status at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/athlete-coach-status

Update your Special Olympics application/medical or complete your first one if you are a new athlete at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/join

Coaches - Current and New

Check your current status (application/background check/training) at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/athlete-coach-status

New Coaches apply and complete your online training at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/join

Interested in sport specific training as a coach? Level 2 online training offers in-depth knowledge about each sport. Teams also need a minimum number of Level 2 coaches to compete. Level 2 training can be completed in about 1 hour or less. The  Information and links to Level 2 training for all sports are at https://coach.specialolympicsminnesota.org

See you at practice!

The Blazing Stars

March 10, 2023 -  Swim Team Registration Now Open through March 17

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes and Fans,

Registration is now open through Friday, March 17 for the upcoming Blazing Stars Swim Team! Special Olympics is a competitive sport, offering events for all swimming abilities. Please note that this sport does not include swimming lessons.

Please review the swim team information and click on the link below to the Blazing Stars Swim Team web page and red “Registration” button. The registration form includes contact information and a chance to choose the swimming events you like - if you know them. If not, that's ok, coaches will help athletes pick events.

Team Size:

Our swim team will have access to a pool for 1 hour of swim time each week, so we will need to limit the number of swim team members this year based on available pool time. We are sorry for these limits and will work to expand the swim team for 2024.

As we will have a cap on team size, participation priority will be based on the following criteria:

1.    Athletes represented by a swim team coach, active Blazing Stars coach (other sports) or team organization volunteer.

2.    Athletes that are currently on the Blazing Stars roster. If more athletes register than we have available team spots, selection will be based on a random drawing.

3.    Athletes from other delegations. If more athletes register than we have available team spots, selection will be based on a random drawing.

Swimming Season Practice:

Dates: Practice will begin on Wednesday, April 5 and held on Wednesday nights through June 14.

Time: Swimmers arrive at school by 6:30 and be on the pool deck and ready for practice at 7. Pool time is from 7 – 8 p.m.

Location: Lake Middle School, 3133 Pioneer Drive, Woodbury 

Tournaments: 

Regional: April 23, Washington Tech Magnet School, St. Paul

State: June 17-18, Southview Middle School, Edina

Registration Details: 

(Please note: we will let you know your status as soon as we complete the team roster process listed above after March 17.)

Registration is now open through Friday, March 17 at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/swimming

Fees:

The fee for Swimming will be $40 per athlete for the season, if your budget allows. $20 covers Special Olympics tournament fees and $20 helps cover team expenses. Fees are collected at the first practice.

Please respond to this email if you have questions about Swimming or the Blazing Stars.

“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

The Blazing Stars

March 8, 2023 - Swim Team Coach Openings

Hello Blazing Stars Fans,

We are very excited to announce that after 4 years off, we are restarting our swim team. 

Would you please consider becoming a volunteer coach for the Blazing Stars swim team? No experience is necessary. We have an experienced Head Coach and volunteers to help you. 

Our goal is to begin swim practice on Wednesday, April 5 at Lake Middle School in Woodbury. Practice will begin at 6:30 p.m. (on pool deck) and be in the pool from 7-8 p.m.

Our swim team will have access to a pool for 1 hour of swim time each week, so the number of openings will be based on the size of our volunteer coaching staff and available pool time. Athletes who have a family member, friend or caregiver that is a Blazing Stars coach (swim team and other sports) will fill the first openings on the team. We are sorry for these limits and will work to expand the swim team next year.

Join our Coaching Staff:

Special Olympics coaches must be at least 16 years of age. New coaches complete an online application process that includes training and a background check. The volunteer commitment is about 2 hours a week (prep and practice) for 10 weeks. Coaches also attend the regional and state tournaments.

If you are interested in becoming a swim team coach, please respond to this email and a volunteer will contact you. 

Thank you for your support!

Please respond to this email if you have questions about Swimming or the Blazing Stars.

“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

The Blazing Stars

February 27, 2023 - Poly Hockey Tournament this Weekend!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

This email is a reminder for this weekend's 2023 Special Olympics State Poly Hockey Tournament. All 3 Blazing Stars Special Olympic Poly Hockey Teams will participate.

The tournament will be held this Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5 at Stillwater High School.

