Thursday, June 18, 2015 - Page 18

Shining Stars compete in

State Special Olympics Games
On May 29, 2015, Shining
Stars Special Olympics athletes (Jordan Mattice, Janet
Peters, and Scott Sachs)
and their Special Olympics
Coach Ann Roberts headed
towards Springfield, MO,
on a bus (Heartland Coach
Lines) along with teams
from Buchanan County
and Maryville (Nodaway
County) to Missouri University where the 2015 Special
Olympics State Games were
held. The athletes were able
to make this trip thanks to
the many donations and
community support. There
were over 2,000 athletes
and over several hundred
volunteers and coaches from
around the state, including
law enforcement, Missouri
State University, community organizations, Knights
of Columbus, Fan Club for
Special Olympics Missouri,
and many others.
Special Olympics athletes
participated in a variety of
sports on Saturday, May 30,
and Sunday, May 31, 2015.
Shining Stars Special Olympics athletes competed in the
following sports and earned
the following awards:
Jordan Mattice - Softball Throw, bronze medal;
50 Meter Run, gold medal;
and Standing Long Jump,

bronze medal
Janet Peters - Softball
Throw, silver medal; and
100 Meter Walk, gold medal
Scott Sachs - 50 Meter
Run, gold medal; Softball
Throw - gold medal; and
Standing Long Jump, gold
medal
The athletes and their
coach also enjoyed activities
in Victory Village and participated in Healthy Athletes venues in dentistry, optometry, healthy eating, and
more. As in all other Olympics Games around the globe,
these Opening Ceremonies
included the Torch Run.
The Special Olympics Torch
Run was completed by the
Missouri Law Enforcement
Agency. There was the lighting of the Flame of Hope
torch, music by a band, and
Presentation of Colors by
several cadette and other
military and civilian agencies. Saturday evening athletes participated in a dance
and/or bingo games.
We are very proud of our
Shining Stars and hope that
more athletes can experience these events next year,
as well as more volunteers
and assistant coaches for
Special Olympics in Atchison and Holt counties.

JANET PETERS - Holds up a softball used during the Softball Throw at the 2015 Special
Olympics State Games May 29. Janet earned a silver medal in this event. Pictured at left is the
Special Olympics Flame of Hope that was lit during the opening ceremony.
(Photo Submitted By Ann Roberts)

ABOVE, SHINING STARS - From left to right, Scott

Sachs, Jordan Mattice, and Janet Peters, stand in front of
the track and field stadium they competed on during the
2015 Special Olympics State Games.
SCOTT SACHS - Middle stands on the winners podium to

(Photo Submitted By Ann Roberts)
receive a gold medal.
(Photo Submitted By Ann Roberts)
BELOW, SCOTT SACHS, LEFT - And Jordan Mattice,
right, are pictured taking a breather between events at the
2015 Special Olympics State Games.

(Photo Submitted By Ann Roberts)

JANET PETERS - Middle, stands on the winners podium to

receive a medal. Janet received a silver in the Softball Throw
and a gold in the 100 Meter Walk.

(Photo Submitted By Ann Roberts)

JORDAN MATTICE - Is all

smiles above during the 2015
Special Olympics State Games
opening ceremony. (Photo Submitted By Ann Roberts)
SOME OF THE SHINING
STARS - Cheering on their
teammates from home included
Janet Knight, front right, and
Linda Koenig, back right. (Photo
By Josie King)