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Special Olympics: Top athlete, coach, volunteer and group
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| Madison County Special Olympics recently recognized individuals for their exemplary contributions to the program. Among this year’s recipients were (from left) Michael Long (accepting for London Eagles), Terry Goff (Volunteer of the Year), Caternia Dummitt (Coach of the Year), and Paul Hiles (Athlete of the Year). |
Posted Jan. 26, 2010
These Tigers were certainly on the prowl for Special Olympics excellence.
Recently, the Madison County Special Olympics Program, which is affiliated with the Madison County Board of Developmental Disabilities, announced the winners of its annual recognition awards. The awards are voted on by the Special Olympics athletes themselves, as well as staff and community people who are involved with the program.
In 2009, many Madison County Tigers sports teams relied on contributions from Paul Hiles. The Special Olympics athlete responded, coming up big in all he tried. It’s that well-rounded year that earned Hiles Athlete of the Year honors.
Whether it was spiking the ball across the volleyball net or grabbing an important rebound under the basket, Hiles had made great strides this year.
“He has bounced back from adversity this year and shown great maturity with his decision making,” said Lincoln Comer, Madison County Board of DD recreation coordinator. “Paul has also proven himself to be a versatile and positive athlete who is a total team player.”
Included in Hiles’ many athletic accomplishments were a silver medal at the 2009 Area 6 bowling tournament, an average of almost five points and four rebounds for the Tigers DII Final Four basketball squad, a role as a key player for the 2009 unified volleyball team which earned a bronze medal at the 2009 Area 6 tournament, and a .875 batting average for the Tigers’ traditional softball team.
The energetic leadership of Caternia Dummitt has kept many Special Olympics athletes on track this past year. Dummitt led her athletes to a number of meets to make sure they were well-prepared for the Summer Games. For these efforts, she was named Coach of the Year.
“This spring Caternia brought her high-octane, positive energy back to the track athletes of Madison County,” Comer said of Dummitt. “In her second year as track coach, she taught the athletes the importance of fun, team camaraderie and how to stay focused during competition.”
Among the many volunteers the Madison County Special Olympics program relies on, Terry Goff has stood out as a quiet leader. From being a timekeeper for basketball games to serving as an assistant coach for the traditional softball team to taking the field as a partner for the unified softball squad, Goff has shown why he is a great choice for Volunteer of the Year.
“Terry may seem like the quiet type, but when it comes to volunteer work, his efforts speak volumes,” Comer said. “Quality volunteers like Mr. Goff are a necessity to run an elite Special Olympics program.”
This year, for just the second time, Madison County Special Olympics honored an organization that has offered support to enhance the program. This year’s recipient is London Eagles 950.
In 2009, thanks to support from the London Eagles, the Madison County Unified Volleyball team attended the USA National Volleyball Tournament in Minneapolis, Minn.
“The London Eagles 950 have been a perennial aid for our county’s program and 2009 was no different,” Comer said. “Through their generosity, our athletes were afforded the opportunity to compete and were rewarded with the memory of a lifetime.”
For more information about Madison County’s Special Olympics program and volunteer opportunities, call Lincoln Comer at (740) 852-7050.
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