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Chad Underwood gets some help from a course official on the Developmental Slope during practice on Monday at the State Winter Games. |
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After several years of threatening to do in some or all of the annual Special Olympics Kentucky State Winter Games, Mother Nature finally got the job done at the 2008 Games as rain washed out the final day of the event. However, that didn't dampen the spirits of the more than 100 athletes who made the trip to Perfect North Slopes Jan. 27-29.
Even with the rain, most athletes got a full slate of skiing and snowshoeing in on Sunday and Monday.
As always the highlight of the first day of the Games was the Opening Ceremonies held at Perfect North. The Ceremonies once again featured a stunning ski down of the American Flags and the Special Olympics flame from the top of the slopes to the cauldron below. This year Rich Brown of the Cincinnati Ski Club was joined by skiier Rickey Oney of Louisville and Snowshoer Derek Greene of Lexington in lighting the Olympic Cauldron. During the Ceremonies the Special Olympics athletes and caoches were also treated to an extreme skiing and snowboarding show with ramp tricks from the Zero Gravity Ski Club.
With the rain, Monday ended up being the most important day of the event. Generally a day reserved for practice and time trials, the impending weather added a great deal of interest. Athletes still practiced with their partners from the Cincinnati Ski Club in the morning and headed back to the slopes for time trials in the afternoon, but this year it was those time trials that determined the outcome of the competitions.
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Colleen Schmitt of Shurchill Park celebrates her gold medal in the 50-meter snowshoeing race. |
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Once the decision was forced on Tuesday to cancel competition for the safety of the athletes, officials went back to the time trial scores to award medals at what ended up being a rousing ceremony. Athletes were escorted into the East Lodge at Perfect North through a throng of cheering volunteers to the medal stands to receive their awards.
Our thanks to the many volunteers who help make the Winter Games possible, especially volunteers from Dow Corning who have helped organize the State Winter Games for more than 25 years; the Cincinnati Ski Club, Kentucky Utilities and the Zero Gravity Ski Club.
Other companies and organizations supporting the Special Olympics Kentucky State Winter Games include Special Olympics Kentucky Year-Round Partners Kroger, Texas Roadhouse, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom and the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics; McDonald’s of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky Fried Chicken of Lawrenceburg and Wendy’s of Lawrenceburg which combine to provide lunches for all of the event volunteers; and the Kentucky Department American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary.
For more information about the Special Olympics State Winter Games and Special Olympics winter sports programs, contact Trish Mazzoni, executive vice president, at 800-633-7403 or via e-mail at tmazzoni@soky.org.
View more event photos here.
Advanced-Plus Giant Slalom
F1 – Christy Farwell, Alexandria Wildcats
M1 – Allen Ware, Campbell County Adults
M2 – Mitch Walls, Pitt Academy
M3 – Steven Heltsley, Henderson Tigers
Advanced Slalom
F1 – Kelly McCormick, Pitt Academy
F2 – Jennifer Luken, Pitt Academy
M1 – Leonard Danner, Carroll County Special Olympics
M2 – Christpher Meyers, Ballard High School
M3 – Tim Heltsley, Henderson Tigers
M4– Roger Kappesser, Area 4 Snow Clippers
M5 – Brad Harkleroad, Area 4 Snow Clippers
Advance Giant Slalom
F1 – Jennifer Luken, Pitt Academy
F2 – Johnetta Murphy, Scott County Special Olympics
M1 – Bradley Hope, Henderson Tigers
M2 – Christopher Meyers, Ballard High School
M3 – Tim Heltsley, Henderson Tigers
M4– Ronnie Lee Todd, Campbell County Adults
M5 – Jay Pickett, Fayette Snow Cats
M6 – Chris Revay, Alexandria Wildcats
Intermediate Slalom
F1 – Heidi Given, Pitt academy
M1 – Greg Polombi, Fayette Snow Cats
M2 – Jeremy Thompson, Fayette Snow Cats
M3 – Chuck Thompson, Campbell County Adults
M4 – Chuckie Walker, Campbell County Adults
Intermediate Giant Slalom
F1 – Heidi Given, Pitt academy
M1 – Greg Polombi, Fayette Snow Cats
M2 – Jeremy Thompson, Fayette Snow Cats
M3 – Paul Templeton, Campbell County Adults
M4 – Chuckie Walker, Campbell County Adults
Beginner Slalom
F1 – Julianna McQuillen, Pitt Academy
F2
– Bobbi Jo Whisman, Carroll County Special Olympics
F3 – Crystal Maston, Bowling Green Adult Athletic Club
M1– Kazuki Nakamura, Fayette Snow Cats
M2 – Bubba Whittaker, Bowling Green Adult Athletic Club
M3 – Steven Beltz, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
M4 – Kyle Gathof, Pitt Academy
Beginner Giant Slalom
F1 – Julianna McQuillen, Pitt Academy
F2 – Bobbi Jo Whisman, Carroll County Special Olympics
F3 – Crystal Maston, Bowling Green Adult Athletic Club
M1– Dustin O'Neal, Carroll County Special Olympics
M2 – Jeffrey Farwell, Alexandria Wildcats
M3 – Steven Beltz, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
M4 – Michael Roy, Campbell County Adults
Developmental 20-Meter Glide
F1 – Courtney Maston, Bowling Green Adult Athletic Club
F2
– Lisa Renee Lilly, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
M1 – Chad Underwood, Guttermuth Elementary
M2 – Chris Conner, Bowling Green Adult Athletic Club
M3 – Jonathan Brooks, Bolwing Green Adult Athletic Club
Developmental 10-Meter Glide
F1 – Courtney Maston, Bowling Green Adult Athletic Club
F2 – Lisa Renee Lilly, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
M1 – Chad Underwood, Guttermuth Elementary
M2 – Chris Conner, Bowling Green Adult Athletic Club
M3 – Jonathan Brooks, Bolwing Green Adult Athletic Club
100-Meter Snowshoe
F1 – Sarah Pinotti, Churchill Park
F2 – Casie Siefert, Fayette Snow Cats
F3 – Emily Bagley, Hardin County Special Olympics
M1 –Timothy Greer, Henderson Tigers
50-Meter Snowshoe
F1 – Colleen Schmitt, Churchill Park
F2 – Judith Stengel, Ballard High School
F3 – Casie Siefert, Fayette Snow Cats
F4
– Emily Bagley, Hardin County Special Olympics
F5 – Natalie Mullikin, Scott COunty Special Olympics
M1 – Kenny King, Fayette Snow Cats
M2 – Chimel Ford, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
M3 – Todd Bone, Pleasure RIdge Park High School
M4 – Timothy Greer, Henderson Tigers
M5 – Derek Greene, Fayette Snow Cats
25-Meter Snowshoe
F1 – Kasey Sinclair, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
F2 – Anna Hill, Carroll County Special Olympics
F3 – Bethany Kizer, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
M1 – Kenny King, Fayette Snow Cats
M2 – Alex Burden, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
M4 – Chimel Ford, Plesure Ridge Park High School
M5 – Bud Stroud, Carroll County Special Olympics
