Sixteen Special Olympics West Hawaii athletes are working hard during weekly swim practices at the Kona Community Aquatics Center on Kuakini Highway. They are striving for competitive greatness, as well as having an awesome time, in the pool.
Several athletes on this year’s SOWH swim team have been swimming all their lives and are as comfortable as fish in water. Some are veterans of Special Olympics aquatics competition. Others just joined Special Olympics are will be participating in their first swim competitions very soon.
Swimming competitions range in distance from 25 to 200 yards. Events offered include all four strokes, freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, Medley events and relays.
In addition to swimming instruction that is provided by Special Olympics Hawaii-certified Head Coach Holly DeGeal, SOWH athletes receive a good zero impact workout. Assisted by Jenna Powell and Matt Martin, DeGeal ensures everyone swims warm-up laps and thoroughly stretches their muscles after workouts.
Parents and caregivers regularly attend the practices, offering their help to the athletes as needed.
According to the athletes, having fun with friends is the No. 1 reason why people should join or get involved with the SOWH swim team.
Dara Sabri is enjoying his first season of competitive swimming with SOWH.
Duke Kaawa, Jason Nagatori, Alvin Carvalho, Matthew Myers and Murray Williams share a laugh before practice begins.
Front row: Athletes James Neubauer, Lindsey Miedema, Dara Sabri, Murray Williams, Micah Della Cruz. Middle row: Athletes Shane Follosco, Alvin Carvalho, Matthew Myers, Duke Kaawa, Jason Nagatori. Back row: Parent Kitt Kurtz, Athlete Adrian Cleintuar, Head Coach Holly DeGeal, Athlete Casey Haydon, Coach Jenna Powell, Athletes Nick Bujalski and Shannon Salas. Not pictured: Athletes Marinna Takahashi-Ruiz and Robbie Sanoria, Assistant Coach Matt Martin.
Adrian Cleintuar practices his freestyle.
James Neubauer, 17, is an accomplished swimmer and is enjoying his first year with SOWH’s swim team.
Alvin Carvalho makes stroke efficiency look easy.
Head Coach Holly DeGeal demonstrates a technique.
Head Coach Holly DeGeal demonstrates proper execution of the triceps stretch.
Ahhhh. Everyone stretch.
Athlete Micah Della Cruz gets some one-on-one help from coaching assistant Jenna Powell.
Murray Williams is a lifelong at aquatics athlete and SOWH participant. He loves to swim.
Shane Follosco enjoys being a part of the SOWH swim team.
Athletes Matt Meyers and Casey Haydon race to the finish.
Lindsey Miedema gets ready for her post-practice stretches.
Head Coach Holly DeGeal gives instructions in preparation for laps with kickboards.
7:32 am on March 16th, 2009
Loved seeing all the atheletes working hard AND having a good time. Thanks for posting the pictures. I am the mom of Holly and also have a handicapped daughter at home. Keep blowing bubbles!!