Orlando Bound

For the first time in its history, the Special Olympics USA will hold competition for cheerleading when the 2022 games get underway this weekend.

And Mercer County will be represented in the event.

Fort Recovery's Ramsey Leverette and Kaelin Overman will take part in the competition in Orlando, Florida, as part of Team Ohio.

The process of having the two girls reach this level and being selected for the Ohio team, has been lengthy.

"In 2020, (Ohio) hosted a competitive cheer competition at the state level," said Mercer County Special Olympics Coordinator Samantha Fledderjohann. "We formed a team and our girls won the competition. Because of that, (team members) were able to be chosen (for the state team). Both girls were able to do the things they needed to do. A year ago (Thursday), I took them balloons and flowers and told them they were chosen to be on the Ohio team."

Ramsey and Kaelin will be part of a 10-member team that will do a routine in front of judges. The competition runs Monday and Tuesday with final results being announced on Wednesday.

Through the pandemic and just other factors, getting together to practice has not been easy. Many practices were done via Zoom with the team having practices several times at Ohio State University and in Logan County.

"We've only been together 5-6 times," said Fledderjohann. "We've been using apps to work on what (coach Rachel Craft) has choreographed."

Both girls have worked hard to practice as much as possible when the team wasn't able to meet.

"It's good to see Ramsey being to take this as her own," said Jacque Leverette, Ramsey's mom. "She knows everyday she's going to practice for an hour. Then she finishes practice, (records) it and upload it so the coaches and rest of the team see she's working as well. It's created a lot of independence for the girls to have to do some things on their own and work it into their schedule. She's grown to like doing it."

"There was a lot of practicing and both of them have worked extremely hard to get where they're at," said Shelly Overman, Kaelin's mom. "We're blessed to have each other (the Overman and Leverette families) and the coaches."

The Fort Recovery community wasted no time in getting on the bandwagon for their local girls, donating through fundraisers or just dropping by their houses to give money, placing signs and banners in front yards and store windows and deliveries of balloons and other gifts has been a regular process as the countdown to head out arrives.

"If you go through Fort Recovery, you'll see signs everywhere," said Fledderjohann. "This community never ceases to amaze me. They so back this program, but this is another level."

"It's been amazing," said Jacque Leverette. "The cards, the balloons, everything the girls have received has been amazing."

"We've had people stopping by giving money," said Shelly Overman. "They want the girls to have so much fun (the teams will be able to visit Walt Disney World among other attractions during the week they will be in Orlando). They're so proud of them."

And the support won't be totally from a distance. Family and friends - which Fledderjohann described as "an entourage" - will also be heading to Orlando. The exact number wasn't given, but the cheering party combined for both Kaelin and Ramsey may reach 80.

"There's a few girls on the Ohio team that will be traveling alone, so we'll be supporting them," said Jacque Leverette. "There's over 70 people to support two girls from Fort Recovery. It's such a cool thing."

"It makes your heart feel really good to see all the support we have from family and friends," said Shelly Overman. "Kaelin's receiving letters and cards from people. She's got balloons four times this week. It's really neat."

The touring party travels to Columbus today to prepare to fly out to Orlando on Saturday in time for the opening ceremonies on Sunday.

"We're just really blessed to be here," said Jacque Leverette. "I have a hard time believing that any other county will have as much support as Ramsey and Kaelin."