IRVING, Texas-Isaac Baldus (Special Olympics Iowa) and Kelli Bringle (Special Olympics Kansas) have been named 2022-23 Big 12 Special Olympics Athletes of the Year. They will be honored during the Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship on Saturday, December 3 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Baldus has been an active athlete in a variety of sports from preschool into adulthood. His Special Olympics participation began in 2010, expanding his athletic skills in cycling, bowling, basketball, softball, powerlifting, and track and field. His specialties are the pentathlon in track and field; the deadlift, squat, and bench press in powerlifting; and playing catcher on his softball team.
In 2017, Baldus was named State of Iowa High School Athlete of the Year, Special Olympics division. He has won over 50 medals in Special Olympic events at the state level. This past June, he had the honor of competing in the 2022 USA Games in powerlifting where he brought home two USA Games medals.
Baldus earned his community college certificate from Des Moines Area Community College and works at HyVee. He is a member of the Liberty Landing Special Olympic Delegation. When he is not on the field or in the gym, he enjoys spending time with his friends at Liberty Landing, is passionate about cheering on his favorite WWE wrestlers, and adores entertaining his five nieces.
Bringle has been involved in Special Olympics Kansas for 23 years with the All Stars of Hutchinson. She was chosen as Most Inspirational Athlete in 2005 and was inducted into the Kansas Special Olympics Hall of Fame in 2018. She has participated in track and field, basketball, bowling, swimming, volleyball, and cheerleading, winning countless medals in each discipline.
Bringle attends the Adult Life Skills program at Training and Evaluation Center of Kansas in Hutchinson. She is an accomplished artist, with her paintings being sold across the country. Bringle loves watching sports, especially basketball and football, including her favorite team, the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bringle cites Special Olympics as an important part of her life, for the physical benefits from athletics and the friendships she has gained. She is the daughter of Max and Terry Bringle of Hutchinson.