MANITOULIN—If hard work and training along with talent are the pivotal factors in performing well at a National Winter Games setting, members of the Manitoulin Special Olympics (MSO) snowshoeing and curling teams will do very well representing Team Ontario at the upcoming Special Olympics National Winter Games.
“Our snowshoeing team has been training really hard, they started training in late September,” said Judy Olacke, coach of the team which includes athletes Dayne Tipper, Matthew Bedard and Kelsey Mellan. “We did a lot of dry land training at Manitoulin Secondary School, and have been training outside after the snow came,” said Ms. Olacke.
Ellen Holroyd, who is co-coach (along with Nancy Leeson) of the MSO curling team, told the Recorder, “our team has been training for quite awhile now. They play weekly in Gore Bay on Monday and Tuesdays in Providence Bay on a regular basis. And we had a Special Olympics bonspiel prior to Christmas, and the team is playing in the Mindemoya mixed curling bonspiel (last weekend) and next week the girls on the team will be taking part in the ladies’ bonspiel in Providence Bay.”
“By playing in all these events it is really helping to elevate our team’s skills,” said Ms. Holroyd. “We have really dedicated athletes who don’t miss any practices. They are very committed, enthusiastic, and take advice very well from coaches.”
The MSO curlers include Regan Millsap, Rebecca Strain, Andrew Splawanyk, Randy Corbiere and Jeff Panamick.
“It always impresses me how hard our athletes work,” said Ms. Olacke. “They spend two nights a week training as a group and they do a lot of work on their own time as well.”
Ms. Olacke pointed out the Team Ontario snowshoeing team has the largest number of competitors on any team in the nationals. “Everyone is very excited to be going to Corner Brook, Newfoundland.”
“My snowshoers are very inspiring young people, they work very hard and seem to always be breaking personal best times; I’m very excited to see how they will do against the other provinces,” said Ms. Olacke. She pointed out Mr. Tipper will be competing in the 800 and 1,600 metre races in his age division, with Matthew Bedard in the 400, 800 and 1,600 metre races and Kelsey Mellan in the 100 and 200 metre races. They are also competing in relay races.
“It’s is going to so much fun having our (MSO) curling team going as well,” said Ms. Olacke.
“I’ve heard from other coaches and fans that our athletes are a real inspiration to a lot of people,” said Ms. Holroyd. “They are good representatives of curling, Manitoulin Island and Ontario Special Olympics.”
Ms. Olacke pointed out, “Manitoulin has been really a big supporter of our cause. Each athlete had to raise $1,600 each through Ontario Special Olympics for uniforms, accommodations and flights for the athletes and coaches. We certainly appreciate all the support we’ve received from friends, family, curling clubs and family friends off Island.”
The MSO athletes qualified for the nationals, through their efforts at the Special Olympic Ontario Provincial Games held last year.
It is expected at least 15 other Island residents will be travelling with the MSO athletes and coaches and Team Ontario to the national games, including fans, parents and MSO coordinator Janet Anning.
Corner Brook, Newfoundland, will host Canada’s largest sports and humanitarian event of the year-the 2016 Special Olympics National Winter Games, which will take place from March 1 to 5.
