The ABLE Games is the region’s first all-inclusive function fitness competition, celebrating all abilities, from the highly skilled athlete to individuals with special needs. Connor McGovern, Center for the New York Jets, and TNT Kid’s Fitness President and CEO Kim Pladson partnered to start this fitness competition in 2021. Its popularity and impact on the community led to the development of ABLE in schools, a program that pairs students with special needs and their peers in inclusive peer-to-peer workouts for physical education credit. This year’s games saw teams from 21 different schools from across North Dakota, as well as teams from Minnesota and even Illinois. Approximately 50 peer-to-peer teams participated in the 2025 ABLE Games. Our SEEC area schools were represented with teams from Carrington, Fargo, West Fargo, Shanley, Lisbon, Central Cass, Northern Cass, Fairmount, Wyndmere, Sargent Central, Richland 44, and Milnor.
Connor and his wife, Devin, have annually awarded five $1,000 scholarships to participants of the ABLE Games. Past recipients include students who are currently enrolled in North Dakota universities studying occupational therapy, physical therapy, and special education. One of this year’s recipients is a senior student with disabilities who, upon graduation, intends to enroll in the Viking Pathway at Valley City State University in the fall of 2025.
Schools in the South Valley and Rural Cass Special Education Units have established a partnership where approximately 70 students (35 teams) gather monthly at an area school for a workout, pizza, and an opportunity to establish lifelong friendships. The participation at the monthly gatherings has grown from 30 students three years ago to the 70 students currently involved.
The ABLE Games and ABLE in schools have developed a model for active inclusion in our schools, blending students with disabilities and those without disabilities where the competition is balanced through adaptions provided in each activity to fit every individual’s physical, cognitive, and emotional needs. As a spectator, you would be amazed at the physical and emotional effort put forth by these students as they compete in extremely challenging physical CrossFit-based events. One area athletic director who has attended the ABLE Games the past three years watching his own son and daughter compete stated: “I attend a lot of activities on both the fine arts and athletic side for my school and love all of them, but what you get to witness at the ABLE Games is truly special and something I look forward to each year”.
Written By John Porter, SEEC Executive Director