(MIAMI COUNTY, OH–) On Saturday, May 17, Miami County Special Olympics volleyball and powerlifting athletes competed at separate regional tournaments.

The volleyball team played Clark County and won gold at the Southwest Regional Volleyball Tournament hosted at the Miami County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The team will advance to the Special Olympics Ohio State Summer Games at The Ohio State University in June. Members of the volleyball team include Mindy Baker, Jamie Cook, Johnnie Dennis, Jaiden Grove, Laura Healy, Laura Knoop, Andrea Koether, and Larenzo Savage.

The Powerlifting team also performed well at the Southwest Regional Powerlifting Tournament held at Long Road CrossFit in Urbana, OH. Below are the results from the competition:

• Joseph Epley – 2nd place bench, 3rd place deadlift, and 2nd overall.
• Wyatt Freels – 1st place bench, 1st place deadlift, and 1st overall.
• Tristan Yingst – 1st place bench, 1st place deadlift, and 1st overall.
• Braden Schneider – 3rd place bench, 2nd place deadlift, and 2nd overall.
• Austin Gosline – 2nd place bench, 2nd place deadlift, and 2nd overall.
• Tyler Harvey – 3rd place bench, 5th place deadlift, and 3rd overall.
• Samuel Lawson – 3rd place bench, 1st place deadlift, and 3rd overall.
• EmmaLee Jones – 3rd place bench, 2nd place deadlift, and 3rd overall.
• Nick Weaver – 4th place bench, 4th place deadlift, and 5th overall.
• Elliot Woodward-Roeth – 4th place bench, 3rd place deadlift, and 4th overall.
• Ethan Hews – 5th place bench, 3rd place deadlift, and 5th overall.
• Justine Hoffmann – 2nd place bench, 3rd place deadlift, and 2nd overall.
• Caleb Karnehm – 2nd place bench, 2nd place deadlift, and 2nd overall.

Several members of the powerlifting team have advanced and will also compete at the Special Olympics Ohio State Summer Games at The Ohio State University in June.

Miami County Special Olympics is operated by the Miami County Board of Developmental Disabilities as an affiliate of Special Olympics Ohio and the internationally recognized Special Olympics organization. Miami County Special Olympics offers eight year-round individual and team sports for anyone with an intellectual disability, ages 8 and older. Sports include basketball, softball, volleyball, cheerleading, powerlifting, golf, bowling, and swimming.

Each program promotes athletes’ emotional, physical, and social health and instills a strong work ethic and sense of teamwork. Through successful experiences, athletes build confidence and a positive self-image which carries over into the classroom, jobs, and community.

For more information about Miami County Special Olympics or how to volunteer, visit miamicountydd.org or call (937) 440-3000.