Tuesday, June 15, 1999
39 to compete at Special Olympics in Columbus
By Sara Eaton
Staff Writer
COLUMBUS &emdash; There will be 39 athletes and 13 coaches representing Seneca County in Special Olympics Summer Games starting Friday.
Competitions will begin at 3 p.m.
More than 2,600 children and adults with mental retardation will compete in 11 events for the gold during the three days.
In 29 years, this marks only the third time the track and field athletes will not compete in the Ohio Stadium horseshoe, because it is under construction.
The Tiffin Developmental Center, 600 N. River Road, is taking 14 athletes, who will compete in volleyball and bowling.
This is the first year we competed in volleyball as a team," Lance Davis, Tiffin Developmental Center representative, said.
In the past he said the athletes competed in track and field events, but since the normal track is out of service, they decided to try something a little different.
Davis said the athletes recently walked away from the area volleyball tournament with second place. He thinks the team will do well at the summer games.
Athletes and coaches from the Seneca County School of Opportunity, 780 E. CR 20, also will try something a little different this year.
Rather than staying in the stuffy dorms, everyone will be staying in a motel, said Karen Simonds, Seneca County School of Opportunity representative.
"It's just more comfortable," she said, explaining the lack of air conditioning in the dorms makes everyone uncomfortable.
Simonds said there are eight athletes competing in volleyball, two in tennis and seven in track and field.
Although Davis said no one new is going to compete, everyone is still excited.
"They enjoy the excitement of being there with all of the people, noise and commotion," Davis said, explaining the competitiors look forward to the event every year.
Simonds agreed, saying that the thrill of the competition excites everyone.
The other Seneca County representative is the Flat Rock Care Center, 7353 Main St., Flat Rock.
Representative Jeanise Hoeffel said the eight athletes from Flat Rock will be competing in bowling. In the past, she said many have won the gold.
Each year the athletes change a little, so some are returning and some are new, however all are looking forward to the trip.
". . . the chance to spend the night away from home," Hoeffel said, explaining what everyone gets most excited about.
The 11 events will be track and field, aquatics, bocce ball, bowling, cycling, gymnastics, power lifting, roller skating, soccer, tennis and volleyball.
Paige Ludwig, Special Olympics of Ohio representative, said there are up to six awards given for an event. The top three receive the gold, silver and bronze medals. For places four through six, ribbons are received.
During the opening ceremonies, a band will perform and fireworks will be set off, Ludwig said.