Special Olympics South Dakota Fall Classic brings record turnout to Rapid City

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - The flame was officially lit in Rapid City as athletes and supporters from across the state gathered for the Special Olympics South Dakota Fall Classic.

Special Olympics South Dakota features two primary divisions: the youth league, known as the Flame, and the adult league, known as the Storm. Organizers and volunteers say this year brought record-breaking participation, driven largely by the surging popularity of bocce ball.

“Bocce ball is one of the highest growing sports within Special Olympics because it really does cater to anyone—of all abilities,” said Carrie Moser, the Director of Engagement with Black Hills Works Foundation. “You don’t have to have certain abilities to be able to participate; especially with these new bocce ball courts. Anyone can participate. So we are at a record high of teams participating this year, and it’s great to see so many people participating.”

Beyond the medals and ribbons, Flame athlete Tucker Blain emphasized that the Fall Classic is about community, camaraderie, and staying connected, “Thank you for volunteering, South Dakota and Rapid City.”

The state-of-the-art courts were funded in part through NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace’s annual charity ride in Sturgis, which benefits Special Olympics South Dakota. The event also marked an emotional milestone for the organization. Tournament officials announced that the Rapid City Parks Department formally approved naming the newly opened complex after Monica Burgess, a dedicated advocate who passed away earlier this summer.

“A major driver behind getting these courts was a gal by the name of Monica Burgess,” Nick Davis, a Board Member of South Dakota Special Olympics, addressed the crowd. “Unfortunately, we lost Monica this summer. But just this Thursday night, the Rapid City Parks Department approved... we are naming this complex after Monica Burgess.”

Rapid City Flame Coach Joe Sabrowski credits Burgess with laying the foundation for the organization’s growth.

“She was a driven personality, she was a go-getter,” Sabrowski said. “She basically is the reason the Special Olympics has flourished the way that it has in South Dakota. She’s behind a lot of the things we see and have for all of our athletes. She interviewed me 16 years ago as a coach when I first began, and I’ve been coaching ever since.”

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.

Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.