By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Friday morning’s rain didn’t dampen the spirits of the 34 Wood County Special Olympians as they received a stars’ sendoff on their way to the Ohio Summer Olympic Games in Columbus. They will be among the 2,200 athletes at the 50th anniversary of State Summer Games that are hosted by Ohio State University.
Showering confetti, good luck signs, applause, fist bumps and lots of picture-taking feted the athletes before they hopped on the buses and were escorted out of town by a first-responders caravan complete with sirens and lights. The Wood County Special Olympians, known as the Wildcats, compete at the state competitions today through Sunday in volleyball, bocce ball and track and field events.
The 12-member volleyball team is pumped up and ready to defend their state title from last summer’s games. According to Jen Krouse, Wood County’s Special Olympics coordinator, the team has been practicing since March and recently upped their practices from two to three times a week to prepare for the state competition.
LeAnn Frankfather, volleyball coach and recreation specialist for the Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities, has worked hard with the team as they contend for a second state title at summer games. As they strengthened their skills, they even added knee pads to their game playing to allow for more diving for balls, Krouse said.
“The athletes really respect her (Frankfather) and appreciate the time and energy she devotes to their success,” Krouse added. “They are really excited to compete this weekend, with matches starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.”
Wood Lane has three two-member teams competing in bocce ball and 15 athletes competing in track and field events starting Friday afternoon.
Mark Jacobs of Luckey was on hand with a good luck sign for athletes Corey and Josh. “I’m here to support the teams, but especially two of the men who I live next to,” he said.
Members of the county board staff have been playing against the local athletes to give them experience in a competition setting, said Stacy Cox, director of fiscal services. “It’s so much fun to play against the athletes. They take their job seriously, and they always end up beating us,” she said.
The athletes will be part of the official opening ceremonies Friday night in the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The kickoff will include the Parade of Athletes and the dramatic entrance into the stadium of the torch bearing the Flame of Hope after the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Ohio
The games are more than an athletic competition, said Chad Highland, Ohio Special Olympics marketing coordinator. Through Special Olympics, the athletes “develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifs, skills and friendships with families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”
