Special Olympics pride

HAMMOND -- The Iberia Parish Special Olympics participated in the State Summer Games held at Southeastern Louisiana University over Memorial Day Weekend.

A total of 39 athletes and 14 coaches represented Iberia Parish in the Games and brought home 28 Gold Medals, 23 Silver Medals and 15 Bronze Medals, and also had eight finishers in fourth place and four who finished in fifth place.

Iberia Parish had participants from 11 schools and the Outreach Program.

Medalists included William O’Neillian from Bank Avenue Elementary, who won a gold medal in the 50 meter run and bronze in the softball throw.

Belle Place Middle’s Sarah Granger won a gold medal in the 50 meter run and a silver in the softball throw, Chelsea Boutte won gold in the softball throw and bronze in the 50 meter run and Jahieshia Reed won silver in the 50 meter run and bronze in the softball throw.

Daspit Road Elementary’s Terry Gaudin won a gold medal both the 50 meter run and softball throw; Roy Menard won gold in the shot put and bronze in the 50 meter run; Alicia Landry won gold medals in both the 50 meter run and the softball throw; and Caleb Duplantis finished fourth in both the 50 meter run and the softball throw;

Delcambre Elementary’s Jason LaSalle won silver in the softball throw and finished fourth in the 50 meter run.

Iberia Middle’s Narcy Miller won gold in both the 50 meter run and the softball throw while Kristopher O’Neillian won silver in the 50 meter run and bronze in the shot put.

Jeanerette Middle’s LaEric Alexander won gold in the 50 meter run and silver in the shot put.

Jeanerette Senior High’s Damien Matthews won silver medals in both the 50 meter run and the softball throw.

From Loreauville High, Mandi Smith won bronze in the softball throw and was fourth in the 50 meter run; Jerry Latham won gold in the softball throw and silver in the 50 meter run; and Mathew Latham won silver medals in both the 50 meter run and softball throw.

New Iberia Senior High’s Joshua Racca won gold medals in both the 100 meter run and standing long jump; Thiery Dardant won gold in the softball throw and finished in fifth place in the 50 meter run; Brian LeRoux won silver in the standing long jump and bronze in the 50 meter run; Ta’Sean Harris won gold in the softball throw and silver in the 50 meter run; Rebecca Marceaux took silver in both the 50 meter run and the softball throw; and Allison Credeur won silver in the softball throw and was fifth in the 50 meter run.

From Westgate High, Jacob Romero won gold in the 50 meter run and was fourth place in the softball throw; Jason Bourque won gold medals in both the 50 meter run and the softball throw; Erica Arcement took gold in the softball throw and bronze in the 50 meter run; and Mandy Bonin took silver in both the 50 meter run and softball throw.

From the Outreach Program, Allen LaSalle Jr. won gold in the standing long jump and was fifth in the 100 meter run; Travis Thibodeaux took bronze in both the 100 meter walk and the softball throw; Brian Pomier won gold in the shot put and bronze in the 100 meter run; Keith Allen won bronze in the shot put and was fourth in the 100 meter run; Chad Scelfo took silver in both the 50 meter run and the shot put; Stacey Sickle won silver medals in both in the 50 meter race/walk and in the softball throw; Tina Marceaux took bronze in the 100 meter walk and was fourth in the softball throw; Bryan Chris Landry took gold in the softball throw and silver in the 50 meter run; Ryan Arcenaux won a gold medal in the 100 meter walk and silver in the softball throw; Jennifer LaBiche won gold medals in both the 50 meter run and the softball throw; Chris Blanchard won gold in the 100 meter dash and bronze in the shot put; and Albert Friou won a gold medal in the running long jump and bronze in the 100 meter dash.

Coaches for the Iberia Parish Special Olympics team are Stephanie Manuel, Landa Gann, Katie Botts, Betty LaSalle, Jerry LaSalle, Melissa Racca, Harold Racca, Belinda LaSalle, Allen LaSalle, Cindy Scelfo, Brent Viator, Eugene Arceneaux and Jeanette Arcenaux.

Cindy Landry is the head coach for the Iberia Parish squad.