Special Olympic Athletes Showcase Skills

Douglas County’s Special Olympics athletes competed in the annual Special Olympics Georgia State Summer Games at Emory University in Atlanta on May 18 through 20. The athletes competed in tennis and swimming.

Douglas County Special Pops Tennis, a program of through its Parks and Recreation Department, hosted five athletes in tennis. Ashanti Bassett, in only her second year of competing with Douglas County Special Pops tennis, won the Silver Medal in Level 3, Singles Tennis. She also brought home the Bronze Medal in Level 3, Unified Doubles.

David Diaz was proudly awarded the Silver Medal in Level 1, Skills Tennis competition. Sara Emile, one of our youngest athletes, won Fourth Place in Level 1, Skills Tennis. Bethany Holder and her Unified Partner demonstrated great teamwork in winning the Gold Medal in Level 2, Short Court, Unified Doubles. Imani Mitchell showcased an excellent performance by winning the Silver Medal in Level 2, Short Court, Unified Doubles. Congratulations to the athletes! Special appreciation is extended to coaches Etrudy Mitchell and Jim Hamm of Special Pops Tennis - Douglas County for their constant dedication and commitment to the athletes!

The Douglas County Sea Dragons Swim Team made their second appearance at State Summer Games this year. Brandy Hembree, our newest addition to the Sea Dragons, impressively took Fourth Place in the 25 meter and 50 meter Freestyle divisions.

Michelle Moran splashed out her competition by achieving the Gold Medal in the 25 meter Freestyle. Michelle also tied Brandy for Fourth Place in the 50 meter Freestyle competition. One of our more seasoned swimmers, Holly Hicks, won the Silver Medal in the 50 meter Freestyle. She also won the Bronze Medal in the 50 meter Breast Stroke. Charlie Catterton, another veteran of Boundary Waters Aquatics Center swimming program, proudly won the Silver Medals in the 50 meter Freestyle and 50 meter Butterfly competitions.

Moe Rucker, an inaugural member of the Douglas County Sea Dragons, was awarded the Bronze Medal in the 50 meter Freestyle division. Moe also swam the distance and captured the Gold Medal in the 100 meter Freestyle competition. A special congratulations is mentioned for the Sea Dragons Relay Team, comprised of Holly Hicks, Michelle Moran, Charlie Catterton, and Moe Rucker, who won the Gold Medal in the 4x25 meter Freestyle Relay. The Douglas County Special Olympics Swim Team would like to extend their appreciation to their coaches, Jeremy Cochran, Nathan Robinson, Jake Cook, Leia Miniatis, and all of the staff at the Boundary Waters Aquatic Center, including Becky Young and Jim Gay, for their steadfast dedication to the team.

The team is supported by the Douglas County Special Olympics Therapeutic Board and Douglas County Parks and Recreation, a program of Douglas County Board of Commissioners.

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