Team Schedules:

White Team – Division P

Game 1: Saturday, 9:00 a.m. vs. Owatonna White, Court 3

Game 2: Saturday, 1:10 p.m. vs. USA Bears, Court 4 

Game 3: Sunday, 1:10 p.m. vs. Flaming Hot Cheetos, Court 1

Black Team – Division G

Game 1: Saturday, 10:40 a.m. vs. Flyers Green, Court 5

Game 2: Saturday, 2:50 p.m. vs. Wild West, Court 3 

Game 3: Sunday, 12:20 p.m. vs. Rave Teal, Court 3

Red Team – Division F

Game 1: Saturday, 10:40 a.m. vs. SRG White, Court 3

Game 2: Saturday, 2:50 p.m. vs. OAK Fireworks, Court 1 

Game 3: Sunday, 12:20 p.m. vs. SVG Gold, Court 1

Additional Details:

• Athletes are asked to arrive one hour before each game time.

• The Blazing Stars will gather in one area at the school. 

• All athletes will receive participant credentials. They will be available at our gathering space.

• Lunch (Jersey Mike’s sandwiches) will be provided to athletes and coaches both days. Concessions will also be sold. 

• Special Olympics Minnesota will have activities for athletes including Healthy Athletes and Fan Stop.

See you at the tournament! 

1,2,3 - Go Stars!

February 18, 2023 - State Poly Hockey Schedule Announced

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

The Special Olympics Minnesota State Poly Hockey Tournament game schedule has been announced. The tournament will be held on Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5 at Stillwater High School. Fans are welcome to attend and cheer on our Blazing Stars Poly Hockey teams! Below are the details. A printed schedule will be given to all players at Monday's practice and the information is also posted on our website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/poly-hockey

Team Schedules:

White Team – Division P

Game 1: Saturday, 9:00 a.m. vs. Owatonna White, Court 3

Game 2: Saturday, 1:10 p.m. vs. USA Bears, Court 4 

Game 3: Sunday, 1:10 p.m. vs. Flaming Hot Cheetos, Court 1

Black Team – Division G

Game 1: Saturday, 10:40 a.m. vs. Flyers Green, Court 5

Game 2: Saturday, 2:50 p.m. vs. Wild West, Court 3 

Game 3: Sunday, 12:20 p.m. vs. Rave Teal, Court 3

Red Team – Division F

Game 1: Saturday, 10:40 a.m. vs. SRG White, Court 3

Game 2: Saturday, 2:50 p.m. vs. OAK Fireworks, Court 1 

Game 3: Sunday, 12:20 p.m. vs. SVG Gold, Court 1

Additional Details:

•  Athletes are asked to arrive one hour before each game time.

• The Blazing Stars will gather in one area at the school.

• All athletes will receive participant credentials. They will be available at our gathering space.

• Lunch (Jersey Mike’s sandwiches) will be provided to athletes and coaches both days. Concessions will also be sold.

• Special Olympics Minnesota will have activities for athletes including Healthy Athletes and Fan Stop.

1,2,3 - Go Stars!

The Blazing Stars

February 17, 2023 - Basketball Registration Now Open!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

Registration for Blazing Stars Special Olympics Basketball is now open! Please review the details below and click on the link to the Blazing Stars website. The website has a red registration button to sign up online at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/basketball

The Blazing Stars will offer both half court and full court teams for athletes of all abilities. Not sure which team is best for you? No problem, just come to the first practice at 6:00 p.m. on April 3 and the Blazing Stars volunteer coaching staff will help you select the team that’s right for you.

Blazing Stars Basketball Practice 

- Practices will begin on Monday, April 3rd and be held every Monday with the last practice on June 19th.There will be no practice on May 29th because of Memorial Day

- Practice will be held indoors at Gethsemane Lutheran School in Maplewood

  6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. is for Half Court Practice

  7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. is for Full Court Practice

- The registration fee for basketball is $40 per athlete to cover the cost of tournament fees and team equipment. Please bring a check or cash to the first practice. (Note: Athletes that do not have the fee in their budget are all welcome to participate without a fee.)

Basketball Tournament Information

The Regional Metro Basketball Tournament will be held on Saturday, May 6 at Hastings High School. More details will be provided at practice.

The Special OIympics Minnesota State Basketball Tournament is scheduled for June 23 through June 25 at Stillwater High School. More details will be provided at practice.

Please Consider Becoming a Coach

The Blazing Stars is an all-volunteer organization, and we need everyone’s support to provide a great experience for all athletes. Please consider becoming a coach for Basketball and/or other sports. Special Olympics Minnesota requires that we have one coach for every 4 athletes on a team. 

Andy, our Head Basketball Coach, has great experience and enthusiasm to help you start your Basketball coaching career. Please respond to this email if you are willing to coach and a volunteer will contact you. Learn more about Special Olympics coaching at https://specialolympicsminnesota.org/get-involved/coaches/

Check Your Paperwork

As a reminder, all athletes must have current registration and medical information on file with Special Olympics Minnesota before attending practice. If you are unsure of your status, please check the Blazing Stars roster at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/athlete-coach-status

Have questions? Please respond to this email and a Blazing Stars volunteer will contact you.

