MORGANTOWN – Local Special Olympics participants brought home the gold medal during the Basketball Games and Skills, held in Morgantown recently.
Members of the group participated as a team and individually. This is the second year in a row the basketball team has taken first place. Coach David Perry said he was proud of everyone who participated.
“Our team played four games,” Perry said. “We won three and lost one. We received the gold medal in our division. The games were Round Robin – so we played everyone once, and we beat the team that had one loss.”
Perry said the photos showed the basketball players back-to-back because the team had back-to-back gold medals two years in a row.
Participants from Tucker County include David Varner, Dale Varner, Don Nestor and Laura Jones. Randolph County participants include Rodney Simmons, Kara Currence, Nathaniel Lattea, Dale Wingfield, Tiffany Fortney, Charlie Wine Jr., Tim Wood, Ethan Fortney, Crystal Wingfield, Mike Strawder, Linda Teter, Judy Waybright, Jim Ketterman, Danila Lattea, Jamie Bodkins, Bertie Stalnaker and Robbie Griever.
“Everyone who did not play on the team participated in individual events,” Perry said. “Individual events or skills include timed dribbling, ball bouncing and catching and shooting around the world. Individual event ribbons ranged from first to fourth place.”
Perry said the group is looking forward to the next events. Those will be this summer in Charleston and will include track and field events.
Randolph County Special Olympians bring home the gold in their division during the basketball tournament held in Morgantown. This is the second year in a row the team has come out on top. Players include Laura Jones, Rodney Simmons, Kara Currence, Nathaniel Lattea, Dale Wingfield, Tiffany Fortney, Coach Dave Perry, Assistant Coach Mike Ware, Charlie Wine Jr., Tim Wood and Ethan Fortney.
