On Sunday, March 5^th, the Decorah High School and Decorah Middle School Special Olympics teams traveled to Cedar Falls to compete in the Northeast Iowa Regional Track and Field event. At this event, Decorah athletes competed in shot put, softball throw, tennis ball throw, standing long jump, sprints, and walks. DHS junior Haley Stinson was selected to carry the torch on the final leg of the Opening Ceremony of the games and light the Olympic flame.

            Competing and placing for Decorah High School were Donnie Hrdlicka, who placed 2^nd in the long jump and 5^th in the 50 meter dash; Kamryn Leuenberger, who placed 1^st in the tennis ball throw and 1^st in the 50 meter walker race; John Lippe, who placed 1^st in the shot put and 4^th in the 50 meter dash; and Klaressa Miller, who placed 1^st in the 50 meter walk and 1^st in the shot put. Also competing were Wyatt Pleggenkuhle, who placed 1^st in the 50 meter walk and 2^nd in the shot put; Braden Ramstad, who placed 1^st in the shot put and 2^nd in the 50 meter dash; Jude Ryan, who placed 1^st in the 50 meter dash and 2^nd in the shot put; Haley Stinson, who placed 1^st in the long jump and 2^nd in 100 meter dash; and Brandon Thomas, who placed 2^nd in the shot put and 4^th in the 50 meter dash.

            Competing and placing for Decorah Middle School include Daniel Bean, placing 3^rd in the 100 meter dash and 3^rd in the shot put; Johnathan Bean, placing 1^st in the 100 meter dash and 2^nd in the shot put; Aiden Farley, placing 1^st in the 50 meter dash and 1^st in the long jump; Zoey Lollar, placing 1^st in the 50 meter dash and 2^nd in the softball throw; and Sky Pasche, placing 1^st in the softball throw and 3^rd in the 50 meter dash. Luke Thompson also participated representing the middle school.

            The Decorah Schools Special Olympics teams would like to thank their teacher, paraprofessionals, and parents for making a great day happen for them. The high school athletes would also like to thank Mike Tangen for teaching them how to throw a shot put and Gina Holthaus for her assistance in their runs and jumps. 

Decorah High School Special Olympic Athletes (l-r):  Kamryn Leuenberger, Braden Ramstad, Donnie Hrdlicka, Haley Stinson, Brandon Thomas, Wyatt Pleggenkuhle, Klaressa Miller, Jude Ryan and John Lippe.

Decorah Middle School Special Olympics Athletes (l-r): Luke Thompson, Sky Pasche, Aiden Farley, Zoey Lollar, Johnathan Bean and Daniel Bean.

Decorah High School junior Haley Stinson lights the Olympic Flame after the final leg of the torch carry.