See you on the court!

The Blazing Stars

February 15, 2023 - Attention Coaches - Certification Status Updated on Website

Hello Blazing Stars Coaches and Volunteers Interested in Coaching,

We have updated the Coaches Certification Status Report on the Blazing Stars website. The Coaches status report follows the Athlete Status Report at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/athlete-coach-status

Information about updating your Coach Status, how to become a Coach, and other resources are available on the Special Olympics Minnesota Coach Portal at https://specialolympicsminnesota.org/get-involved/coaches/

If you have questions about your Coach status or you are interested in becoming a Coach, please respond to this email and we will contact you.

Thank you,

The Blazing Stars

February 13, 2023 - Athletes - Check Your Registration and Medical Status!

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes and Fans,

Now is a good time to check the status of your registration and medical information as we prepare for spring and summer sports. All Special Olympic athletes are required to have current registration and medical information on file by the first day of practice for any sport. Athlete registration and medical status information is updated on the Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/athlete-coach-status

Each athlete is listed by a first name and the first two letters of the last name. If your registration/medical has expired, please follow the directions on the website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/join

If you have questions about athlete paperwork, please respond to this email and a volunteer will contact you. 

(Note to coaches – we are in the process of updating registration status for coaches so watch for an email to check your status.)

Watch for emails about spring sports soon!

Thank you,

The Blazing Stars

January 17, 2023 - Metro Poly Hockey Tournament Information for Saturday, January 28

Hello Blazing Stars Poly Hockey Athletes, Coaches and Fans,

We are forwarding Special Olympics Minnesota information about the upcoming Metro Regional Poly Hockey. I have also attached our 3 team schedule.

A few notes:

• All Blazing Stars teams will play both games on Saturday, January 28 

• All games are at Breck School in Golden Valley (map attached)

• Athletes typically arrive one hour before game time

• You'll note that food will be sold by the school, however, you are welcome to bring your own.

• We will prepare Tournament Information sheets for each team and bring copies for all athletes to practice on Monday, January 23.

Schedule Summary:

White Team

Game 1 - 9:50 a.m. vs RSO Flyers on Court 4

Game 2 - 12:20 p.m. vs, Team TBD based on results of first game

Black Team

Game 1 - 9:00 a.m. vs, OMG Snow on Court 1

Game 2 - 11:30 a.m vs. Team TBD based on results of first game

Red Team

Game 1 - 2:00 p.m. vs CSC Granite City Rocks 2 on Court 3

Game 2 - 3:40 p.m. vs BFC Mustangs

Tournaments are a great time for athletes, coaches and fans so please let us know if you have any questions so that we all all prepared for the action!

1, 2, 3  Go Stars!

The Blazing Stars

January 16, 2023 - Important Poly Hockey Practice for Tonight

Hi Blazing Stars Poly Hockey Players, Coaches and Fans,

Tonight's Red Team Practice Cancelled

Due to the worsening weather conditions later tonight, the Red Team has decided to cancel practice from 7-8 p.m. Because it is the latest practice, Red Team Coaches are taking precautions against worsening driving conditions after 8 p.m. Red Team practice will resume on Monday, January 23.

White Team and Black Team will Practice Tonight

White Team and Black Team practice will be held this evening during normal practice hours, from 6-7 p.m. We are expecting temperatures to stay above freezing, however, we fully understand if you decide that you do not want to drive tonight and stay home. We will conduct a normal practice, however, will ensure that practice will end on time and athletes will be leaving by 7 p.m.

Thank you,

The Blazing Stars

February 28, 2022 Blazing Stars Schedule

Hello Blazing Stars Athletes and Fans,

If you had a chance to watch the Olympics, you may have thought about your own experience competing as an athlete, coaching or as a fan cheering on our Blazing Stars! We are optimistic about activities in 2022 and hope to have a full Blazing Stars schedule back in 2023. 

Members of the Blazing Stars Local Sports Management Team (LSMT) participated in a recent Special Olympics Minnesota (SOMN) webinar. Below is an overview of our plans based on what we learned and the work done to secure facilities and recruit coaches. 

COVID-19 Update

SOMN continues to provide guidance for teams to “Return to Play” and is also planning regional and state competitions this year with the expectation that the COVID-19 risk will continue to decline. The Blazing Stars follows the SOMN Return to Play Requirements with athlete health and safety as our top priority.

2022 Blazing Stars Sports

Below are sports and activities that will be available for 2022. Details and registration information for each season will be sent in separate emails with links to the Blazing Stars website for registration. 

