Special Olympics PA – Philadelphia held its 1st Philadelphia Gymnastics Meet on March 10, 2018, at Temple University’s Pearson-McGonigle Hall. Gymnasts from Bethlehem, Lebanon, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties compete in Rhythmic, Men’s Artistic, and Women’s Artistic gymnastics. Rhythmic Gymnastics consists of four different floor exercises including a rope routine, hoop routine, ball or clubs routine and a ribbon routine. Women’s Artistic Gymnastics events include bars, beam, floor, and vault. Men’s Artistic Gymnastics includes floor, vault, high bar, rings, parallel bar, and pommel horse.  It was an exciting day of competition that started with an Opening Ceremony. After the Parade of Athlete, Philadelphia County athlete, Megan Murphy, sang the national anthem, Matthew Aaron, President and CEO of Special Olympics PA, and Umme Salim-Beasley, Temple University Women’s Gymnastics head coach offered words of wisdom and wished the athletes luck in this first annual meet. Prior to the official opening of competition, Hanna Gremo, Montgomery County athlete and USA Games team member,  carried in the Flame of Hope. NCAA Athletes from Temple University’s Women’s and Men’s gymnastics program served as volunteers and judges and were enthusiastic supporters of the over 60 Special Olympics athletes who participated. Congratulations to all athletes! 

Photos

Photo Credit: Rick Mankin

Click here for all photos by Rick Mankin

Results

Rhythmic
Level C

23 & Under

  1. Kylie Diaz (Bethlehem)
 

24 – 29

  1. Nina Garcia (Montgomery)
  2. Mary Nolan (Montgomery)
  3. Helen Spiewak (Montgomery)
 

30 +

  1. Kim Frain (Bethlehem)
  2. Heather Gold (Bethlehem)
  3. Jaclyn Bothwell (Montgomery)
Level 1
  1. Kathleen Dezubay (Bethlehem)
  2. Amanda Reiss (Bethlehem)
  3. Dedra Sobol (Bethlehem)
Level 2
  1. Brittany Thayer (Bethlehem)

 

Men’s Artistic 
Level 1

9 & Under

  1. Daniel Eichberg (Montgomery) 
  2. Sai Vellapalem
  3. Elijah Millington (Bethlehem) 
 

10

  1. Chase Rummel (Lebanon)
  2. Ben Greenwood (Montgomery)
 

11-12

  1. Jeremy DeBrest (Philadelphia)
  2. David Norris (Philadelphia)
 

17+

  1. Shawn Moton (Philadelphia)
  2. Michael Paulinski (Montgomery)
  3. Ryan Taylor (Montgomery)
  4. Brian Smith (Bethlehem)
Level 2

14 & Under

  1. Anthony Skirzenski (Lebanon)
  2. Luke Jones (Philadelphia)
  3. Aaron Arnold (Montgomery)
 

15 +

  1. Joseph Polizzi (Montgomery)
Level 3
  1. Christian White (Montgomery)

 

Women’s Artistic
Level 1

13 & Under

  1. Kyrie Troche (Bethlehem)
  2. Vanessa Bonowitz (Montgomery)
  3. Sarah Drinen  (Philadelphia) 
 

14 – 15

  1. Amerie Aldridge (Montgomery)
  2. Sara Mills (Montgomery)
  3. Gigi Accooe  (Philadelphia)
  4. Jasmin Marin (Philadelphia) 
Level 2

18 & Under

  1. Hanna Gremo* (Montgomery)
  2. Abigail Woodling (Montgomery)
  3. Amber Sobiesiak (Lebanon)
 

19+

  1. Zarrah Vitale (Bethlehem)
  2. Danielle Ditzler (Lebanon)
  3. Aubrey Tillman  (Philadelphia) 
Level 3
  1. Megan Murphy  (Philadelphia)
  2. Danielle Dixon (Bethlehem)
  3. Shannon Delmar (Montgomery)
  4. Kara Devlin (Montgomery)

 

*USA Games Athlete

 

Special Olympics PA – Philadelphia held their 29th Annual Bowling Tournament on Sunday, February 25th at Erie Lanes in Philadelphia. Over 125 athletes brought their A-Game to Erie Lanes with hopes to advance to the 2018 Eastern Bowling Sectional on Sunday, March 25th in Allentown, PA. Opening Ceremonies kicked off the event with athlete, Lisa Barbour acting as the day’s emcee. Angie Smith joined Barbour during Opening Ceremonies to lead her fellow athletes in the athlete oath of “Let me win. If I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” Special guest, Joe Conklin, entertained athletes, volunteers, families, and friends with his many voice impersonations. If you closed your eyes during his segment, you would believe the individuals he was impersonating were really there. Before Barbour officially kicked off the event, the torch, representing the Flame of Hope was brought in by South Philadelphia athletes, Bianca Pedulla and June Ruffenach

After Opening Ceremonies, athletes split from their teams and went to the lane they would be competing in. Throughout the morning, there were many strikes and spares. The athletes showed really showed their skills when their first ball left them with a split. Each athlete played three games to make up their final score. 

Thank you to our volunteers who made this event run smoothly! Erie Bowling Lanes, Frankford JROTC, Buholme Ambulance, National Health Corps Philadelphia, Drexel University’s Alpha Sigma Alpha, Andersen Tax, Temple University students. An additional thank you to our amazing coaches who help our athletes prepare for competition week after week and for the family and friends who joined us who give our athletes all the support. 

