Volunteer Christy Beenenga Travels Long Path to Special Olympics Illinois; Decatur’s Brian Dalluge on Home Turf for State Golf Tournament
By Randy Kindred
Benjie Holmes is a coach, athletic director, board member, secretary/treasurer and active fundraiser for the Beardstown Area Special Athletes (BASA) program. It qualifies as a labor of love, and is driven by the memory of someone he loved.
Hunter Holmes, one of Benjie and Sandy Holmes’ three sons, died in 2018. He was 19.
“He had Asperger’s, a form of autism,” his father said. “He took his own life. I needed to do something in honor of him. That’s why I do what I do.”
Holmes began coaching the BASA Black Attack softball team in 2019. He has built a highly successful program that won a gold medal last year at the North American Softball Tournament in Oklahoma.
After playing Saturday and Sunday, the Black Attack earned a silver medal at the Special Olympics Illinois State Softball Tournament in Springfield.
Hunter Holmes did not participate in sports. “He was more of a computer guy,” Benjie said, but his presence remains in his father’s heart and mind.
“I don’t wish anybody to ever go through that, but it makes you think about what’s important and how little help these kids actually get going through life,” Holmes said.
Benjie Holmes is there for them, donating time, energy and often money to create opportunities or enhance existing ones. A contractor by trade, if the organization needs something built, he builds it.
His wide-ranging involvement led to him being named the 2026 Region H Coach of the Year.
Holmes played football, basketball and baseball at Havana High School. He lives in Virginia, Illinois, 15 miles from Beardstown, and coaches basketball and softball for BASA. He hopes to add flag football at some point.
“I need to free up more of my own time to do that,” he said, smiling. “There is so much enjoyment to this. There’s not really a lot of drama with these kids. If you see one get upset, it’s about him. He’s not mad at someone else. He’s upset with himself.”
The State Softball Tournament attracted more than 500 athletes, 145 coaches and 30 teams. Among the volunteers was Christy Beenenga, whose journey to the Special Olympics Illinois is a winding one.
Beenenga graduated from New Berlin High School, near Springfield. After earning a degree at Illinois State University, she accepted a job that took her overseas and throughout the United States in a 34-year career.
“I worked for AAFES, Army & Air Force Exchange Service, which is on Army and Air Force installations around the world,” Beenenga said. “I was in Germany twice, in Arizona, Texas, Montana. The last one was Tennessee, where I was in more of a headquarters position.”
Beenenga retired in April 2024 and watched her niece volunteer at a Special Olympics bocce event in Indiana. It led her to sign up to volunteer in Tennessee.
“I got hooked in Tennessee. I did three events there,” Beenenga said. “One was the Music City Blitz, a flag football event where they bring in teams from all kinds of states in the (Tennessee) Titans’ stadium. That was an awesome event.”
Beenenga moved to Springfield, Illinois about a year ago and has volunteered for Region H Special Olympics Illinois events since February. She assisted with the skills competition at the State Softball Tournament.
“I think this is my 12th event,” she said. “I’m signed up through November for whatever events we have going on in Region H. It’s a feel-good day to be involved. Every day you’re here, it’s a feel-good day.
“I’m open to whatever comes along. I was just trying to figure out how to keep busy and give back after retiring. When you retire, it’s a little bit of a hit on the psyche, so you have to figure out another way to still help people. This is it.”
Learn more about the 2026 Special Olympics Illinois State Softball Tournament.
Home Links Advantage for Dalluge
Decatur’s Brian Dalluge made himself at home, literally, at the Special Olympics Illinois State Golf Tournament. Dalluge was one of only two representatives from Region I, where the state tournament is held at Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth/Decatur.
Growing up, Dalluge participated in a variety of mainstream sports through school, including basketball, bowling, swimming, baseball, and soccer. But when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted sports and Brian was no longer playing with many of his regular teammates, his family began looking for other opportunities.
That search led them to Special Olympics Illinois and the Dream Catchers. Brian’s father, Daniel, said the family quickly found that the program was a good fit for his son.
Asked about being part of the Dream Catchers, Brian kept his answer simple: “I like it a lot.”
And he has found plenty to like about golf. After earning a silver medal at last year’s State Golf Tournament, Brian moved up to the top spot this year, taking first place in the traditional nine-hole competition.
This year’s State Golf Tournament featured 116 athletes, along with 14 Unified partners and 65 coaches. For Brian, the event offered the added advantage of being held practically in his own backyard. He plays regularly at Hickory Point or across town at Decatur’s Red Tail Run.
His grandfather, Dennis Woodard, has been by his side as his caddy in golf competitions for the past three years. Woodard, who has played in Pro-Am golf events, was once again on the bag for Brian at the state tournament.
“I’m the one he always takes, even just to play,” Woodard said.
When Brian isn’t practicing or competing, he works for ESS Clean, helping clean at an attorney’s office and a real estate office. Congratulations to Brian, and all athletes and Unified partners, who competed in our state tournaments over the weekend!
Learn more about the 2026 Special Olympics Illinois State Golf Tournament.