From National Games, our SOMO National Games Track Coach Malinda

Quinlan writes about the experience:

       I was very fortunate to be selected as the Athletics coach for Team Maryland for the first ever National Games that were held in Ames, Iowa over the 4th of July this year.  It was an honor to be selected, but even more special because, as a part of the team, I was lucky enough to have not one, but two Montgomery County Athletes.  Darren Seifert and Rachel Williams made up half of the Track and Field team for Maryland.

       Between these two Athletes alone, they took home a gold, 2 silvers, 2 bronzes and a forth place ribbon.  I could not have been more proud!  Not only did our Montgomery County Athletes do well on the field, but were a pleasure to be with and to watch off the field.  There was no dance that went unattended, no dinner table that was just ours (many friends from many other states), no moment without laughter, no track event that went un-cheered for and no award ceremony that went un-celebrated!  Darren and Rachel were in the middle of it all…and sometimes, in front of and watching over it all (I have pictures of a particular stage with Athletes, that will go un-named, dancing on top of it!)!

       I have been a coach in Montgomery County for almost 8 years now and have gotten to know Rachel, and especially Darren, as I was his basketball coach.  I got to see a whole new and rewarding side of both of these fine people and athletes.  We arrived in Ames with much anticipation and excitement, waiting to see what would happen at the National Games.  I think that we left Ames with just as much excitement and even more anticipation of what is to come!  Darren and Rachel were true Ambassadors and representatives of Montgomery County and Team Maryland.  I could not have been more proud of either of them and look forward to continuing to watch them and see all that they achieve.

 

       Thank you Darren and Rachel and your families for an amazing experience in Ames, your constant support and continuous laughter was amazing.  Thank you to all Montgomery County Special Olympics Athletes, fellow coaches, families and especially to Pam for letting me be a part of your lives and giving me the experience of being a part of your world which prepared me for and got us all to the first ever Special Olympics National Games!!!

GOLDEN MOMENTS OF SAILING

Mid Summer Sailing Regatta

Celebrating 10 years of Special Olympics

 Sailing in Maryland:our  11 SOMO athletes arrived at beautiful St. Mary's College in  Southern

Maryland on a day just made for sailing.

Fresh from 8 weeks of training at the Washington

Sailing Marina, athletes and Unified Partners

rigged their boats  and were off for divisioning

 races, in perfect moderate winds and blue skies. 

 Sailing continued until dinner, when we were

refreshed with a magnificent   meal, good

companionship, and a lively DJ party.

Competition was fierce the next day.

All our sailors  knew that one lucky team from

Maryland would be selected to attend the

Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai,

China in 2007. At the end of the races on Sunday,

Montgomery County was proud of all its sailors

and Partners. Gold medals went to Montgomery

County athletes in all the catamaran Divisions, 

and in the Advanced ( Level 2) class of Monohulls.  We honor them all!

Our athletes thank all the parents and friends who supported them. We especially thank Barb Selbst, Frank Altrichter, and Renee Moloznik, who kept us organized, watered, and never let our spirits sag.

 

 

 

 

And … Congratulations to our Amazing Kayak Coaches and Team on their competition at the 

St. Mary’s Summer Regatta