Zach Spicer

Seymour

Reporter at The Tribune (Seymour, IN)

I have been working for The Tribune since May 2007. I graduated from Austin High School in 2001 and IU Southeast in 2006.

Articles

Summer Games success; Jackson County shines at annual Special Olympics event

2 weeks ago | tribtown.com | Zach Spicer

TERRE HAUTE — The 2025 Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games was historical for Jackson County’s program in several ways. For one, since the program restarted going to the state organization’s largest annual event in 2019, the number of athletes and volunteers attending totaled 64, doubling past appearances. Also, in track and field, the county program participated in relays for the first time. There were two unified relays and one athlete relay.
Local athletes bring home medals from area track meet

1 month ago | tribtown.com | Zach Spicer

SALEM — Forty-four gold medals, 27 silver medals and 14 bronze medals. Plus, eight fourth place ribbons, one fifth place ribbon and one sixth place ribbon. Special Olympics Indiana Jackson County athletes and unified partners had a successful day at the Area 2 track and field meet May 10 at Salem High School in Salem. Of the county’s 32 athletes competing, 29 earned at least one medal. All four unified partners received medals.
Brownstown senior wins full-tuition scholarship

Mar 28, 2025 | tribtown.com | Zach Spicer

By Zach Spicer | For The Tribune[email protected]Leading up to the Indiana Robotics State Championship, Cody Blackburn was told he needed to volunteer at the event. His parents, Ronnie and Adrienne Blackburn, said he and another student would be escorting a woman at the competition. He had no idea the surprise that was in store. The woman he’s referring to is Purdue University Vice Provost Cherise Hall.
Local Special Olympics basketball teams advance to state

Mar 25, 2025 | tribtown.com | Zach Spicer

HOPE — “State, here we come, baby!”Jackson County Tornadoes player A.J. Engel made that exclamation after he helped his team win the championship game of its division March 22 during the Special Olympics Indiana basketball sectional at Jets Fieldhouse at Hauser High School in Hope. Engel said that to teammate Darrell Stevens as he returned to the bench after the final buzzer sounded and they high fived each other. “That was the best day ever. I can’t believe we won both games,” Stevens said.
Jackson County athletes take on Shelbyville tournament

Mar 4, 2025 | tribtown.com | Zach Spicer

SHELBYVILLE — Special Olympics Indiana Jackson County’s five basketball teams and four individual skills athletes competed in the Shelby County Arnie Petre Tradition Basketball Tournament on March 1 at Shelbyville High School. The Rattlers men’s three-on-three team won both of its games to improve to 8-0 on the season. They defeated the Ripley Ohio Dearborn Counties Chargers 20-12 and the Johnson County Warriors 20-3.
Special Olympics three-on-three teams go 3-1 in Salem

Feb 25, 2025 | tribtown.com | Zach Spicer

SALEM — Two of Special Olympics Indiana Jackson County’s three-on-three basketball teams played Feb. 23 at Salem High School. The Rattlers defeated the Washington County Cubs 20-8 and the Washington County Pride 20-18. In the first game, Billy Allman led with 16 points, and Elijah Noble scored four. In the second game, Allman led with 14, including the winning basket on a putback, while Todd Smith had four, and Noble had two. The Rattlers are now 6-0 on the season.
Local Polar Plunge team tops $10,000 for third straight year

Feb 17, 2025 | tribtown.com | Zach Spicer |Aubrey Woods

By Zach Spicer For The Tribune BORDEN — Wearing a hot pink tank top and red pants, Dylan Bridges walked into the cold waters of Deam Lake. The Special Olympics Indiana Jackson County athlete waded his way out to the scuba divers to high five them, and then he submerged himself in the water. One could say he went all in for Special Olympics Indiana. Bridges was one of 22 members of the Seymour Tsunamis Polar Plunge team who participated in the Borden Polar Plunge on Feb. 15.
Let’s band together: Female robotics team members unite for inaugural Girl Powered Workshop

Oct 28, 2024 | tribtown.com | Zach Spicer

By Zach Spicer For The Tribune “I’m just a girl who is breaking barriers. Try and keep up.”That message was on stickers that were part of a swag table at the inaugural Jackson County Girl Powered Workshop on Oct. 23 at Seymour Middle School. The 31 girls in grades 7 to 12 from eight county schools attending the event serve as proof that robotics and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) aren’t just for boys.
Unified volleyball new to Jackson County sports offerings

Sep 25, 2024 | tribtown.com | Zach Spicer

Special Olympics Indiana Jackson County already offers the sports of track and field, bocce, softball, cornhole, bowling and basketball. New to the list this year is unified volleyball. The sport consists of teams of up to 12 people, and there must be an even number of athletes and unified partners (Special Olympics volunteers) on the court at all times. The first practice was Aug. 29 at Gaiser Park in Seymour, but throughout September, they have been held at Trinity Lutheran High School in Seymour.
Jackson County cornhole duos advance to state

Sep 17, 2024 | tribtown.com | Zach Spicer

HOPE — Nine of Special Olympics Indiana Jackson County’s 10 cornhole duos are headed to the state tournament. For the first time, Special Olympics Indiana had cornhole sectionals this year due to the growth in the sport. Indiana has become the state with the largest number of Special Olympics cornhole players. Nearly 60 athletes competed in Sectional 2 on Sept. 15 at the Hauser Fieldhouse at Hauser High School in Hope.