The Peterborough Examiner

22 local athletes heading to Provincial Special Olympic Spring Games

- MIKE DAVIES

Special Olympics Peterborou­gh has qualified 22 athletes for the 2024 Provincial Special Olympic Spring Games, set to take place May 23-26 at Wilfrid Laurier University in Kitchener-Waterloo.

More than 750 Special Olympic athletes will be competing in five spring sports: basketball, powerlifti­ng, swimming, 10-pin bowling and rhythmic gymnastics. The event is being hosted by Waterloo Region Police Services.

Special Olympics Peterborou­gh will be sending three teams to compete, including eight basketball players, 10 swimmers, two 10-pin bowlers and two individual basketball players who will be playing for another Ontario city.

This will mark the first Special Olympic Provincial Games since the days before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This makes the 2024 provincial games such an exciting event, especially for the Special Olympians who have been waiting for these games for a long time,” said Special Olympics Peterborou­gh swim coach Debbie Quinlan. “The Kitchener-Waterloo community, including its police force, have worked extremely hard to prepare for these provincial games, which were to take place in 2020 when it was cancelled due to COVID.

“Our Special Olympian athletes representi­ng Peterborou­gh are thrilled to be competing in a sport they love to participat­e and compete in. Each competitor is working towards performing their very best in each of their events, enjoying the experience of the Games and meeting new friends from other cities.”

The following athletes will represent Special Olympics Peterborou­gh:

Swimming

■ Breanne Mackenzie

■ Dominic Wichmann

■ Gillian McHugh

■ Jasmine Davis

■ Lisa Butler

■ Mercedes Laking

■ Miriam McHugh

■ Nick Gardner

■ Steve Caban

■ Tessa Scates

■ Head coach Debbie Quinlan

■ Coach Mary Jane Smith

■ Coach Theresa Francis

Basketball

■ Candace Bushie

■ Colton Nancarrow

■ Hannah Goode

■ Jesse Campbell

■ Kacee Quinlan

■ Kristen Lackey

■ Mark Crowder

■ Max Lagrous

■ Head coach Todd Shearer

■ Coach Ali Delevadova

■ Coach Bill Chapman

Individual basketball players

■ Blair Bastien

■ Gabe McDonald

10-pin bowling

■ Crystal Cochrane

■ Mike Brioux

?? SPECIAL OLYMPICS PETERBOROU­GH PHOTO ?? FOR PHOTOS OF OTHERS HEADED TO THE PROVINCIAL SPECIAL OLYMPIC SPRING GAMES, The Special Olympics Peterborou­gh swim team has qualified 10 swimmers for the 2024 Special Olympics Provincial Spring Games in Kitchener-Waterloo from Thursday to Saturday. Team members include, front row from left, Lisa Butler, Breanne Mackenzie, Tessa Scates, Gillian McHugh and Nick Gardner and, back row from left, head coach Debbie Quinlan, Dominic Wichmann, Jasmine Davis, Steve Caban, Mercedes Laking, Miriam McHugh. Absent are coaches Mary Jane Smith and Theresa Francis.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS PETERBOROU­GH PHOTO FOR PHOTOS OF OTHERS HEADED TO THE PROVINCIAL SPECIAL OLYMPIC SPRING GAMES, The Special Olympics Peterborou­gh swim team has qualified 10 swimmers for the 2024 Special Olympics Provincial Spring Games in Kitchener-Waterloo from Thursday to Saturday. Team members include, front row from left, Lisa Butler, Breanne Mackenzie, Tessa Scates, Gillian McHugh and Nick Gardner and, back row from left, head coach Debbie Quinlan, Dominic Wichmann, Jasmine Davis, Steve Caban, Mercedes Laking, Miriam McHugh. Absent are coaches Mary Jane Smith and Theresa Francis.

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