Rain gave way to gold for the Bruins.
After rain washed out most of the opening-day competitions on Wednesday for the 39th Annual Summer Games for Special Olympics Oklahoma in Stillwater, the sun was shining again on Thursday. And the athletes representing the Bartlesville Public School District made the most of the cooperative weather, sparkling in their respective endeavors en route to six gold medals. Heading into Friday's events – which marked the final day of the Summer Games, scheduled from May 7-9 – the Bruins had five silver and four bronze medals to their credit in addition to seven fourth-place and three fifth-place finishes.
“Everyone has done very well,” said special education instructor Sandy Bliss, who is in her 13th year as the BPSD's Special Olympics team coach, this morning. “I'm very proud of our athletes.”
As is tradition, the Bruins received a special send-off toward Stillwater for the Summer Games on Wednesday morning. On hand were several teachers, administrators and students as well as members of the Bruin Brigade, the Bruin pom squad and the Bartlesville Board of Education. Charlie Taraboletti, operations manager for KWON 1400 AM/KYFM 100.1 FM/KRIG 104.9 FM/KPGM 1500 AM, served as the master of ceremonies. As the caravan of athletes and chaperones headed south, it received an escort courtesy of the Bartlesville Police Department.
Later on Wednesday, junior April Snow and sophomore Nora King represented Bartlesville in the Parade of Athletes during the opening ceremonies. Freshman Daniel Rigsby was the only Bruin who was able to compete on Wednesday, earned a silver medal in the 25-meter wheelchair race which was held on the Oklahoma State University campus. Wednesday's scheduled relay events were washed out.
Collecting gold for the Bruins on Thursday were seventh grader Dustin Holmes (softball throw, 12-15 age group), junior Michael Gonzalez (shotput, 16-21 age group), sixth-grader Ashley Turney (50-meter dash, 12-15 age group), freshman Dimitri Walker (50-meter dash, 12- 15 age group), freshman Josh Tanner (standing long jump, 12-15 age group) and Jack Kirkpatrick (motor activities, 16-21 age group).
A 2007 graduate of Bartlesville High School, powerlifter Dusty Cichon grabbed four gold medals with Bliss serving as a coach. Competing in the 114-pound weight division, he set personal bests in the bench press (245 pounds) and the squat (350 pounds) while earning the top overall performance in his class. His dead-lift showing was an impressive 240 pounds.
Serving as a global messenger for the Special Olympics, Cichon helped to entertain the athletes by performing a special dance set to Asian music during the opening ceremonies.
“Dusty was great,” said Bliss. “He was able to increase his powerlifting by 20 to 30 pounds in each competition.
“I was very excited for him.”
Following Thursday's competitions, an evening dance and social event was held for the athletes on the football field at Stillwater High School. A formal occasion, the athletes look forward to the dance every year as it gives then a chance to dress up and reconnect with friends from throughout the Sooner State .
“The kids love the dance,” said Bliss. “It's one of the highlights of the trip.”
The Bruin team at the Summer Games was comprised of 27 athletes in all. While in Stillwater, they had the opportunity to stay in the Kerr dormitory on the OSU campus. The team was due to return home from Stillwater this afternoon, no doubt with some fine stories to tell.
“We're having fun, no matter what,” said Bliss. “But the kids have really done well.
“Many of them have already achieved personal bests in their respective events.”
Before departing for the 39th Annual Summer Games for Special Olympics Oklahoma in Stillwater on the morning of May 7, the athletes from the Bartlesville Public School District received a special send off in front of Bartlesville High School. An estimated 90 people were on hand to wish the Bruins luck. Pictured in the bottom photo, Charlie Taraboletti, operations manager for KWON 1400 AM/KYFM 100.1 FM/KRIG 104.9 FM/KPGM 1500 AM, served as the master of ceremonies for the event.
