Welcome to Iowa Public Television! If you are seeing this message, you are using a browser that does not support web standards. This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device. Read more on our technical tips page.

Iowa Public Television

 

Home » Video » Merle Cooney (Softball)

Note: If this video does not play, you may need to download the free RealPlayer video plugin for your web browser.

Merle Cooney (Softball)

Duration: 03:48

Merle Cooney, as profiled by Frederica Freyberg of Wisconsin Public Television.

Merle Cooney has been competing in Special Olympics in the state of Wisconsin since he was 9. The 27-year-old softball player from Stevens Point has recently qualified for Team Wisconsin. He is one of only 15 athletes who were chosen from the 100 that tried out. Team Wisconsin will be competing for the gold medal at this summer’s 2006 Special Olympics USA National Games in Ames, Iowa. Merle is grill chef at a local restaurant. Every other year, he buys himself a new car, and has even saved enough to buy his own house. And when he’s not playing softball, he’s working out in the gym. Merle has won three medals for weight lifting. Merle says his inspiration for playing baseball came inadvertently from his high school baseball coach. “He said I’d have to sit on the bench ‘cause he liked to win.”

Images:

  • Merle Cooney (Softball)
  • Merle Cooney (Softball)
Tags:

Post Date: April 4, 2007