Bringing home the gold

Matheny Special Olympics athletes Shaleena Tomassini, left, Misty Hockenbury, center, and Amanda Kochell were greeted by Rutgers defensive linemen Darius Hamilton, left, and Julian Pinnix Odrick.

Matheny athletes won 14 gold medals at the New Jersey Special Olympics, held May 30–June 1 at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. Shaleena Tomassini, who will also be competing in the Special Olympics USA Games, which begin tomorrow (June 14), won four of the gold medals: 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter and shot put.

Other Matheny gold medals were won by Lee Lubin, 30-meter slalom and 50-meter slalom; Yasin Reddick, 30-meter slalom and 50-meter slalom; Jamier Warren Treadwell, 25-meter dash and tennis ball throw; Misty Hockenbury, 30-meter slalom and 50-meter slalom; and Bari-Kim Goldrosen, deadlift and bench press.

Participation in Special Olympics is part of Matheny’s recreation therapy program, which provides our students and patients with a variety of recreational opportunities and resources to improve their physical, emotional, cognitive and social well-being.