BY: USA GAMES CORRESPONDENT, MIKE GASTINEAU

“Bobby Striggow has been a game changer since he first stepped in the halls of Orono High School.”

Those are the words of Orono High School teacher Michelle Swenson who nominated Striggow to be recognized by the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games as someone who is changing the game for people with intellectual disabilities. The depth of Striggow’s involvement with his school’s program in Long Lake, Minnesota is indeed inspiring, and he didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

“My older brother Jackson and my older sister Hannah were both very involved in the Special Olympics program and they kind of dragged me into it,” Striggow said. “When I was a freshman I was a really quiet kid and helping the students who were in Special Olympics helped open me up a bit.”