Todd Bass, 19, of Harrisburg, started competing with Special Olympics Cabarrus County because of his parents. Over the years, he has been called by the group an enthusiastic athlete who has great sportsmanship, and for that, he credits his parents, too.
“It comes from my parents and how they treat other people,” Bass said. “I try to follow their leadership because they are good people. I get all my enthusiasm from them. They are neat people.”
For his leadership and enthusiasm, among other traits, Bass was recently named the 2011-2012 Athlete of the Year by Special Olympics North Carolina.
“That was pretty cool to know they picked me for the state level,” Bass said.
Bass was first honored at the local level, and all local award winners were considered for the state-level awards.
“It was cool to get a plaque and have my name recognized,” Bass said.
Emily Riley, Special Olympics coordinator for Cabarrus County, said the group was excited about his state-level award.
“He is very deserving,” Riley said. “He is an amazing athlete with a contagious attitude…He’s just got great sportsmanship. He’s really shy, but he leads by example.”
Bass has been an athlete with Special Olympics Cabarrus County for seven years.
He plays the forward position in soccer, runs the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, does the long jump in track and plays point guard in basketball, all for Special Olympics Cabarrus County, participating every season.
Soccer is his favorite sport, he said.
He also serves as a Global Messenger, which is a public speaker who talks to various groups on behalf of Special Olympics.
“Being a Global Messenger is pretty awesome,” Bass said. “I get to talk and explain to people what Special Olympics is and how we want to grow as an organization.”
As much as he enjoys serving as a Global Messenger, Bass said his favorite memory from Special Olympics over the years was playing on the soccer team in the 2006 Special Olympics USA National Games and the team members winning a bronze medal in their division.
Bass’s state award in 2011 was one of the highlights of the year for Special Olympics Cabarrus County, the group said.
Among other highlights were hosting more than 600 people during the Spring Games at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center and one of its other athletes, Todd’s sister, Amanda Bass, competing in the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.
“Cabarrus County is not very large, and to have such major accomplishments from our area is huge,” Riley said.
She attributed those accomplishments to the athletes, volunteers, steering committee members and supporters of Special Olympics Cabarrus County.
Riley said she is excited for this year, as well.
“We are already starting off on such a good note,” Riley said. “Financially, we’ve had so many organizations and businesses really behind us…It’s going to be a good year. I am super psyched.”
Contact reporter Jessica Groover: 704-789-9152
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