In part two of three of The Clarkston News? spotlight on the Special Olympics State Summer Games, the focus turns to four swimmers from the Clarkston area.
The seed for the BJs, an area swim team for individuals with special needs, was planted by Clarkston High School aquatics director and head swimming coach Kenwyn Chock when she let Jaime Bonneau join the 2000 varsity team.
The seed grew into a tree, giving Jaime a strong foundation to pursue Tae Kwon Do, baseball, soccer and figure skating.
Last year the seed bore fruit, as Coach Roxanne Bonneau, took the two-member BJs to their first Special Olympics State Summer Games.
‘A couple parents have been like ‘Are you sure they can do that?? But I did the same thing to Chock. The first time she made Jaime do a 500, I was like ‘Are you sure she’s ready?? It took her 16 minutes to do that 500. She was the last one in the pool. I was filming and I could not even see her because all of the swimmers from both teams were lined up along the pool. I turned around and looked in the stands and parents were sobbing and crying,? said Bonneau. ‘The sport is phenomenal. People don’t realize that this opportunity is out there and they don’t realize that the kids can do it.?
The BJs, named such by State Summer Games registrars after their two founding members, Jaime and her friend Brittany, from Rochester, started small. This year their roster swelled to eight competitors, four of whom, including Jaime, hail from the Clarkston area.
‘This year we just put the word out. We had enough interest and we ended up with eight swimmers,? said Bonneau.
At the State Summer Games, held at Central Michigan from June 2-4, the BJs? foursome from Clarkston nabbed five gold medals, four silvers and three bronzes.
‘Once you get (to the State Summer Games) they are psyched up so much they do two to three times better than they do at practice,? said Bonneau.
Leading the charge was Jaime, who took gold in the 400 freestyle and the 25 butterfly and a bronze in the 100 freestyle.
‘The only problem with Jamie now is she knows the difference between a ribbon and a medal ? and she wants those medals,? said Bonneau.
Samantha Spicer brought home two gold medals, one in the 25 freestyle and the other in the 25 backstroke. Spicer also won a silver in the 50 freestyle.
?(Sammi) went through the Opening Eyes program, so before all her events they gave her prescription swim goggles ? she swam like a banshee. She at least doubled her times, and (the organizers) really watch that so you don’t stick them in an event, just so they medal. I’m thinking ‘Oh my gosh, she’s swimming too fast,? but she was just excited because she could see the wall,? said Bonneau.
Amber Matich, who at 13-years-old shares the distinction of youngest swimmer with Spicer, came home with some hardware too. Matich won two silver medals in the 25 freestyle and the 100 freestyle, and won a bronze in the 50 backstroke.
Matich, who plays several other sports, was quick to join the BJs after a conversation between her mother and Bonneau.
Carmen Calcaterra was a bit of a surprise competitor for the BJs.
‘I thought Carmen would never go in the water, because typically she’s not sports minded? Now she’s one of my strongest swimmers,? said Bonneau, whose daughter Jaime is best friends with Calcaterra.
Calcaterra’s efforts at the State Summer Games were rewarded with a gold in the 25 backstroke, a silver in the 50 freestyle and a bronze in the 100 free style.
Down the road, Bonneau plans on expanding the benefits of the State Summer Games past the eight week training and competition period.
Her coaching philosophy, as well lessons about stretching and nutrition which are integral parts of the BJs? program, will find their way into Bonneau’s Angel Fins Special Needs Camp.
While the camp is still in the early planning stages, Bonneau hopes by fall 2006 construction will begin.
‘They can be an individual. They don’t have to hide their disability, they can be who they are and it doesn’t matter,? said Bonneau.
The Special Olympics 2005 State Summer Games featured nearly 3,000 athletes and 1,500 volunteers. They were held at Central Michigan University.
Pick up next week’s edition of The Clarkston News for more coverage of athletes from the Clarkston area and their successes at the State Summer Games.