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County athletes bring home bronze medals from state Special Olympics Games

By Dave Zuchowski, For The Greene County Messenger 4 min read
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WAYNESBURG – After completing eight weeks of training at Waynesburg University’s gymnasium, a hopeful team of five Greene County athletes headed off to State College to participate in the 48th Annual Pennsylvania Special Olympics Summer Games, held June 1-3.

The team had already placed first in the Spring Sectional held on April 29 at Carnegie Mellon University against other Western Pennsylvania teams and were stoked about playing in the three-on-three basketball meets in State College.

For their efforts, Ralph Wilkins of Waynesburg, Shawn Andrews of Rices Landing, Sarah Stone of Carmichaels, and Melissa Cain Ferguson and John Ferguson, both of Waynesburg, each took home a bronze medal.

“We started to train in January and went to Penn State with the athletes’ parents and coaches Travis Sumner and Jordyn Wylie,” said Kristin Szewczyk, manager of the Greene County Special Olympics (GCSO).

Of the nine Greene County athletes who trained and practiced for the games, five were chosen to go to Penn State by vote of the GCSO Leadership team, based on athlete interest. According to Szewczyk, Greene County has a resident pool of about 1,000 athletes who could qualify for the games.

“It’s a matter of getting the word out to inform people of the possibilities of joining the program, which is completely free to participants and their parents,” she said. “Throughout the year, we stage a series of fundraisers to defray costs to the athletes and their families.”

At the moment, the athletes are looking forward to participating in the fall games, set for Nov. 10-12 at Villanova University in Philadelphia. Training for the games will begin in early August, but the team is still deciding what sport they want to participate in and are especially interested in volleyball and bocci.

Szewczyk said the Greene County Special Olympics are looking for more athletes as well as volunteers to help with such things as practice, accompanying the athletes to the games and other activities held throughout the year. For more information, call 724-747-8658 or email Szewczyk at greenecountyspecialolympics@gmail.com.

“The Greene County Special Olympics has waxed and waned through the years,” she said. “Last year was the first time we participated in the games in quite a while.”

On Saturday, Aug. 19, the GCPO is holding a picnic that is free and open to everyone from 2 to 4 p.m. at Lions Club Park in Waynesburg.

At the 48th Annual Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games, athletes competed in aquatics, athletics, basketball, bowling, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, softball and tennis at Penn State University.

The athletes of Special Olympics – nearly 20,000 strong in Pennsylvania – are constant reminders of all that is right with the human spirit. The mission of the organization is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Special Olympics was created by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation. Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) is authorized and accredited by Special Olympics Inc. for the benefit of persons with intellectual disabilities.

Although 187 Pennsylvania athletes participated in the Mid-Atlantic Invitational in Maryland in 1969, Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) did not become an official chapter until it hosted its own competition.

SOPA officially came into being in May 1970 with a track and field event at West Chester University. Organized by two volunteer directors, Dr. Ed Norris and Hank Goodwin from West Chester’s Physical Education Department, and funded by a grant from the Department of Special Education in Harrisburg, this first official competition had 135 participants.

The organization grew rapidly through the 1980s as staff was added and local programs began holding events across the state. SOPA now trains nearly 20,000 athletes who participate in 21 Olympic-type sports and three emerging sports at more than 260 local, sectional and state level competitions.

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