Smiles, laughter and encouragement filled the air at Lawrence Public Schools’ annual Pat Grzenda Adaptive Triathlon on Wednesday morning.
Before the games began, the student athletes exited the main gym to “Stand Up and Cheer” by the LHS Marching Lions. Athletes were celebrated by their teachers, paraprofessionals, family members, peers and volunteers as they swam two to four laps, pedaled a stationary bike for eight minutes and completed one to four laps around the track.
The event is named after retired physical education teacher Patricia “Pat” Grzenda, and was led by Tiffany Russell and Rodney Hess, adaptive P.E. teachers for K-12 students with disabilities across the district. It was founded by Brad Stoll and adaptive P.E. teacher Jayme Savage, and they named it after their mentor, Grzenda, who retired in 2011.
Grzenda spent 34 years teaching adaptive P.E. in Lawrence Public Schools. She coached swimming and diving at LHS and FSHS and was inducted into the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s Hall of Fame.
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After lunch, each participant was honored individually, with Grzenda placing a medal around every athlete’s neck.
Grzenda said she looks forward to the triathlon every year.
“It’s good for our kids, these kids, to get exercise, feed them lunch and give them some recognition,” Grzenda said. “It is a joyous, joyous day.”
Note: This article has been corrected from a previous version.
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Courtney Lane (she/her), staff reporter, has worked with The Lawrence Times since April 2026. She can be reached at [email protected].
Read her complete bio here. Read her work for the Times at this link, and see her photography for the Times at this link.
