SANTA CLARITA ATHLETES GOING FOR THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS GOLD SHARKS, PARENTS, VOLUNTEERS HEADED TO LONG BEACH GAMES.Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - Colbert ``Goldrush'' Williams, who will compete in four sports this weekend at the 2001 Special Olympics Special Olympics International sports program for people with intellectual disability. It provides year-round training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type summer and winter sports for participants. Summer Games This article is about the Epyx video game series. For the international multi-sport event, see Summer Olympic Games. Summer Games is a sports video game developed by Epyx and released by U.S. Gold based on sports featured in the Summer Olympic Games. , is proof that the cocky confidence of rich professional athletes can exist without the enormous salaries. ``I'm good. I could probably beat everybody in the water,'' said the 28-year-old Saugus resident before he and about 60 other local athletes left Friday for the Games in Long Beach. ``They call me Goldrush because I could take all four gold medals,'' said Williams, who will compete in swimming, floor hockey, basketball and softball. The Santa Clarita Sharks, the Special Olympics local chapter, boarded vans emblazoned with ``Go Sharks!'' slogans Friday morning along with parents, coaches and volunteers. Started in 1968, the Special Olympics are played in every state and more than 150 countries. Athletes include those with mental retardation mental retardation, below average level of intellectual functioning, usually defined by an IQ of below 70 to 75, combined with limitations in the skills necessary for daily living. , cognitive delays or other significant learning or vocational disorders. The Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, Games, again held at the California State University Enrollment  , Long Beach, campus, will feature more than 1,700 athletes
from San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo (săn l `ĭs ōbĭs`pō), city (1990 pop. 41,958), seat of San Luis Obispo co., S Calif., near San Luis Obispo Bay; inc. 1856. County to San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. County and communities in
between.
And the pressure's on for the Sharks ladies basketball team, which is hoping to bring the championship home for the third consecutive year. ``We always got the gold. We just have fun and play hard and pass the ball to the team,'' said Janelle Spindt, 18, whose father coaches the team. Gary Spindt, who coached boys basketball at Valencia High, said the Special Olympics athletes have as much, if not more, heart than athletes without disabilities. ``They work very hard. I've been coaching for 25 or 30 years and they work just as hard as the kids that were, quote, normal,'' Spindt said. But in addition to competition and physical fitness, the Games help establish friendships. Janelle Spindt, for example, said she spent time at the mall recently and bought friendship bracelets for her teammates. Lisa Mendez, a 24-year-old Saugus resident who will compete in various swimming events, said she has learned life lessons through her participation in the Special Olympics. ``I just do my best and wish myself luck,'' she said. ``I like making a lot of new friends. Be honest, be respectful and I try to pray to God for all the people who have problems. I feel lucky.'' The Olympic Flame was lit during Friday night's opening ceremony and will burn throughout the weekend, until the closing ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday at Sports Expo Park. CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Parents, athletes and volunteers load into vans Friday decorated with good luck wishes en route to the Special Olympics in Long Beach. (2) Jackie Hartman marks her daughter, Keri, 12, with an SC, to show support for Santa Clarita's Special Olympics squad. (3) Special Olympics basketball player Max Parrish waits at College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. to go to the competition. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
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