Montgomery Relay - SOMO - Special Olympics - MD 2 MONTGOMERY RELAY FALL 2011 Meet the President n...

2011 Volume 13., Issue 3 www.somdmontgomery.org February / March 2007

A Word from The Director By Pam Yerg

Our Special Olympic athletes and coaches are role models for everyone. They exemplify the best in all of us! The MD Sate Summer Games served as confirmation with good sportsmanship in all events. One story stood out in our coaches minds : "great sportsman-ship moments". "For as long as any of us can remember Brian Kao has only swam on his stom-ach. For the past 4 years we have been working with Brian to add an additional stroke: the back stroke. Bravely, he was willing to try to respond to his coaches! This year Coach Margie en-tered Brian in the 25 backstroke. Coach told him that he had to do it with no floatation around his belly. The flotation was his "safety net" and Brian was very nervous about not having it. Brian's mom, sisters and all of his coaches

Montgomery Relay Special Olympics Maryland Montgomery County

stood by as he got into the pool at the State Summer Games Swim meet. Beginning on his back, Brian stayed on his back kicking and moving his arms as fast as he could. After 15 meters Brian tired out turned on his front and started his free-style swimming for a few strokes. But he was not finished! 3/4 way down the pool Brian turned on his back again and tried to finish the race with his new stroke! The coaches had goose bumps and tears in our eyes. This was an act of faith and bravery! Brian accepted a participation ribbon with honor knowing that he had put all that he had into it! As for the rest of us, we know that this is just the beginning for Brian and the back stroke,...just you wait till next year!"

Brian and his Shark coaches.

SOMO Calendar

Special Olympics—Created by the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation Authorized and Accredited by Special Olympics, Inc. for the benefit of Citizens with Intellectual Disabilities

Renny sporting his official USA Bocce uniform. Onward to Greece!

State Regatta July 30 & 31 State Golf Tournament Sept 17&18 State Fall Festival Oct 22 State Cycling Games Oct 22 Golf & 50/50 Fundraiser Oct 3 Volunteer Orientation : Aug 31 State Soccer Tournament-TOPS Festival Oct 23

SAVE THE DATE!

Sunday September 11th-2:30pm

Knights of Columbus Picnic

Derwood Hall

MONTGOMERY RELAY FALL 2011

Meet the President n Article and photo by Maggie Häusler.

Montgomery Relay Summer & Fall Training Calendar

www.somdmontgomery.org

9AM-10:30 AM

Bohrer Park

Sat Aug 6

Cycling

6 PM-7:30 PM 11AM-12:30PM

Lake Needwood Lake Needwood

Wed July 7 Sunday Aug 21

Cross Country Running (Summer and Fall Schedule)

4PM-6:00 PM

Walter Johnson HS Courts

Sun Aug 21

Tennis

2PM-3:30 PM

Flower Hill Fitness First Gym

Sun July 24

Powerlifting

Sport Date Time Location

Senior Soccer TOP Soccer K-4th TOP Soccer 5-8th TOP Soccer HS

10AM-11:30AM 12PM-1:15PM

1:00PM-3:30PM 4:30PM-6:00PM

Dewey Local Park Julius West MS Julius West MS Wootton HS

Sat Aug 27 Sun Sept 18 Sun Sept 18 Sun Sept 18

Soccer

12PM-1:15PM Julius West MS Sun Sept 18

YAP Program

11:45AM-2PM

Bowl America Gaithersburg

Sat Aug 27

Competitive 10 Pin Bowling


Summer & Fall Sports Line By Pam Yerg

CYCLING CLUB Starts: Aug 6 Location: Bohrer Park Time: 9AM

Traditional racing cycling for athletes wishing to compete iat the Fall Festi-val scheduled for October 22 . We will also have a leisure club ride for athletes who simply want to “ride”. Ride locations to be determined. Both programs require that you pro-vide your own equipment and a Buddy/Unified Partner. Contact: Renny Springuel at [email protected].

CROSS COUNTRY SUMMER & FALL RUNNING Starts: July 7 & Aug 21 Location: Lake Needwood

Time: Wednesdays 6 PM Sundays 11AM-12:30PM Athletes wishing to participate in the Fall Cross Country Running Team should plan to attend the summer runs whenever possible. Coach Bob will need the assistance of family members to help with chaperone and leadership duties in this running pro-gram. On line sign up required.

