WDHS competes in the Winter Special Olympics

BY BRITTNI WENDLING

PHOTOGRAPH BY LAURIE FALLON

Pictured left to right: Caleb Ernzen, Brennen Koopmann, Stacy Kass (mentor), Rebecca Hoefler (mentor), Michelle Neumann, Emily Goedken (mentor), Lee Greenwood, Brandon Weber (mentor), Jeff Leibold, and Mark Zalaznik (mentor) at this year’s Winter Olympics.

The Western Dubuque Special Olympic athletes recently competed in the Winter Olympics. The Winter Olympics were held at Sundown on Jan. 14 and Jan. 15. The students competed in multiple cross country ski races. Caleb Ernzen (10) competed in the 100-meter cross country ski race and earned a second place silver medal. Lee Greenwood (10) competed in the 1K cross country race and earned a second place silver medal. Lee also competed in the 500-meter cross country race and won a first place gold medal. Brennen Koopmann (10) won gold in both of his races. He competed in the 500-meter and 100-meter cross country races. Jeff Leibold (11) won a first place gold medal in both the 1K and 500-meter race. Michelle Neumann (9) competed for her first time in the Winter Olympics and won two third place bronze medals in the 100 meter and 500 meter. The athletes were all successful and encouraged by their coaches, Laurie Fallon and Tom Andrews. Congratulations to the athletes who competed in the Winter Olympics!