Basketball (May-June)

Basketball practice will be held outdoors and begin in early May. Practices will be held at the Woodridge Park courts in Cottage Grove. We will send a separate email with details about practice and potential competitions with a link to registration on the website. 

Swimming

We are sorry to announce that we will not be able to hold a Swimming season this year due to the pandemic. With the safety and health of our athletes being our top priority, and swimming requiring an indoor facility and very close, unmasked contact among athletes and coaches, as well as the continued rate of COVID-19 cases in our county, we are making the decision not to hold swimming this year. We are sorry for any disappointment this may cause.  We are looking forward to next year when our swimming team can once again be back together in the pool! 

NEW! Hiking Club (Spring Start TBD)

Special Olympics Minnesota is encouraging and supporting teams in planning recreational activities that promote health and wellness and social connections. We have a group of athletes and coaches that are interested in starting a Blazing Stars Hiking Club. Planning is underway to launch the club this spring. Watch your email for a survey to get your ideas and interest!

Bocce (July-September)

Bocce team practice is scheduled to begin on Monday July 11 at Lamar Fields in Old Cottage Grove. We will send a separate email this spring with details about practice and potential competitions and a link to registration on the team website.

Softball (July-September)

Softball team practice is scheduled to begin on Monday July 11 at Lamar Fields in Old Cottage Grove.  As in the past, our goal is to have 3 teams. We will send a separate email this spring with details about practice and potential competitions and a link to registration on the team website.

We have secured exclusive use of Lamar Fields on Monday nights from July 11 through September for Blazing Stars sports.

Golf (June - August)

Similar to last year, Golf will be held this summer at Eagle Valley Golf Course in Woodbury. Dates and details are being finalized.

Bowling (Fall)

Blazing Stars team Bowling will be offered in the fall. Special Olympics Minnesota is planning a state Bowling competition to be held in November. 

Flag Football (TBD)

We are considering a Flag Football team if athletes and coaches are interested. Flag Football typically begins in August. 

Poly Hockey (January – March 2023)

We are planning to schedule a Poly Hockey season beginning in early January 2023. The Blazing Stars has an ongoing relationship with Gethsemane Lutheran School for practice facilities.

We will be updating the Blazing Stars website as we finalize details for each sport. The website address is https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars

Watch your email for more information about Basketball and other news! If you have questions, please email us at woodburyblazingstars@gmail.com

Please join us as we get back to a full schedule of Blazing Stars activities!

The Blazing Stars Local Sports Management Team

September 9, 2021 - New Website and Bowling Information/Registration

We have two important announcements for today – the launch of a new Blazing Stars website and Bowling Information/Registration.

New Website

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new website for the Blazing Stars. The new website link is:

https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/

As we just launched the website today, it may take a little time for it to show up in Google Search. This is a new type of Google website so the web address is slightly different. Please bookmark the new address. You may also need to clear your browser. Most importantly, please let us know if you have suggestions, find any typos, or find a link that isn’t working for you. We also look forward to adding new features, new photos, stories and information to support our athletes and team. Please send your comments or questions to woodburyblazingstars@gmail.com.

Bowling Information and Registration

Athletes can join the Blazing Stars Bowling Team in several ways for practice and leading up to the Special Olympics State Bowling Tournament. The Blazing Stars team has registered for the tournament to be held at Treasure Island Xtreme Bowl in Welch, MN on November 20 and 21. 

Information and online registration is available on the new Blazing Stars website at https://sites.google.com/view/woodburyblazingstars/sports/bowling

Bowlers have the option to:

• Bowl regularly (bi-weekly or more) with a group (family, friend(s), social group, church, etc.) where someone can record average score

• Bowl as a member of any league (example: Special League at Park Bowl Grove Bowl, St. Paul Park bowls every other week beginning September 11)

Athletes will be asked to track and submit their bowling average to bowling coaches prior to the Special Olympics Minnesota State Tournament. The average is the sum of 3 bowling scores divided by 3.

Blazing Stars Team Bowling Practice

We are planning to have two Blazing Stars team practices. The team will rent bowling lanes. These dates are being finalized and will be announced.

Special League

A member of the Blazing Stars Local Sports Management Team will be at the Special League at Park Grove Bowl in St. Paul Park on Saturday, September 11 at 11:00 a.m. to answer questions. (Please note: Special League openings may be limited this year.)

Registration

Athletes must be registered for bowling by October 15 to participate in the state tournament. No registration fees will be collected for this bowling season. The website includes an online registration button. Coaches will contact registered bowlers with additional information about Blazing Stars practices, scoring and the State Tournament.