NOTE: This profile is part of a weekly series intended to show the hearts and guts of Special Olympics West Hawaii participants. It is also a chance to get to know each other better. Readers will hopefully gain a better appreciation and knowledge of what each athlete, coach, volunteer, family member, friend or supporter brings to the organization. Enjoy!
Name: Shane J. Follosco
Age: 20
Hometown: Kailua-Kona
Nickname: “Shaner”
What activities you participate in with Special Olympics West Hawaii? What activity do you like most and why?
Shane trains and competes in basketball, bowling, T-ball, swimming and soccer for. His favorite sport is swimming because he enjoys being in the water and learning the various strokes.
What have you learned through Special Olympics West Hawaii or gained from being part of a team?
Through sports, Shane has learned to be brave and be alert. Being part of a team has taught him the importance of getting along with others and that he cannot win every time. Traveling to games with a large group means there will be waiting, which has taught him patience.
Why did you join Special Olympics West Hawaii?
Shane was a soccer player in elementary school. When he got older, he wanted to continue playing sports and Special Olympics gave him the opportunity to do that.
How long have you been with Special Olympics West Hawaii?
Shane has been an SOWH athlete since November 2006.
What is the best part about participating with Special Olympics?
The best part of Special Olympics for Shane is traveling to state level games on Maui and Oahu. He loves to compete and see friends he has met from other area programs. The highlight of games weekend is the Saturday night victory dance. Even after a long day of competition, he has enough energy to dance the whole night.
Do you have any hobbies or activities that you like to do during your free time?
Shane loves hula. He has been dancing and performing for two years as a member of Hula Halau Makanani under the direction of Kumu Hula Lona Warner. Shane enjoys music very much. He loves to play his harmonica, ukulele and accordion.
He likes to play his video games (Wii, PlayStation, Game Boy) and watch television. He also collects miniature cars and small action figures from favorite movies. When he goes out, he picks one to carry along to his activities.
Who is your favorite professional athlete or role model and why?
Shane’s role models are all of his SOWH coaches. They are very patient and know how to make learning fun.
Share an accomplishment — something you’re proud of.
Shane is very proud of the gold, silver and bronze medals he has earned in competition. Last year, he honored and chosen to be SOWH’s Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year. His award was a beautiful koa bowl.
What goal do you hope to accomplish in 2009?
Shane wants to continue working hard, doing his best and winning awards. His goal for the Spring sports season is to swim faster.
Favorite pitch, swim stroke or sports technique/move? Why?
Shane’s favorite races in aquatics competition are the freestyle and relays. He excels in these events.
Additional remarks from Madeline Follosco, Shane’s mom:
Shane is very friendly and gives extra hugs, kisses and smiles. For strangers Shane will usually have some kind of sense of a person he does not know. He sometimes hugs people he feels are safe.
Shane is really smart and he knows the different types of relationships he has with certain people. He knows what he can get away with different people. He chooses to communicate with us to his own advantage.
What is most important to Shane is his family, especially his sister, Shanley.
This is just a little look at who Shane is. It is very hard to write down who he is because we can’t explain how or what Shane does to touch our lives, but we know he does. He is remarkable and the best way to know Shane is just to spend a little time with him.
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.