Rockets bring home hardware from Special Olympics State Winter Games
It has been more than two years since the Tuscarawas County Rockets Aquatics and Cheer teams have competed in a state event.
This weekend, they returned to action at the 2022 Special Olympics Ohio Winter Games event with over 800 athletes from across the state. The Rockets have been practicing for this event since October and are coming back with several medals for their efforts!
The cheer squad, coached by Kat Arthurs, Julie Erwin, and Rhonda Van Fossen, captured gold in a packed division. They did a combination of cheers and dance for their routine that clocked in at just under three minutes.
The swim team, coached by Stacy Harland and Dave DeMonte, also competed.
Here is how they did:
Jehred Bennett: Silver (25m freestyle and 4x25m freestyle relay)
Diana DeMonte: Fourth (50m backstroke), Fifth (50m freestyle), and Bronze (4x50m freestyle relay)
Conner DiGenova: Gold (25m freestyle) and Silver (4x25m freestyle relay)
Allison Halsey: Gold (25m backstroke), Silver (50m freestyle), and bronze (4x50 freestyle relay)
Cady Harlan: Gold (50m backstroke), Silver (50m freestyle), and Bronze (4x50 freestyle relay)
Miranda Milburn: Gold (25m freestyle) and Bronze (4x50m freestyle relay)
Anna Randolph: Silver (25m freestyle and 4x25m freestyle relay)
Larry Smitley: Bronze (25m freestyle) and Silver (4x25m freestyle relay)
While the Rockets may be hanging up their pom poms and goggles for a season, they are preparing for four spring sports.
These sports include bocce, bowling, track, and volleyball. All sports will be offered in traditional and unified formats. They also have fun basketball games coming up.
These include statewide Friendship Games on March 26 at Strasburg Schools at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m., as well as a game against the Strasburg Fire Department and other First Responders on April 2 starting at 6 p.m.
They need volunteers, coaches, and athletes for these events and sports.
Email Richelle Lefler (local coordinator) with any questions or if interested: tuscarawascountyspecialolympic@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Rockets bring home hardware from Special Olympics State Winter Games
