Valley athletes earn medals in Special Olympics meet

WASILLA — A handful of Valley athletes earned medals during the 2016 Special Olympics Alaska Fall Tournament Sept. 10-11 in Anchorage.

Five from the Valley competed in golf at Anchorage Golf Course, and a half-dozen teams participated in Unified Sports bocce at the Special Olympics Alaska Sports, Health and Wellness Center.

Palmer’s Garrett Stortz was among the Valley’s winners. Stortz finished first in level 5 golf individual stroke play. Stortz shot a 199 on the 18-hole course.

The Valley also had a group of athletes participate in level 4 golf individual stroke play. Stephen Reuter shot a 132 over nine holes to finish first. Glacier Morrow was second with a 134, and Aaron Kulhanek shot a 136 to finish third. Jordan Bassett also participated, finishing with a 159.

Six Valley teams, with a Special Olympics athlete and a unified partner, competed in bocce. Athlete Misty Dutton and unified partner Farrah Griggs were part of one of three Valley teams to finish first in bocce. Athlete Jeremy Sanders and unified partner Robert Butcher, and athlete Hailey Shivley and unified partner Dona Lee Kessler, also scored first-place finishes.

Athlete Jake Matlock and unified partner Patrick White placed second. Athlete Katie Griffiths and unified partner Cindy Dutton were third. Athlete Melony Adams and unified partner Patsy Inks were fourth.

Nearly 200 athletes, coaches and volunteers were a part of the annual two-day event that drew people from Anchorage, Homer, Ketchikan, Fairbanks and the Valley.