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Meet Jacob “Jake” Fialkoff and Ryan Paggioli, two Special Olympics Unified Sports® Athletes and Global Messengers who both live in South Windsor. Although Ryan and Jake have a 13-year age difference, they formed a strong bond during their years participating in Unified Sports.  Ryan and Jake were kind enough to talk with us about being a part of Special Olympics and their friendship!

Jake is 27 years old and has been a member of Special Olympics since 2014. He started out participating in Unified track in middle school and Unified basketball and soccer at South Windsor High School. Jake has also been a part of the Connecticut Chasers ice hockey team for many years. He currently bowls in the fall and participates in track and field in the spring with Special Olympics. He is a great singer and sings the National Anthem at multiple SOCT events. “There’s one thing about Jake you need to know, he is a fun kind of dude,” said Ryan.

Ryan is 40 years old and works at the old St. Mary School in Newington as part of Catholic Charities, an organization that accepts people with intellectual disabilities in an inclusive setting. He has been part of Special Olympics since 1993. He currently participates in track and field and bowling. Previously, Ryan participated in Unified Sports in middle school and high school, playing soccer, basketball, and volleyball. He has also played ice hockey with the Connecticut Chasers from 1996 to 2016 and swam with the Special Olympics Enfield Stars. Ryan has been a Global Messenger - athlete spokesperson and ambassador for Special Olympics Connecticut - for 17 years. His local coordinator, Karen Phillips, took him under her wing and he also became her administrative assistant. “One thing about Ryan that I know is that he always keeps everybody informed about what’s going on and all different things that are happening,” said Jake. 

The two met at one of Ryan’s ice hockey practices. Ryan told Jake about Special Olympics Connecticut during a practice and Jake joined the Special Olympics South Windsor team. Ryan and Jake bonded through a mutual interest in all genres of music and enjoyed being on the ice together. The two appreciate each other’s company, attending each other’s milestone birthday parties and traveling to Lake Placid to play ice hockey before Ryan retired. 

When the two of them went to bowling practice, Ryan talked to Jake about someday becoming a Global Messenger. During the pandemic, an opportunity to become a Global Messenger opened up, so Ryan recommended Jake and Karen Phillips agreed. Jake had to submit a video introducing himself and explaining why he would be a good candidate for Global Messenger. Since then, the two have served as Global Messengers side by side! The two of them have gotten more comfortable speaking in public by attending Global Messenger trainings and meetings. 

Outside of Special Olympics, Jake and Ryan belong to the Monday Night Social Club in South Windsor for people with intellectual disabilities. Every year, the Rotary Club in South Windsor supports the Monday Night Social Club by hosting a picnic. Jake sings the National Anthem at the beginning of the picnic before a fun afternoon of food, games and friendship! Ryan has attended a few of Jake’s community chorus productions and enjoys hearing Jake sing. “He could be the next Buddy Holly,” says Ryan. Ryan’s mother Gail shares, “I would call it a casual friendship, guided by acceptance of each other’s differences.” 

Both Jake and Ryan attend the Special Olympics Connecticut Summer Games and enjoy the dances that are held during the weekend. One year, Jake and his mom came to watch Ryan recite the Special Olympics Oath at Special Olympics Vernon's Annual Home Run Derby event.  Ryan has had the honor of carrying the torch and reciting the Athlete Oath at the Unified Sports® Holiday Classic Opening Ceremony at bowling several times. The pair see each other at several events throughout the year and their favorite parts of Special Olympics are the friendships and competition that happen at every event! Ryan has participated in Unified fishing tournaments with his brother Rob as his mentor and members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard as partners. He won second place last year for catching the most fish and earned a magnificent trophy for catching the largest fish this year.  Both Ryan and Jake appreciate all the support they receive as athletes and Global Messengers with Special Olympics! 

Thank you so much, Jake and Ryan, for your time! We enjoyed learning about the inseparable bond you have share during your time with Special Olympics!