S.O. Athletes Win Medals at Special Olympics

Ted Karafin, one of a dozen South Orange athletes participating in Special Olympics New Jersey this past weekend, wore his medals proudly. I know Ted as a Beatles fan who regularly requests "Hard Day's Night" at the Jespy Day Program on Milligan Place. On Sunday, I joined him on the field of dreams, recording results and encouraging athletes as a Special Olympics volunteer.

"This one's going to China," boasted a 40-something athlete pointing to the fence. Not quite, but the softball he threw did go 17 meters, enough for first-place in the heat.

Karafin finished fifth for his softball throw, but his smile would have won gold. That's the goal of the Special Olympics—to provide children and adults with intellectual disabilities places to develop physical fitness, display courage, experience joy and share these gifts with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

More than 2,300 New Jersey athletes competed at the weekend's events at The College of New Jersey, which began Friday and ended on Sunday. Aquatics, bocce, gymnastics, power lifting, softball, tennis and track and field were all represented at the Summer Games.

On the bocce courts, South Orange athletes won numerous medals. South Orange had two teams represented on the long, narrow courts. The Jespy Rollers, who train with coach Joe Milano on the bocce courts at the Duck Pond; and the Savoia Club's team, coached by Joe Kika on the club's court on Third Street.

On Sunday, Kika rested under a tree on the college's campus, knowing simply that if his team had fun, they won. On Friday night, that meant enjoying the lighting of the cauldron at the opening ceremonies; on Saturday, a baseball game at the Trenton Thunder and spontaneous dance party back at the dorm. But the shining moment was the team's new jewelry—two gold medals won around the necks of team members Lori Tesei, Colleen Harle, Jillian Cardullo and Melissa Dolinac.

The Jespy Rollers was also flashing some bling. Andrea Weisbard and David Finkelstein of the Jespy Rollers won gold for bocce doubles. "We may have friends of the other team who are our rivals, but in the end you're all friends," Weisbard said.

The athletes received their medals on podiums, waving to their family members and friends on hand to cheer them on. "They were excited and really happy, no matter what place they got," said my daughter Holly, who also volunteered on Sunday.

Ted Karafin showed Holly the bronze medal he won in his second event, the 50-meter walk. Then he moved on to talking about music ... and the Beatles.

Marilyn Lehren is a regular contributor to Patch and leads a weekly music class with the Day Program at Jespy House.