It’s The Biggest Weekend of the Year for Allen County’s Special Olympic Team
Representing Allen County in the 2025 Sumer Games were: Coach Melissa Turner, Coach Lesley Siddens, Emilia Marsh, Paul Douglas Coach Elizabeth Bequeath Jonah Hogan, Coach Ella Rector, Aiden Payne, Abby Law, Felix Cruz, Dykota Schulte, Daren Turner, Ariana Graves, Coach Shelby Morgan, Layla Blankenship, Coach Pat Witcher, Terry Poole, Jacob Graves, Noah Potter, Dakota Weedman, Xzavier Butler, Chance Keith, Kellan Heyn, Leeland Loyd, Coach Jayleigh Minix and Coach Cindy Brown. Not Pictured Coach Hannah Conrad, Coach Kristen Siddens and Bus Driver Keith Brown.
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On Friday, June 6, the athletes gathered for their bus ride to Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond for the State Summer Games.
Athletes competed in some of the many categories offered, including: Bocce, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer and track and field. Opening ceremonies were held Friday night. Games were held all day Saturday and ended with a closing ceremony and victory dance. Results of the Allen County Special Olympics team are as follows:
State Art: AC-SHS, Casper Scott, first place; Gavin Scott, first place; Kellan Heyn, first place; Grant Ganus, participation.
JEBMS: Austin Denison, first place; Sofiya VanDurman, second place; Ian Hairston, participation.
Senior Abby Law took sixth place in the 100-meter dash and fourth place in the softball throw (Pat Witcher, coach).
ACIC: Rhea Fann, second place.
ACPC: Paul Douglas, first place; Emilia Marsh, first place.
Daren Turner, AC-SHS, 100-meter dash, fourth place; Softball Throw, Silver Medal.
Dakota Weedman, AC-SHS, 100-meter dash, fifth place; Softball Throw, Bronze Medal. Terry Poole, AC-SHS, 100-meter dash, fourth place, shot put, Gold Medal.
Chance Keith participated in the 100 meter sash taking sixth place and in the softball throw getting fourth place. (Pat Witcher, coach).
Aiden Payne, AC-SHS, 100-meter dash, fifth place; softball throw, Bronze Medal.
Chance Keith, AC-SHS, 100-meter dash, sixth place; softball throw, fourth place.
Abby Law, AC-SHS, 100-meter dash, sixth place; softball throw, fourth place.
Daren Turner got fourth place in the 100-meter dash. Dakota Weedman took fifth place in the 100-meter dash.
Dykota Schulte earned fifth place in the 100-meter dash. Jacob Graves got fourth place in the 100-meter dash.
Jacob Graves, AC-SHS, 100 meter dash, fourth place; softball throw, sixth place.
Kellan Heyn, AC-SHS, 50-meter dash, Silver Medal; softball throw, sixth place.
Xzavier Butler, AC-SHS, 100-meter dash, Bronze Medal; shot put, fifth place.
Noah Potter, JEBMS, 100-meter dash, fourth; shot put, Bronze Medal.
Layla Blankenship participated in the 50-meter dash getting sixth place. In the softball throw, she brought home a Gold Medal (Pat Witcher, coach).
Emilia Marsh earned a Silver Medal in the Softball Throw and the 100-meter dash. Paul Douglas won fourth place in the 100-meter dash and took home a Bronze Medal in the softball throw.
Dykota Schulte, JEBMS, 100-meter dash, fourth place; shot put, fifth place.
Jonha Harper, JEBMS, 100-meter dash, fifth place; softball throw, Bronze Medal.
Leeland Loyd, JEBMS, 50-meter dash, Bronze Medal; softball throw, Gold Medal.
Ariana Graves, JEBMS, 100-meter walk, Silver Medal; softball throw, sixth place.
Felix Cruz took fifth place in the 100-meter dash. In the running long jump, he brought home a Silver Medal. Paul Douglas took fourth in the 100-meter dash.
Ariana Graves earned a Silver Medal in the 100-meter walk.
Felix Cruz, JEBMS, 100-meter dash, fifth place; running long jump, Silver Medal.
Layla Blankenship, ACIC, 50-meter dash, sixth place; softball throw, Gold Medal.
Noah Potter earned a Bronze medal in shot pot and fourth place in the 100-meter dash.
Emilia Marsh, ACPC, 100-meter dash, Silver Medal; softball throw, Silver Medal.
Paul Douglas, ACPC, 100-meter dash, fourth place, softball throw, Bronze Medal.
Xzavier Butler took home a Bronze Medal in the 100-meter dash.
Coaches: Elizabeth Bequeath, Cindy Brown, Hannah Conrad, Jayleigh Minix, Ella Rector, Kristen Siddens Lesley Siddens, Melissa Turner, Pat Witcher; Zoey Bequeath, Buddy.
Drivers: Shelby Morgan and Keith Brown.
