Westlake Special Olympics returns after 2-year hiatus
Westlake Kiwanis and Westlake Schools held their Special Olympics on Saturday June 8, at Westlake High School's Lou Duchez Stadium. There were 57 athletes registered from all over western Cuyahoga and eastern Lorain counties.
Scott Goggin, Westlake Schools superintendent, led the athletes around the track carrying the Special Olympics torch to open the event. Members of the Westlake Aktion Club sang the national anthem. There were quite a few volunteers from Westlake Kiwanis, Westlake City School District and Knights of Columbus. This event marked the return of the Special Olympics after a two-year hiatus due to the upgrading of the Westlake High track.
Athletes ran, jumped, walked and threw their way to gold, silver and bronze medals. There were 57 competitors and all were winners. It was hard to tell who enjoyed the competition more – the athletes or the volunteers. Everyone came away with smiles on their faces.
Everyone said they were happy the event had returned and were already looking forward to next year's Special Olympics.
Victor Rutkoski
I am a member of the Westlake Kiwanis and and advisor for the Westlake Kiwanis Aktion Club. The Aktion Club is sponsored by the Kiwanis the same as a Key, Builders and Circle K Clubs. Aktion Club is for adults with disabilities 18 years of age and up. The new President of the Westlake Kiwanis asked me handle publicity for the Kiwanis and Aktion Clubs.I am a retired Manager of Expenditures for the CSX Corp. I moved to Cleveland's exteme Westside 10 years ago from Freeport, PA a town about 30 miles northeast east of Pittsburgh where I had lived all my life. Work related issues brought my family to Cleveland.