Gautier’s ‘G.O.A.T.’ raises the bar at Special Olympics

Gautier assistant football coach Conner Tingle raised the bar and won awards at this year’s Special Olympics.

Just last week, the heartbeat of Gautier went to compete in the Special Olympics in Florida as a powerlifter.

“He’s probably one of the most known in Gautier,” Gautier head coach Marc High. “So it’s just … If you know Gautier, you know Conner Tingle, that’s for sure.”

Conner did not see powerlifting as a skill he possessed initially. But his coach saw his potential.

“One day coach said, ‘Hey, you been working hard?’ and I said ‘Yeah’ then he said ‘You doing powerlifting,’ ” Tingle said. “I did not know what power lifting was…well I knew what it was… but the further I fell in love with it.”

Tingle and High began their journey together when High named Tingle one of his assistant coaches and Gautier High.

“He brings light everyday, you know?” High said. “He brings energy to us. He’s out there in the middle of the kids coaching them hard, and half the time he’s keeping us straight and what we need to be doing as coaches. It’s a blessing having him around us.”

Tingle is the heartbeat of the football team and some even call him ‘The Greatest of All Time.”

When “The G.O.A.T” was asked what winning his powerlifting medals meant to him — he said it was only the beginning.

“That means I can do anything now. Now, on to the next level.”