Special Olympics: Alexandria hosts Area 4 tournament

The Alexandria Special Olympics golf team hosted an Area 4 golf tournament in July, bringing in more than 70 athletes, coaches and unified partners from the Alexandria and Moorhead areas.

The meet, held at Nordic Trails Golf Club, included a color guard processional by the VFW, a torch run by local law enforcement and athlete Collen Barten and the National Anthem sung by athlete Brenna Gaugert and coach Jon Gaugert.

Athlete Matt Andrade recited the Special Olympics oath, and Kelly Monacotti, northern Minnesota sports program director, and Area 4 coordinator Stacy Luetner served as announcers.

Athletes and unified partners competed in individual skills, alternate shot 3- and 9-hole, and traditional 3- and 9-hole events, competing in divisions by age and skill level.

In the individual skills competition, Krista Collins, Matthew Froemming, Jonathan Kohls, Dana Marthaler, Sonya Nichols and Justin Wevley brought home first place finishes, while in the unified 3-hole event, Carmen Aspsetter and partner Robert Aspsetter, Lois Lee and partner Anthony Fletcher, and Dana Marthaler and partner Melvin Elgie were first.

In the traditional 3-hole event, Tiffany Schmidt and Paul Spangrud were first, in unified 9-hole action, Allyson Estes and partner Dan Fosse, and Chad Mulder and partner and Mike Powell were first.

In traditional 9-hole play, Matt Andrade, Brad Fuoss, Wayne Krueger and Matt Severance all brought home firsts.

Karyn Sportel was the meet manager, with Nordic Trails Golf Club and the Carlos Lions sponsoring the event.

The Alexandria Area 4 golf team also competed in the State Fall Games in Oakdale over the weekend, but results were not yet tallied.

AREA 4 SPECIAL OLYMPICS GOLF MEET

JULY 22

INDIVIDUAL SKILLS

1ST – Krista Collins, Matthew Froemming, Jonathan Kohls, Dana Marthaler, Sonya Nichols, Justin Wevley.

2ND – Tiffany Schmidt, Emily Roers, Scott Horman, Kyle Debilzen, Carmen Aspsetter.

3RD – Matthew Zunker, Julie Schmidt, Dalin Reiter, Derek Michels, Lois Lee, Dustin Debilzen.

4TH – Danika Schroeder, Kristina Ruud.

5TH – Jennifer Larson, Brenda Gaugert.

6TH – Dane Bellefeuille

UNIFIED 3-HOLE

1ST – Carmen Aspsetter and partner Robert Aspsetter; Lois Lee and partner Anthony Fletcher; Dana Marthaler and partner Melvin Elgie

2ND – Brenna Gaugert and partner Jon Gaugert; Emily Roers and partner Reba Bruzek; Kristina Ruud and partner Brian Barber

3RD – Krista Collins and partner Pat Dahlheimer; Jennifer Larson and partner Phyllis Schoonhoven

TRADITIONAL 3-HOLE

1ST – Tiffany Schmidt, Paul Spangrud

2ND – Jonathan Kohls, Lindsay Ohren

3RD – Matthew Froemming, Dan Siira

4TH – Collen Barten

UNIFIED 9-HOLE

1ST – Allyson Estes and partner Dan Fosse, Chad Mulder and partner Mike Powell

2ND – Matt Westrich and partner Larry Bruzek, Jay LaMere and partner Jason Sinning, Ray Pipo and partner Steve Sportel

3RD – Alex Hanson and partner Wayne Hanson, Justin Hanson-Simmons and partner Ryan Spencer, Dan Niedenfuer and partner Chad Roquette

TRADITIONAL 9-HOLE

1ST – Matt Andrade, Brad Fuoss, Wayne Krueger, Matt Severance

2ND – Tobby Klimek, Ralph Koopmeiners, Jacob Paulzine

3RD – David Baumann, Ricky Mithun

PARTICIPATION RIBBON – Earl Hauglid

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