Local Athletes Compete in Indiana Special Olympics Summer Games
Posted
Staff Report-
TERRE HAUTE – Almost 2,600 athletes participated in the Indiana Special Olympics Summer Games in Terre Haute. The annual State Games were Friday to Sunday. Track and field, volleyball, bocce, aquatics, horseshoes bowling, power lifting and cycling events took place on the campuses of Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and in local bowling alleys. The opening ceremonies Friday evening filled more than half of the Hulman Center Field House on the ISU campus with athletes, coaches, families, volunteers and special guests. The crowd, wearing colorful T-shirts matching their county regions, was enthusiastic with music playing while entering the arena and greeted by Special Olympics officials, ISU athletes and cheerleaders, law enforcement and military personnel from the 181st Intelligence Wing. Jared Fogel, Indiana native and Subway spokesman, was the honorary coach and a featured speaker. The performance of SkyRiders, a nationally acclaimed trampoline act, was a big hit with everyone in the arena. Becky Walls, director for Special Olympics Indiana Kosciusko County, said 29 county athletes participated in the games this year. She also mentioned the weather was perfect and everyone had a fun, rewarding experience in Terre Haute. Walls also thanked all the coaches and volunteers for their hard work and dedication. Joe Baranowski, veteran bocce coach, stated that practice paid off with many athletes receiving medal honors. The oldest competitor at this year’s games was Eldon Watts, 83, from Vigo County. Special Olympics have programs in 79 of Indiana’s 92 counties, serving more than 11,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities. On average, there are eight Special Olympics events going on somewhere in Indiana every day. Special Olympics Indiana programs are made possible across the state by a network of nearly 10,000 volunteers. Local athletes and volunteers who attended were Marti Sullivan, Sharon Stapleton, Anthony Degaetano, Jerry Davis, Ron Taylor, Marshall Werner, Wayne Momeyer, Sandy Bibler, Mary Kay Bess, Norm McPeak, Kevin McPeak, Ken McPeak, John Gullett, Anthony Thompson, Elizabeth Wabol, Ruby French, Sandy Hunter, James Mornout, Kirk Conrad, Shannon Middaugh, Amy Philson, Matt Bammel, Lori Kiefer, Adam Stout, Meg Smith, Misty Campbell, Geneva McGlynn, Cindy Bartley, Judy Weidner, John Bonitati, Joe Baranowski, Valerie Flanagan, Steve Degaetano, Jim Nuell and Robert Svinarich.
