CALGARY—The Manitoulin Special Olympics (MSO) curling team won a gold medal while snowshoer Matthew Bedard brought home three bronze medals from the Special Olympics Canada National Games held in Calgary!
Six MSO athletes and three coaches were part of the Special Olympics Ontario team. The MSO curling team defeated British Columbia in the semi-finals 7-3, then defeated Newfoundland 9-6 in the final. Both games took place Saturday.
The MSO curling rink included skip Tyler Madahbee, vice Dylan Danville and second Dayne Tipper and leads Austin Recollect and William Leclair. The team was coached by Ellen Holroyd and Janet Anning.
“It was a lot of fun,” stated Dayne Tipper at a welcome home celebration held at Community Living Manitoulin in Mindemoya Sunday night. With over 50 family and friends on hand, along with Phil Gosse and the Central Manitoulin volunteer fire department with the fire truck siren going and lights flashing, it was quite a welcome home greeting.
“No, we didn’t expect to win, but our team played really well,” said Mr. Tipper.
Ms. Holroyd said, “there are no words to describe our curling team and winning gold. It is overwhelming. And to have this welcome home greeting? We have great community support. It is fabulous.”
“Our team played above and beyond what could be expected,” said Ms. Holroyd.
The MSO rink won five of six games in total. Ms. Anning noted, “We had lost our first game in the round-robin to Newfoundland and Labrador, which is a great team. And when we beat them in the finals it was the first game they had lost.”
“Our team played superbly,” said Ms. Anning.
MSO snowshoer Matthew Bedard won three bronze medals at the games, in the five-kilometre, 800 metre and 1,600 metre races. He was coached by Joanne Mellan, who also attended the games.
Adrienne Farquhar, executive director of Community Living Manitoulin was on hand for the welcome home celebration. “I feel honoured that we are able to provide an area for this to happen tonight, and to be here. All these athletes and coaches worked very hard and they deserve this recognition.”
A celebration for the MSO athletes will take place on Thursday, March 7 at Freshwater Community Church in Mindemoya. Ceremonies will begin at 7 pm and everyone is welcome to attend.
EDITOR’S NOTE: See additional story and photos in next week’s edition of The Expositor.
