OLDS – About 20 athletes, coaches and other officials from Special Olympics Olds & District are going to the provincials in Grande Prairie July 11-13.
Karen Mengersen, who chairs Special Olympics Olds & District, says this team is one of the largest the organization has sent to provincial, national and international competitions, at least as far back as 2009.
“We have represented the town of Olds and the province of Alberta quite well over the years,” she wrote in an email.
Following are the athletes, coaches and others making the trip:
Golf: Alan Finch, Chrissie Finch, Tirone Hansen, head coach Linda Toews and caddies Ben Jensen, Louise Reeve and Brenda Norman.
Ten Pin Bowling: Emma Moorhouse, Nicole Chorny, Mike Dougan and Mark Mengersen; head coach Karen Mengersen, and coach Wilma VandenDool.
Swimming: Wesley Wilks, Adriene Briand and Shane Neilson; head coach Teena Wilks and coach Peggy Moorhouse.
Bocce: Aaron Johnson and Derek Hallet, as part of a four-person team featuring two ladies from Calgary.
Mengersen says all the athletes going have a good chance of getting on the podium.
“They all stand a chance of medalling,” she wrote. “As in any activity we do and especially with Special Olympics, ‘the sky is the limit.’
“The motto is let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt. That makes everyone a winner.”
The team gets on a bus for the trip to Grande Prairie on July 11.
