When the Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament gets underway in Great Falls in mid-November, Chrissy Siefke of Kalispell will lead the way with a torch held high for the opening ceremony.

Siefke was named Special Olympics Montana’s Athlete of the Year Sept. 14 during the organization’s Distinguished Service Awards presentation held in conjunction with the annual fall leadership conference.

“You have no idea how surprised I was to get this award,” Seifke said. “It was so awesome that night. It was the night of my life.”

Siefke’s mother, Terri, secretly had made arrangements for her family to attend the awards presentation along with former Special Olympics outreach director Kelly Harris, who worked with Siefke before moving to Arizona.

“The thing that topped it off was my best friend from Albuquerque was there,” Siefke said, beaming.

She and Harris met at a coaching venue for Special Olympics and the two “clicked” immediately, Siefke said. They continue to talk on the phone to each other nearly every day.

Siefke, 33, was chosen Athlete of the Year award because of the lasting changes she has made to the Special Olympics movement.

“She has driving ambition to convince others that people have different abilities, not disabilities,” Special Olympics Vice President of Field Services Jamie Wood said in a press release. “As a competitor, Chrissy is a team player who accepts wins and losses with the same grace.

“Her care and concern for others is genuine and contagious; her magnetic personality draws other in,” Wood said.

Siefke is a Special Olympics Global Messenger who has lengthy experience as a public speaker.

“Her messages are compelling on behalf of Special Olympics athletes everywhere,” Wood said. “She motivates others to step up as volunteers, sponsors and new athletes.”

From 2008 through 2011 she served a three -year term as an ambassador for the Law Enforcement Torch Run, working with members of Montana law enforcement agencies as guardians of the Special Olympics flame and to raise money for the organization.

As a member of the Kalispell Krushers Special Olympics team, Siefke has gone the distance in competing in a variety of sports, including running, track and field, swimming, kayaking and basketball. Swimming and basketball are her favorite sports, she said.

Siefke works out at The Summit nearly every day and now is working on endurance training to get her through the torch runs in which she will participate over the next year. Her mother, who trains with her, said they’re starting slowly to build up stamina. The goal is to be able to jog around the track twice.

“I try to work out to stay healthy,” Siefke said. “It’s for a great reason. It’s important for me to do that.”

In addition to a demanding Special Olympics training schedule, Siefke holds down two jobs.

She prices, tags and hangs clothing at Flathead Industries and does similar work at TJ Maxx.

As Athlete of the Year, Siefke will attend an array of Special Olympics functions over the coming year, such as the VIP reception before the Winter Games Feb. 23-25 at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

Siefke is always ready to do what it takes in the fundraising arena.

“I’ve gone through fundraisers where we freeze our tail feathers off,” she said with a laugh, referring to the annual Penguin Plunge. “It’s an important cause.”

During her down time, Siefke likes to post on Facebook and Twitter, and said she likes to read romance novels and is a fan of the “Duck Dynasty” reality TV show.

Last year Siefke’s mother was named Special Olympics Volunteer of the Year.

Nominations are received from volunteers, coaches, parents, athletes and other Special Olympics supporters.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.