Special Olympics West Hawaii

Special Olympics West Hawaii participated in the Summer Games held at the University of Hawaii-Manoa from May 29 to May 30. Summer Games marks the end of the Spring season.

Mahalo to the athletes, coaches, volunteers, families, friends and supporters. You are valued highly and important to the success of the Special Olympics program.

Long-time volunteer Nikki Cleintuar made a video of all the moments captured at this year’s Summer Games, which can be viewed online by clicking here or visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9EhXVsXx70.

Also, please enjoy the following photos taken during the Summer Games by KC Strand, SOWH volunteer coordinator, and volunteer Doreen Parker. To see the entire album created by KC, click here.

Special Olympics West Hawaii is participating in the Summer Games, held May 29 through May 31, at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Roughly 1,100 athletes and coaches statewide will compete in Track & Field (Athletics), Swimming (Aquatics), Powerlifting, and Softball (includes Unified Softball, Coach Pitch, T-Ball, and Individual Skills). The Summer Games marks the end of the Spring season. Over 2,500 volunteers help at this Olympic-style contest.

The Summer Games schedule is as follows:

Friday, May 29
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: softball for all divisions
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: softball individual skills
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: lunch
4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.: dinner
7 p.m.: opening ceremonies

Saturday, May 30
6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.: breakfast
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: lunch
4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.: dinner
9 a.m. to noon: track for ages 8-21, field for ages 22 and older, and level III track & field
12:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.: track for ages 22 and up
12:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.: field for ages 8-21
2:45 p.m. to 4 p.m.: relays for all ages
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Healthy Athlete, Olympic Town and powerlifting
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: swimming
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.: victory dance

Sunday, May 31
6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.: breakfast
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: lunch
8 a.m. to noon: Healthy Athlete
8:30 a.m. to noon: Olympic Town
8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: powerlifting
7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.: swimming
8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.: track and field
1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.: closing ceremonies

To learn more about the Summer Games, visit the Special Olympics Hawaii Web site at www.specialolympicshawaii.org.

The well prepared West Hawaii Sharks swim team is looking forward to a great start of the Summer Games, following the successful Special Olympics Weinberg Neighbor Island Regional Swim Meet on Maui April 14, said Coach Holly DeGeal.

The Summer Games are the culminating statewide events for the Spring Season. More than 1,000 talented athletes and unified partners, guided by their coaches, compete at this Olympic-style competition on Oahu. Roughly 2,500 volunteers will donated their time during this three-day contest in late May.

On behalf of the West Hawaii Sharks swim team, parents, chaperones and coaches, DeGeal recently thanked participants for their overwhelming support.

“The Special Olympics Weinberg Neighbor Island Regional Swim Meet would not have been possible without your kokua,” she said.

Have something to say about this swim meet? Want to share a story, photo, inspirational thought, or accomplishment? Talk story with Carolyn Lucas, SOWH blog editor. E-mail her at specialolympics.westhawaii@gmail.com.

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.

Note: SOWH athletes can participate in two sports. Practices begin Feb. 4. Anyone interested in competing or volunteering should sign-up by sending SOWH volunteer coordinator KC Strand an e-mail at zionvideos@yahoo.com. You may also contact Lona Warner, head of delegation, at 808-989-2080, 808-327-0491 or biglona@hotmail.com.

SOFTBALL & T-BALL
3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays & Fridays at Old Kona Airport Park’s baseball field, located at the end of Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona.

SWIMMING
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays & Fridays at the Kona Community Aquatic Center, located at 75-5500 Kuakini Hwy. in Kailua-Kona.

POWERLIFTING
5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays at The Club at Kona, located at 75-5699 Kopiko St. in Kailua-Kona.
11 a.m. to noon Saturdays at The Club at Kona, located at 75-5699 Kopiko St. in Kailua-Kona.

TRACK & FIELD
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays & Thursdays at Kealakehe High School’s track, located at 74-5000 Puohulihuli St. in Kailua-Kona.

To participate:
* Volunteers must fill out the required forms, available online at www.specialolympicshawaii.org/volunteers.htm.
* Athletes must fill out the required forms, available online at www.specialolympicshawaii.org/a&f-registration.htm.