Bowling Lane
Coach(es)
Athletes Representing

V&S Lanes

Barbara Guyton

Kendall Battles, Ruth El, Armand Garcia, Christine Guyton, Wesley Hicks, Thomas Miller, Shawn Moton, Kyle Kyle McCutcheon, Kory McCutcheon, Kyle Sheaff, Stephon Price-Wright

Erie Lanes

HC: Miguel Diaz, AC: Marian Zakrocki

Ray Anderson, Gina Anderson, Porsha Blake, Keith Collins, Manny Cook, Maria Coyle, Michael Czekaj, Nicholas Fontanez, Marlene Johnson, John Kulpa, Sara Lyons, Sharon Quarles, Dennis Ramos, Eugene Riley, Jeremiah Spruilli, Sheila Stephens, Joan Vargas-Rosado, Edmund Zkrocki

PEP Bowl

HC: Kevin McGlinchey, Sal Fellicetti, Alfonso Pedulla, Mark Moss

Victoria Amaradio, Brianna Cimini, Michael DiAntonio, Kevin Domard, Christian Fantazzi, Matthew Flood, Matthew Francis, James Fratantoni, Shawn Gallo, Maria Guarino, Nicco Guarino, Nasheem Kennedy, Joseph Keyser, Izzy Kurtz, Jasmin Marin, Bianca Pedulla, Joseph Polizzi, Luciano Procopio, Trisitan Richetti, Dante Rodgers, June Ruffenach, Briana Saunders, Christopher Sferra, CJ Voegtle, Michael Voegtle, Michael Younkers

Thunderbird Lanes I

HC: Mary Ellen Zisette

John Abbott, Teddy Angerman, James Barbour, Lisa Barbour, Ryan Bogan, Kristyn Cantres, Danny Charlton, JJ Costello, Jamie Curry, Stephan Dacyna, Allee Davidson, Genine DeNofa, Christina DiVergilis, Stanley Dluzniewski, Michael Esposito, Chris Feltwell, Vincent Filograna, Paul Fischer, Irwin Fox, Pam Galone, Meghan Garlick, Mitchell Gaskins, Eddie Glover, Matt Grabowski, Jason Green, Kevin Karcher, Brenndin Lagomarsino, Robert Lehr, Michael Marshall, Tracey McGarvey, John Mitchell, Katie Moore, Michael Mullin, Miachel O’Donnell, Jessie Rose, Charles Rueter, Allison Rutizer, Ailvia Sciarra, Brian Stulz, Kristie Walls, Jennifer Wetzel, Joseph Yerkes, Brian Ziegler, Charles Ziesette Jr

Thunderbird Lanes II

HC: Gennie Devlin, AC: Stan Barndt

Russell Barndt, Christine Benoit, Kaitlin Berkauzer, Michael Castillo, Christina Comerford, Darius Daniels, William Devlin Jr, Jeffrey Dornblaser, Robert Duffy, Joshua Gaskins, Kelsey Grindrod, Matthew Kosman, Jaryd Lee, Joseph Lestochi, Jenna Morse, Erin Murphy, Margie Ramos, Lamont Royals, Angie Smith, William Strauser, Kevin Turowski, Kayla Walter, Rachel Watson

 

Results:

1st Place

Vincent Filograna, Jaryd Lee, Kevin Domard, Angela Smith, Jason Green, Kyle Sheaf, Christian Fantazzi, Matthew Flood, Shawn Moton, Shawn Gallo, Jenna Morse, Kelsey Grindrod, Kayla Walter, John Vargas Rosado, Marie Coyle, Porsha Blake, Gennie De Nofa, June Ruffenach, Bianca Pedulla, Kristie Walls, Edmund Zakrocki, Robert Duffy, Russell Brandt, Ryan Bogan, Christopher Fenwell, Robert Lehr, Dan Charlton, Manny Cook, Eddie Glover, Eugene Riley, Wesley Hicks, James Fratazzi, Kaitlin Berkayzer, Katie Moore, Shelia Stevens, Sara Lyons

2nd Place

Michael Mullin, Michael Marshall, Stanley Dluzniewski, Bryan Ziegler, Michael Castillo, Stephan Price-Wright, C.J. Voegtle, Michael Voegtle, Matthew Francis, Kyle McCutchen, Christina Comerford, Pamela Galone, Jennifer Wetzel, Lisa Barbour, Tori Amaradio, Alivia Sciarra, Brianna Cimini, Kirstyn Cantres, Erin Murphy, Kendal Battles, William Devlin, Matthew Kosman, John Kulpa, Brenndin Lagomarsino, Michael Esposito, Raymond Anderson, Charles Zisette, Paul Fischer, Kevin Karciter, Jesse Rose, Joseph Lestochi, Joshua Gaskin, Sharon Quarles, Allison Rutizer, Kory McCutchen

3rd Place

Michael Younkers, John Mitchell, Keith Collins, Irwin Fox, James Barbour, Nicholas Fontanez, Christopher Sferrav, Michael Czerkaj, Mitchell Gaskins, Armand Garcia, Luciano Procopio, Joseph Polizzi, Lamont Royals, Dante Rodgers, Briana Saunders, Tristan Richetti, Meghan Garlick, Christina DiVergiles, Tracey McGarvey, Christine Benoit, Rachel Watson, Marlene Johnson, Ruth El, Jasmin Marin, Jeffery Dornblaser, Brian Stulz, Michael O’Donnell, William Strauser, Jay Costello, Charles Ruetter, Stephan Dacyna, Joey Keyser, Matthew Grabowski, Darius Daniels, Ted Angerman, Joseph Yerkes, James Curry, Christine Guyton

 

 

 

Photos: