Local Special Olympians win gold

MAT-SU — Three Mat-Su Special Olympics athletes and their partners competed at the Special Olympics Alaska Fall Golfing Tournament at the Anchorage Golf Course Sept. 14-15.

Coach Amber Charles led Glacier Morrow, Aaron Kulhanek and Garrett Stortz with their respective partners Mike Morrow, John Tuebner and Trent Berberich.

Garrett competed against an Anchorage athlete in the first ever Level 5 golf play in Special Olympics Alaska history, and won the gold medal.

Also, dozens of Mat-Su Special Olympics bowling athletes are training for competition in the 2013 Special Olympics Alaska State Bowling Tournament on JBER Nov. 22-24. The training season has already begun, but the organization is still in need of male chaperones for the tournament.

State tournament chaperones supervise two athletes over the weekend at the JBER bowling alley, dining facilities and an Anchorage hotel. All lodging, meal costs and transportation are covered.

Special Olympics Mat-Su has numerous volunteer opportunities and offers participation in many sports activities year-round. As the winter training season approaches, beginning in early December the organization is especially in need of coaching volunteers for alpine and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. Volunteer participation makes quality, comprehensive training and competition possible.

For more information or to volunteer, call 631-8591, or email matsu@specialolympicsalaska.org.