Special Olympians bring home medals
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on July 1, 2008 1:45 PM
Wayne County's Special Olympics Team competed in the state games in June. Twenty-six athletes and 15 coaches and staff traveled to Raleigh to participate.
While in Raleigh, the delegation was housed in dormitories at N.C. State University. Wayne athletes competed in aquatics/swimming, power lifting and athletics/track and field.
Hot weather prevented some track and field events from being held but Wayne athletes still brought home a number of medals.
Power lifters brought home seven medals in the dead lift, bench press and combination event. Ryan Hood took three gold medals, Shannon Moore three gold medals and Robert Benson Jr., a silver medal.
The power lifters were coached by Scott Benson and Dorothy Moore
The aquatics team brought home 19 medals and 16 ribbons.
They participated in relay races, free-style, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly races and assisted swim and walking events.
Erica Walderman won three medals and two ribbons, Melissa Stanford won three medals and a ribbon, Jenifer Cruz won a medal and four ribbons, Heather Pardue won two medals and a ribbon, Leah Jones won a medal and two ribbons, Alan Jenkins won three medals and a ribbon, Jesse Martinez won three medals and two ribbons, Brett Drake won two medals, David McRoy won two ribbons, Richard Brisson won a medal and a ribbon.
The aquatics team was coached by Debi Walderman, Karen Sellner, Don Jenkins and Harold and Donna Countryman.
The athletics team members were Brooke Mayton, Jackie Spearman, Tammy Drake, Jamie Keller, Angela Keyes, Brian Hammonds, Jonathan Delano, Miguel Sheffield, Marcus Cox, Moses Bland, Michael Solomon, Paul Edwards, Jay Zambelli and Scott Britt.
The athletics team was coached by Janay Serlick and Dean and Kathleen Parrish.