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CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings donation accompanies Special Olympics athletes on track to skating success

March 14, 2005 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


MEMPHIS—Special Olympics athletes Sharon Hughy, 15, Melvin Cooks, 17, Jerry Ramsey, 19, and Robert Harmon, 24, flew to speed skating fame on the wings—er, blades—of the Memphis RiverKings recently.

The RiverKings donated three pairs of skates to the group, who took home medals in each of their individual divisions during the state speed skating trials held in Gatlinburg last month.

Special Olympics event director Wanda Lafleur served as a coach at the event. The three athletes trained for two months on roller blades or roller skates and arrived a day early to get a feel for the ice.

In addition to the athletes she brought, she helped others during the ice events. One Special Olympics competitor was blind, so she skated backwards in front of him and he made the laps on the track by listening to her voice.

Considering the preparation time and the lack of ice in the Memphis metro area, Lafleur said she is always astounded by how well the athletes do. She fondly recalls the last Special Olympics World Games, in which a Memphis-area athlete took second place in speed skating out of some 80 or 90 countries. "Some of our athletes are very fast," she said.

LaFleur said she believes having quality skates helped give her athletes an advantage.

"We really appreciate the donation," Lafleur said. "It's such a blessing to have them in decent skates. I don't think they would have done so well if they hadn't had the good foot and ankle support. Plus, they were so excited to have their own skates when we got there."

Hughy took 2nd place in her division of the 100 meter race and 4th in the 300 meter; Cooks, who skates with a walker, took home the gold in the 25 meter assisted and gold in the 50 meter assisted; Ramsey took home the gold in the 500 and 300 meter races; and Harmon won gold in his division of the 25 and 50 meter assisted.

"If you ever have a chance, go watch these kids compete," Lafleur said. "What they lack in one area, God makes up for in another."



Central Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2005


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