Huntington Captures 12 Medals at Snowshoe Games
A team of four Huntington High School students captured a dozen medals in an assortment of snowshoe events at a Special Olympics regional tournament in Queensbury.
"We medaled in every event," said Linda Costello, who serves as one of the team's coaches and is a Huntington special education administrator. "It was our first time ever on snow. We practice on the sand."
The Huntington team medaled in every single event, garnering six gold, three silver and three bronze medals. The Blue Devils gold rush included a first place finish in the snowshoe relay event.
By any measure, the medal haul was downright impressive. John Cronin grabbed three gold medals; Andrew Oh captured one gold and two silver medals; Liam Mrotzek won a gold medal and two bronze medals; Brendan Cribbin took gold, silver and bronze medals.
The Huntington athletes' next stop is the Special Olympics' State Winter Games in Rochester on February 22-24. Mr. Oh is unable to attend, but Huntington alum German Alvarez will keep the team at full strength.
"Over 650 athletes and coaches from across the state will participate in the 2013 State Winter Games, featuring floor hockey at the Riverside Convention Center, figure skating and speed skating at Genesee Valley Ice Rink, nordic skiing at Bristol Mountain, snowshoeing and Alpine skiing at Swain Mountain," according to the Special Olympics' website. "The Winter Games are one of three annual state games and one of more than 3,500 total competitive experiences held each year throughout New York. All events are free and open to the public."