Special Olympians bring home gold
Published 11:20 pm Friday, February 3, 2006
MOULTRIE — Three Colquitt County teams and three individuals won gold medals at the Georgia Special Olympics Indoor Winter Games held recently in Cobb County.
The Colquitt County High senior division traditional floor hockey team won three straight games to earn the gold medal in its classification.
The Sunset junior unified floor hockey team also won three games in a row for its gold medal.
And the Green Oaks masters traditional floor hockey team defeated Gwinnett County for its gold medal.
In addition, ice skaters Rebecca Walker, Lacey Yeomans and Britney Yeomans won gold medals.
Walker and both of the Yeomans took gold and silver medals in the 111-meter and 333-meter events.
Walker is from Charlie A. Gray Middle School. The two Yeomans girls are from Willie J. Williams Middle School.
Tombrika Jackson of Doerun Elementary won a silver medal in the badges competition. Rebecca Hampton of Willie J. Williams Middle School took a bronze medal in the badges competition. The skaters are in Charlotte, N.C., this weekend for the Special Olympics Southeast Regional competition. They are coached by Lynn Hammack.
The Colquitt County senior traditional team shut out all three of its opponents in Cobb County, defeating DeKalb/Cedar Grove 7-0, Clarke County 8-0 and DeKalb/Cedar Grove again 7-0 to win the gold medal.
The team includes Chad White, Alex Rice, Pachet Toombs, Shane Jacobs, Willie Butts, Rufeion Taylor, Reggie Mathis, Justin Walker, Jamie Walker, Donald Green, Justin Dennis and Darryl Burks.
The Sunset junior unified team also won three straight, defeating Monroe County 5-0, DeKalb/Lithonia 6-0 and Monroe County again 6-2 for its gold medal.
The team members are Eric Palmore, Dre Ford, Jasmine Hawkins, Damekius Hayes, Deon Grant, Duantavious Knight, Cheyenne Reynolds, Adam Crosby, Courtney Carnes, Andrew Eunice, Jim Harrison and Demerria Lambright.
The Sunset junior unified team coaches are Beau and Sherri Sherman.
The Green Oaks team opened play by defeating Albany 10-4, then lost to Gwinnett County 12-5. But the Colquitt County team came back to defeat Gwinnett in the rematch 10-7 at the Marietta Conference Center.
The Green Oaks team includes Tony Vining, Lexie Crews, Marcus Holloway, Willie Goodson, Sheila Hill, Henry Whitlock, Cheryl Henry, Sylvia Daniels, Stoney Lawson, Martha Jean Croker, Wayne Paul, Brandi Dickens, Alfredo Crisostomo and Mary Sue Hartsfield.
More than 1,800 athletes and some 350 coaches took part in the Indoor Winter Games, which were held Jan. 21-22. Competition was held in basketball, bowling, floor hockey, ice skating, powerlifting, rhythmic gymnastics and roller skating.