BY RICK ARGALL
MMC STAFF
The Fourth Annual Adam Smith Annual Memorial Snow Volleyball Tournament took place on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at The Dugout in Merrill. First serve of the eight-team tournament began under sunny skies with gusty winds, chilly temperatures, and no snow. “I can remember just several years ago where the snow was all the way up to the net and the players were playing above the net, which was really fun to watch,” said event organizer Becky Meyer. Although this year’s tournament took place in much different conditions, the teams brought the same competitiveness throughout the day and into the evening hours.
Adam Smith, the tournament’s namesake, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a bachelor’s degree in education. He began his career as a special education teacher at Merrill High School in 2018. Smith, who was also a Merrill Special Olympics Booster Club member and coach and the son of Wally and Judy Smith of Merrill, died in Dec. 2021, after a battle with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer.
“Adam had a passion for Special Olympics and loved helping people,” said Meyer, who is also a Merrill Special Olympics Booster Club member. Proceeds from the event go directly to Special Olympics and help finance equipment and relative costs for the athletes. “This is a great event that helps generate much-needed funds for Special Olympics,” she said.
The event had great participation and excellent turnout, with great food, beverages, and hospitality by Katie Proft, owner of The Dugout, and her staff. The event also included a large raffle with many donated gift baskets, a 58” television, an assortment of firearms, and miscellaneous prizes. Event co-organizer, Bryan Plautz, was also selling winter beanies and t-shirts available for $15 to raise funds. And steaks and various meats made great prizes for those that participated in the paddleboard wheel contest.
The Merrill Special Olympics Booster Club is planning their First Annual Adam Smith Scholarship Golf Outing to take place at Merrill Golf Course on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Contact Proft for more details at 715.536.8870.
