|
|
Let me win, but if I cannot win,
Let me be brave in the attempt.
|
|
Could Spring finally be on its way? YES - Spring Sports are coming up!
We are featuring a number of special events in this month's edition. Area 26 is being recognized far outside of Virginia as a force to be reckoned with - see the articles on the Fitness Video, Swedish Test Trials and the content of the Special Edition on the NBA last month to see us in action!
The dipping part of Plunge season has also passed us by. Donations are still open - see the article below.
On to the Spring Season!
|
|
Revealing the Champion in all of us...
|
|
|
Athlete's Corner with Billy Duquette
|
On the weekend of February 8/9, Virginia Beach had it's annual polar plunge down in Virginia Beach. A lot of people came to plunge into the icy water of the Atlantic ocean out of the beach area of Virginia Beach.
|
|
The water temperature was 42 degrees and the weather was 46 degrees. Before the plungers took the plunge, some of the them took part in a 4k and 1k run to get them warm up before taking the deep frozen plunge.
Basketball season is wrapping up for the year, some of the teams will be finishing up at State Championships, and some others that did not complete for states will be competing at the end of year tournaments like the March Madness and the Marymount. All in all it has been a incredible basketball season, and a good (mostly) warm Winter
Talk to you next month,
Billy
|
|
|
A Special Acknowledgement
- by Christine Fowler
|
|
The “Green Machine,” an Area 26 basketball team representing GMU sat expectantly watching the GMU vs GW game on Saturday, February 15th. The athletes purposely wore their “Special Occasion” White and Green Uniforms knowing that they had arranged, through personal text messages, a congratulatory shout out at the game.
Green Machine has qualified for the State Championship Tournament in Stafford, VA and the GMU Varsity Basketball Team helped arrange to acknowledge their accomplishment. Shortly before a TV timeout the group disappeared from the student section across from the Pep-band. Then the announcer took the floor and began to call each athlete by name explaining that they would be competing for “Gold” at the Championship tournament on March 5th and 6th.
The athletes were joined on the center court by the GMU cheerleaders who generated increased crowd enthusiasm, and cheering for the “Green Machine” Team. The athletes: Jeyoon Cho, Jeffrey Eskridge, Zach Fowler, Patrick Kelly, Tyler Ohara, Kyler Reese, and Travis Smith enjoyed their moment of recognition, with obvious GMU pride and school spirit, running and jumping with HUGE smiles on their faces hands waving green and gold pompoms. They returned to their front row in the student section and ardently cheered their GMU team throughout the remainder of the hard fought game.
|
|
|
February Featured Sport: Speedskating
Special Double-Shoutout
-by Barry Tilton and Jackie Choi
|
|
Along with the Sweden sojourn described elsewhere in the newsletter, the Speedskating team also attended its State Championships this month. As a special feature, we are using the Sport-of-the-month column to feature their success...
*************************************
Six of our Area 26 Speed Skaters were in Chesapeake, Virginia to compete in 2020 Special Olympics Virginia Speedskating Championship.
Special thanks
to
Jeff McGiboney
and
Hailey Choi
for chaperoning and coaching.
We are so proud of our skaters. They worked so hard and gave 100% to all their races!
|
|
Bruce McGiboney
(2nd in 111m, 3rd in 222m, 2nd in 333m)
Tammy Kiser
(2nd in 111m, 1st in 222m, 3rd in 333m)
Jay Choi
(1st in 333m, 1st in 500m, 1st in 777m)
Arthur Jung
(1st in 111m, 3rd in 222m, 1st in 333m)
Jonathan Wang
(1st in 111m, 1st in 222m, 2nd in 333m)
Huan Vuong
(1st in 111m, 3rd in 222m, 2nd in 333m)
Congratulations to all skaters and families!!!
|
ALL IN THE FAMILY:
Jay's Sister Hailey
(2nd from left...) is a speed demon as well - she is a Team USA Junior Olympian, and a Coach for the Area 26 Speedskaters
|
|
The final area Plunge was held Saturday the 22nd of February. ALL Donation pages are still open, and we can always use more support. Please consider giving to the Plunge, or donating directly to Area 26. Information on how to give directly is available
HERE
If you donate from one of the Age of Shivery team pages, 50% of funds raised go directly to Area 26, and the other 50% funds athletes (including ours) across VA.
|
|
The final regular season Tournament for Basketball took place on February 23rd. Competition was held at three sites: South Lakes HS, Woodson HS and Episcopal HS.
Basketball regular season ends March 15th after the State Games in Stafford. We have 15 teams from the Area making the journey this year, and the results will be right here next month.
Next up for the sport: State Games March 6-7.
Here are some shots from the floor. Go to our website to see more...
|
|
Area 26 had an appearance on the world stage this past month with the success of skaters Jay Choi and Bobby Opiea at the World Test Games in Stockholm.
Jay Choi finished three events with three Gold Medals around his neck.
|
|
Bobby Opiea also wrangled a Gold along with medalling in his other events.
|
Travel diaries of Coach Jackie's, Jay's and Bobby's experiences, along with a photo album, are on the Speedskating Web page at the button.
|
|
HAIL and FAREWELL - The Area 26 Council is pleased to welcome new member
Patrick DeLapp. Patrick was elected during the Council's February Meeting. He has been involved in many activities and sports in the Area, and brings a welcome fresh perspective to the group. Member-at-Large
Will Sullivan will be leaving the Council to support other interests. We thank him for his service and wish him all the best.
|
|
6-7 March SOVA State Basketball Championships
15 March March Madness Invitational BBall Tournnament
29 March Marymount Invitational BBall Tournament
Spring Sports information is available on the website
|
|
|
Please continue to share information about this newsletter and website with those you know in the community so that we can better share the wonder of our special athletes and volunteers
.
To sign up to receive the newsletter, go to our webform
Newsletter Subscription
|
|
Area 26 Points of Contact
|
Area 26 Council
Chair
Elaine Tilton
Patrick DeLapp
Billy Duquette
Bruce Fingerhut
Veronica Jennings
Nancy Julia
Abby Lacy
Nancy Robbins
Paul Tierney
Bernie Woolfley
|
|
Season Directors
Elaine Tilton, Fall/Winter
Nancy Julia, Spring/Summer
Webmaster
Barry Tilton
Volunteer Coordinator
Bruce Fingerhut
Medical Coordinator
Barb DeLisa
Senior Director, Potomac Region
Veronica Jennings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