TENNIS Starts: Aug 21 Location: Walter Johnson High School Time: 4 PM

The Tennis program returns with huge success and will feature skills training and training in doubles: mixed and Uni-fied. Spaces in this program will be lim-

ited by the coaching support that we have, so SIGN up NOW! And encour-age family and friends to volunteer in this program. We strongly encourage family and friends to train with our ath-letes and participate as Unified Partners in mixed doubles play. We are very fortunate to have the skilled coaches from MCTA( Montgomery Co. Tennis Association) led by Greg Overkamp, MCTA League Coordinator. Email Pam Yerg with questions: [email protected]

POWERLIFT-ING Starts: July 24 Location: Flower Hill Fit-

ness First Gym Time: 2 PM The team had a very successful first season and we are expecting an even larger turn out this year! Parents and counselors are encouraged to partici-pate as volunteers in this program. We will accept as many athletes in this pro-gram as our coaching staff can support - so sign up is on a first come, first served basis- SIGN UP NOW! Coach Jim Downs will contact you with details. Athletes must be at least 16 years old to participate. Acceptable attire for practices are shorts ,sweats, t-shirts and tennis shoes. One piece lifting suits (singlets) will be provided for competi-tion. Contact Coach Jim with questions: [email protected]

TOPSOCCER - Season begins Starts: Sept. 18 Location: Various see Calendar TOPSoccer returns as the

soccer training program for athletes in grades K through High School. We will have a YAP league( grades K and 1), an

Elementary league( grades 2-5), a Mid-dle School league and a High School league. Registration www.msisoccer.org . Requires a fee to MSI soccer league. Scholarships available if needed. Contact Pam Yerg at [email protected].

SENIORS SOCCER TEAM Starts: August 27 Location: Dewey Local Park

Time: 10-11:30am For athletes 18 years and older who wish to train and compete on a 7v7 Soccer team with other adult players. We are in desparate need of coaches to make this team ( or teams) a possibility. Interested athletes sign up NOW so that we can plan for the coaching staff that will be needed. WE NEED

COACHES. COMPETITIVE 10 PIN BOWLING Starts: August 27th Location: Bowl

America, Gaithersburg Registration starts on Saturday Aug 6th at noon. You will be contacted by Au-gust 19th to let you know if you made the team. Bowlers attending 8 prac-tices will be eligible to participate in the regional competition in November which Montgomery County will be hosting at the Bowl America Lanes. Those who win gold medals in their divisions will be eligible to compete in the State Games in early December. SAILING and KAYAKING The Mid-Summer Classic State Compe-tition will be held July 30&31 at Saint Mary’s College, in Saint Mary’s County, MD. Both programs are full.

“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” -Special Olympics Oath


Softball Matt Bonanno Matt Digilio Andrew Fusi Trevor Golden Ricardo Hakim Ben Levy Adam Lloyd Jason Massey Max Rubenstein Mark Salewski Brian Salewski Tony Stevens Darrell WalkerPeri Cutler Laura Evans Bruce Myles Alison Silverstein

Cheerleading Michelle Andrade Ayaan Ayorinde Gina Baldini Sam Copeland Delaney Dunigan Barbara Ewing Ariana Froh Katherine Fudge Pia Gueco Danielle Gummo Amanda Mahmood Haley Meade Devin Mitchell Lauren Mitchem Joelle Packard Carly Ruderman Ella Smith Isabel Solomon -Gomez Breanna Vitak Brooke Williams

Maryland Summer Games Photos by: Frank Altrichter


Maryland Summer Games Photos by: Frank Altrichter

Acquatics Coach Margie Young Alex Batselos Meredith Beck Aaron Boyle Alex Brouwers Enrique Bryce Alec Callahan Annie Callanan Ellie Carney Toni Dawe Chris Divita Jill Durbin Andy Eisnehaur Elaine Fickenscher Sarah Glenner DAvid Godoy Cahlrie Hepp Aaron Hyndman Brian Kao Mathew McMeekin Gaby Nugent Kelly Piacesi Javi Requejo Al Richardson Aly ritzmann Josh Saunders Nick Seidel Kelli Jo Smith Owen Suskind Jon Thomas Donny Toker Carrie Waldman Neil Young

