Living Independently Forever, Inc. (LIFE) is pleased to announce numerous awards from the Special Olympics USA Games, held June 5–12, 2022, in Orlando, Florida, and Special Olympics state games held at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Saturday, June 11, 2022. Cape Cod and Plymouth communities were well represented with a total of 58 LIFE athletes competing at these two games.
At the national Special Olympics USA Games, the LIFE Force soccer team won a bronze medal for Team Massachusetts after a series of playoffs against other Special Olympics state teams from Aruba, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The LIFE Force soccer team players include Aaron Allen, Luke Anderson, Dan Brewster, Nick Brodsky, John Demick, Zack Gittleman, Jimmy Koshivas, Renee Lavigne, Isaac Williams, and Timothy Young. Additionally, Deidre “Dee” Cotter of Mashpee won the gold in the women’s 400-meter run and a silver medal for the javelin and relay.
LIFE’s Fitness Director, Ian Saarmann, said “Our athletes represented LIFE and Massachusetts in the best way possible. They trained hard for this year’s Special Olympic events, and it showed in their performance. We’re very proud of their accomplishments.”
Jim Church, a LIFE family volunteer coach, also accompanied the LIFE athletes to the USA games in Florida and assisted throughout the week-long event.
The Special Olympics USA Games, which is hosted every four years, united more than 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean. Over 125,000 families, friends, and spectators were at the event and witnessed the inspiring athletic accomplishments in 19 Olympic-style team and individual sports and more than 30 events at world-class venues across Orlando, centered at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World Resort.
The Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games are hosted every June in Boston and conclude the state tournament season for spring sports. The LIFE community was represented with 39 athletes competing in this year’s swimming, track & field, tennis, 800-, 400- and 100-meter run, softball, javelin, and 25-, 50-, 100-, 200-yard freestyle and backstroke swim events. LIFE athlete Hunter Schofield won gold for the javelin and 400-meter run. Additionally, Garrett Keenan won gold in the 100-meter run, Anna Roberston won silver in tennis, and Sarah Lynn won gold in swimming.
Athletes, Unified partners, and coaches were selected for Team Massachusetts based on their competition scores from previous state-level competitions. The athlete must compete in the selected sport for a minimum of three years and be an active member of the State program.
For more information about LIFE’s Special Olympics and fitness programs, contact us via email [email protected] or call 508-790-3600.
