CELINA, Ohio (1-6-26) — The annual Showdown of the Mercer County Special Olympics vs. the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department is set for Thursday, January 15th at the Celina Field House. 

 Sam Fledderjohann, Mercer County Special Olympics Coordinator

“We’re excited to continue this tradition in 2026 and once again host the game at the Field House . This event is always a highlight of the season for our athletes, and the support from the Sheriff’s Office and the community makes it truly special.” 

The evening will kick off at 6:00PM with the Special Olympics Skills Team, The Wildcats, taking on deputies from the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office. An intermission will follow at 6:45PM, featuring performances by the Special Olympics Cheer Team and Unified Cheer Team. The night will conclude with the annual Bobcats vs. Deputies game at 7:00pm. 

Fledderjohann stated-

“While this game doesn’t count toward our official record, it’s one the players look forward to the most.  The camaraderie that has grown between the Sheriff’s Office and our athletes through this event is incredible, and from a spectator’s perspective, it’s a really fun night of basketball.”

The game admission is free, but donations will be accepted for the Mercer County Special Olympics Programming. Concessions will also be available, and Jonathan Williams of JW Sound & Production will return as the official emcee for the evening.

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Mercer County Special Olympics currently hosts eight sports including: basketball, bowling, power lifting, traditional and unified cheerleading, unified volleyball, unified golf, equestrian, and flag football. Thanks to the support of the community, our athletes can compete all over the region against other special Olympics teams.  To learn more about the program or to find out how to become involved, contact Sam Fledderjohann at 567-890-0265 or sfledderjohann@mercerdd.org