Athletics Coach Bob Stack Donnell Banks Garrie Barnes Joey Bascomb Shelly Belgard Nadeem Bokhari Theresa Brogan Lisa Calhoun Feivel Cohen Megan Cooper Jay Cromwell Amy Faiola Patrick Farrell Andrea Geller Jan Gonzalez Phoebe Hathaway Lucas Houk Patrick Jones Angie Kim Terrel Limerick Faith McLuckie Lori Plaxen Cynthia Ring Eric Roth Darren Seifert Nicole Tuite

Bocce John Bogasky Richard Charleston Ben Collins Joe Cumberpatch Linda Daner Scott Eckberg Erik Eckberg John Edwards Nan Gootenberg David Holden Sarah McGhee Alex Pellegrino Adam Russell Sharon Shaffer Alex Shapiro Mark Springuel Owen White


The JOY! This was the first year for our 2 Joy Cheerleading Teams to com-pete and the youngest "Joyette" Devin Mitchell is a bit shy. As the team was taking the stage for their competition, Devin stayed in the wings - still a bit too shy to step out and compete! Her team-mates were determined to make sure that Devin was included in their recognition and beckoned her up to the stage with them to receive their GOLD medal together as a team! Sometimes it takes "baby steps" to overcome the nerves of competition, but it is certainly much easier to do when you have a whole team behind you to give you courage! DARREN SEIFERT Coaches Bob and Joyce nominate Darren Seifert as a stand out Good Sport this season. Dar-ren has developed into a true team leader. He cheers for teammates and members of other teams. He gives a consistent effort in his training and in every individual race and relay.

ALY RITZMANN Aly was an enormous help to all of the coaches at Summer Games. The Aquat-ics venue was undergoing huge renova-tion and this provided a great degree of difficulty in getting to and from the facil-ity and to and from staging points within the facility. Because of the con-struction issues, some of the athletes

Maryland Summer Games By: Pam Yerg

2011 Sumer Games. Jason was sidelined for six weeks this season with a stress fracture in his foot. Rather than letting the injury get the better of him, Jason continued to come to all practices and to the Howard Qualifier so he could cheer his team on. Prior to the Howard Qualifier, Jason reminded me to bring his uniform – so he could be included in the team picture. By States Games, Jason’s foot had healed to the point where his doctor gave him clearance to play. In addition to solidifying our infield by playing a stellar 3rd base throughout the Games, Jason scored the winning run – in walk-off fashion – in the Gold Medal game. While it was truly a team victory, it was amaz-ing to see Jason cross the plate with the winning run.

BOCCE - As this issue of the RELAY is written our SOMO Bocce Coach Renny Springuel joins the Maryland Delegation and leads TEAM USA Bocce at the 2011 World Games in Greece. Renny coaches Cycling, Snow Shoe and Bocce and leads each team with a level of dedication and personal commitment to each of the athletes that is a hallmark of our SOMO coaches. Renny provides excellent tech-nical training for each of his teams as well as the more important training piece: training in the life skills of hard work, commitment, team play and good sportsmanship that ..(what follows?)

were confused about where they needed to go. Aly stepped right into help mode! She became the unofficial "SHARK GUIDE" .When someone needed to go to the restroom or locker room, she showed them the way. When we were looking for an athlete to stage for their event she was the one who would get them for us. This con-tinued day after day, and even at the end of a long weekend, and competing in her own events, on Sunday after-noon, Aly was helping check out the athletes when the parents came to take them home. Aly was a team leader, a supporter and friend to her team mates, a guide, a friend , a competitor, ...and always had a smile on her face.

SOFTBALL SKILLS WARRIORS The Softball skills team competed on Saturday and all had a personal best in competition, and on Sunday - packed up their luggage and their lunches and trav-eled to the off-campus softball fields to cheer on their SOMO Golden Warri-ors to a Division 1 GOLD! The softball skills team is coached and loved by Coach Teresa and Coach Lee and the "family feel" of the team shows! photo softball skills team 2011-050215

JASON MASSEY Jason Massey was named the Montgom-ery Sportsmanship award winner for

Darren

L-Jason R-Max

Aly


Community Partners.

