Federal Way athletes had an impressive performance at the 2011 Special Olympics Washington Summer Games, which were held recently at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma.
The Games included approximately 4,000 athletes from around the state competing in soccer, track and field, swimming, cycling and weight lifting.
In total, 103 athletes from Federal Way competed at the 2011 Special Olympics Washington Summer Games and many brought home medals, including numerous medals by soccer teams.
The Federal Way School Stars Senior Unified 2 team finished in first place in their division to earn a gold medal. The team included Keoni Aparis, Jowell Francia-Figueras, Laura Gorgen, PJ Jensen, Amaryah Johnson, Alexander King, Loren Kodimer, Jacob Landreth, Madalyn Landreth and Phillip Quach.
The Federal Way school district also had three other soccer teams and several other track and field athletes competing at the 2011 Special Olympics Washington Summer Games. The City of Federal Way had a pair of soccer teams, track and field athletes and an aquatics team.
In soccer, the Federal Way Public Schools Stars Senior Unified Eagles finished in fifth place and team members included Tyler Bjork, John Emmett, Joshua Fofoa, Sheldon Gray, Juan Leos Mendoza, Cody Peterson, Alan Quach, Pablo Ramirez and Eduardo Romero.
The FWPS Stars Junior Unified 2 team took fourth place at the state meet and included Malia Aparis, Jadion Blockson, Gavin Nielsen, Sarah Hartman, MaKenzie O’Bray, William Schumacher, Caleb Wentzel and Olivia Wentzel.
The FWPS Senior Stars team finished in fourth place and team members included Jose Barron, Tyler Beyer, Damarius DeJesus, Cory Dempsey,
Ivette Estrada, Corey Nettles, Donte’ Peoples, Sarai Rojas and Melissa Thompson.
The City of Federal Way Thunder White soccer team ended up in sixth place and included Kim Bench, Kim Cory, JC Gumm, Ramona Wilson, John Steinmetz, Michael Lee and Erin Moore.
The City of Federal Way Thunder Blue ended up with a third-place bronze medal, and the team included Kori Fitzpatrick, Marcel Foster, Marcy Osburn, Jon Leckband, Nickolas King and Joe Murchison.
The Federal Way Public Schools Stars also had 23 track and field athletes attend the state meet at Joint Base Lewis-McChord including Courtney Alton, Anias Blockson, Wille’ Blockson, Tevin Boyd, Kristen DelaFuente, Jaytrell Frazier, Abraham Gomez, Joseph Gow, Zavier Hill, Shawna Hykel, Daniel Jenisch Jr., Chris King, Treston Knight, Pavel Krivoruchko, Mickle Kwan, Troy Marsh, Fallon Munzanreder, Alexander Timme, Kyerra Toro, Carlos Velarde, Bostin Wentzel, McKenna Wentzel and Crystal Wymbs.
The City of Federal Way Thunder also sent seven track athletes, including Erin Bankson, Robin Mundy, Donald Nelson, Abraham Ray, Dennis Vandelac, Jerry Stougard and Robert Westbloom.
In swimming, the Federal Way Thunder/Flounders sent seven athletes to the state meet, including Andrew Hagan, who won a gold medal in the 15-meter flotation, Frank Lemieux, Katy Lutje, a gold-medalist in the 15-meter walk, Cynthia Mason, Mary McDonough, Bonnie Ridpath and Donald Sowers.
The Federal Way Public Schools Stars skills athlete Bradley Gorgen received a gold medal in Individual Skills.
