In the third and final part of The Clarkston News? series on the Special Olympic 2005 State Summer Games, another local athlete’s accomplishments are highlighted and an area business hints at what the future holds for Clarkston area Special Olympic Programs.
Competing on a Waterford-based team, Robert Sevingy won a silver medal and finished in fourth place twice at the State Summer Games. Sevingy’s silver effort came in the 50 meter dash, with a time of 00:09.22.
His fourth place finishes came in the softball throw and the standing long jump.
Sevingy’s softball throw totaled 21.9 meters and his standing long jump measured 1.32 meters.
Sevingy was the only athlete on his nine-person team from the Clarkston area.
Some other athletes from the Clarkston area may not have been ready to compete in the State Summer Games this year, but their future is bright thanks to Stars and Stripes Gymnastics Academy.
This year, Stars and Stripes hosted the regional gymnastics competition of the State Summer Games on May 13.
‘We just wanted to give them a place to have a quality gymnastics meet,? said Becky Foster, co-owner of Stars and Stripes. ‘They are athletes and they deserve the same as everybody else.?
Stars and Stripes also started their own special olympics gymnastics team this year.
Since this was their first year of existence the team was held out of the State Summer Games this year but will compete next year, according to Foster.
The Stars and Stripes team currently includes nine gymnasts from Clarkston and surrounding areas.
The regional meet featured 25 competitors and Stars and Stripes plans on hosting again next year.