Thank you to Our Lady of Good Counsel High School Community and staff for graciously hosting the SOMO 2011 Spring Games on May 1. This was a huge event featuring athletic competition in track and field, bocce and softball team and skills play. We had over 300 ath-letes from 10 counties in Maryland competing as a part of their qualifi-cation for State Games competi-tion at Summer Games. The facil-ity is gorgeous and the students and staff of OLGCHS could not have been more helpful and wel-coming. Due to the generosity of OLGCHS we were able to host one of the largest Spring Games in the state! The concession stand run by Carl Leverenz prepared a delicious lunch for all athletes and coaches, and provided many food choices for our fans! Thank you Good Counsel! We look forward to many Spring Games with you. Go to somd.org and click on Sum-mer Games to view the fabulous video that students of OLGCHS prepared while covering the Tow-son State Summer Games!

Another special Thank you goes to Stone Ridge School and Coach Bob Walker for hosting our Swim Team season practices and a very successful State Qualifying Swim Meet on May 21st. We have had the pleasure of calling Stone Ridge our SHARK training home for sev-eral years thanks to the generosity of Stone Ridge and Coach Bob. The 2011 Swim Meet featured athletes from 5 counties and pro-vided excellent competition and preparation for the Summer Games Swim Meet.

Give a SOMO Gift Envelope

Honor or Remember someone special in your life!

An athlete– a coach—a friend Purchase a $25 Gift Envelope. Your contribution supports SOMO and we send an acknowledgement to that someone special on your behalf. Contact Lorrie White ([email protected]) for a gift en-velope, or go online at www.somdmontgomery.org - SOMO Store to make your donation by credit card. Your gift will make a dif-ference in the lives of our Special Olympic athletes.

Be A Community Partner with SOMO! SOMO offers 23 sports in our year-long training and competi-tion programs. Their success and development depend upon the generous support of com-munity sponsors, and donations from businesses and individuals who want to “Be a Fan”— Light the Torch! Email Pam Yerg at [email protected] to find out how you and your business or organization can help! Invite us to your organization or place of business to do a presentation about Special Olympics.

The Annual Montgomery Masters Fund-Raising Golf Tournament Monday October 3rd Montgomery CC Laytonsville MD. Please plan to join us!

….help us Light the Torch!

Stone Ridge School, The Bar-rie School, Landon, Good Counsel High School Georgetown Prep Our Lady of Lourdes School Wootton High School Holton Arms School

PO BOX 1809 Rockville, Maryland 20849

SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND-MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Postmaster: Please Deliver by July 13th

NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Suburban, MD. Permit No. 1598

Change Service Requested

Special Olympics-Montgomery County Continuing

SOMO provides year-round sports training and competition in 23 Olym-pic-type sports for Montgomery County MD children & adults with intellectual disabilities and closely re-lated developmental disabilities.

Our training and competition op-portunities are free to athletes. The program is made possible through the generous support of individuals, or-ganizations and foundations who be-lieve in the Special Olympics mission.

SOMO is an area chapter of Special Olympics Maryland, and of Special Olympics, Inc. a world-wide organiza-tion.

Our values: Community-Friendship-Integrity-Opportunity-Quality and Sportsmanship

Athletes MUST signup online to partici-pate in sports training and competition: •• • Go Online & sign-up for the sport you wish to participate in. •• • www.somdmontgomery.org •• • Volunteers must submit an applica-tion and also sign up online to partici-pate in our sports programs. •• • Keep your medical forms up to date! Call Carol Halderman with ques-tions.! No athlete may train without a current medical form! 888 924-6965 SOMO Hotline •• • Show up for the first practice and for all practices! Coaches will not call to remind you!

Our Mission What To Do and When

Area Director: Pam Yerg Sports Director: Katie Detweiler Medical Director: Carol Halderman Admin. Asst: Nancy Durbin Finance Director: Frank Altrichter Fund Raising: Lorraine White Volunteer Chair: Chris Giusti Family Coordinator: Joyce Plaxen Newsletter Editor: Pam Yerg Golf Event Chair: Chuck Hellmuth Management Team members and coaches can be reached via the SOMO website: www.somdmontgomery.org.

SOMO Management Team

Montgomery Relay - SOMO - Special Olympics - MD 2 MONTGOMERY RELAY FALL 2011 Meet the President n...

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