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Special Welcome
AUSTINTOWN
Special Olympians got a special welcome home after competing in the 2015 State Summer Games this weekend.
Little did they know that the Austintown police and fire departments would escort them from part of Interstate 80 to Leonard Kirtz School, 4801 Woodridge Drive, where their parents greeted them enthusiastically Sunday evening.
“It’s the highlight of the year,” said Denise Burns of Poland.
Her daughter, Michelle Burns, 39, who has Down syndrome, ran screaming with excitement into her mother’s arms after getting off the bus. She wore a gold medal that her volleyball team won for the ninth-straight year.
“I won first place,” she said.
Michelle has participated in the Mahoning County DD Special Olympics for about 15 years. She and the other 23 athletes from Mahoning County set out to Columbus on Friday morning, with the games and sleeping arrangements at The Ohio State University. The competitions started that night.
About 3,000 athletes from all over Ohio competed, said David Grossman, chairman and local coordinator of the Mahoning County DD Special Olympics Committee.
In addition to volleyball, some athletes also competed in track and field events. The athletes brought back five of gold, silver and bronze medals.
“They did a fantastic job,” he said.
Janice Grasso from Youngstown’s South Side was among the parents who went to Columbus to watch the athletes compete. She said the rainy weather didn’t spoil the weekend.
“The last two [volleyball] matches of the second round were close,” she said. The team won the final volleyball match 25-23, she said.
Grossman and parents also were appreciative of the police and fire departments for escorting their Olympians.
“The support of the local community is tremendous,” he said.
Officer Greg McGlynn said the police and fire departments were happy to show its support.
“We just want to let them know the police and fire departments are behind them,” he said.
The Mahoning County DD Special Olympics – an affiliate program of the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities – has served the area for 47 years, Grossman said.
“It’s such a big deal for the kids,” said Sandee Timmerman, a parent who had two athletes in the games. “It’s just an awesome program.”