By Kyle Terwilliger
For Variety

“LET me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” A motto that athletes should live by in general, but this motto inspires all the athletes that competed Saturday in the Guam Special Olympics.
Announcer Marlon Molinas directed a day full of not only competition but also food and dancing.
Many of the athletes had been preparing with their respected coaches for quite a while now.
FBLG Middle School coach Ray Deplata told Variety that his five competitors had been preparing for this day every Tuesday and Thursday in the weeks leading up to the event during “team time,” after school.
The day began with the assisted walk 10m and would end in the different teams competing against each other in the relay races.
Executive Director for the events Frank Florig was excited about getting more people involved with the Guam Special Olympics.
“This is the first year that the GPSS (Guam Public School System) has really gotten involved,” he said. “Board member Evita Lujan-Espinosa has really been contributing this year putting in more hours than even me.” Florig was happy with the turnout this year giving credit to MSgt. Raven Rossetti who was in charge of getting the Air Force out to volunteer their time to prepare the events for the children.
“The Air Force has always been a big help when it comes to our events,” Florig said. Florig also gave credit to the Knights of Columbus for donating all the food for the last five years. And the food tent was where you could find many of the hungry athletes waiting between the relay event and the award ceremony.
As the tension was building in anticipation for the awards, competitors Roy Lujan and Nathan Iglesias showed everyone it wasn’t about getting awards by putting on a dance show. As they danced on the track bringing other athletes in with them people began to forget about awards.
But as Marlon Molinas said that it was time to begin the award ceremony the athletes grew anxious. Gold medalists were as follows: David Abraham, Assisted Walk 10m. Marlon German and Ethan Belamide, Assisted Walk 100m. Joaquin Cruz and Ethan Belamide, Assisted Walk 50m. Tomasa Lujan, Joshua Basa and Jun Bravo, Power Walk 100m. Karl Atoigue, Power Walk 200m. Christopher Zapatos and Kayla Kwadau, Power Walk 50m. Jesse J. Cruz, Christopher Halili, Jermaine Santos, Andrew Toledo, Robin Perez, Mark Peredo, Roy Lujan and Clifford Wooten, 100m Run. Jesse J. Cruz, Roy Lujan, and Clifford Wooten, 200m Run. Justin Quintanilla, Christopher Mafnas, Raven J. Bernardo, Megan Boswell, Juliette Babauta, Roden J. Cruz, Zuriel Gonzalvo, Preston Hall, Iowanta Hait, Teena Villagomez, Shane Attao, Andrew Toledo, Shaelene Viloria, Leoderico Hill, Jerome Cruz, Christopher Evangelista and Yos Iglesias, 50m Run. Robin Perez, John Lee Uherhewar, Jonathon Sham, Christopher Halili, Juliette Babauta and Christopher Santos, Running Long Jump. Leoderico Hill, Nathan Iglesias, Jose Longa, Joshua Mendiola, Ramon Flores, Andrew Toledo, Julio J. Gange, Megan Boswell, Maybeline Sabando, Harold Cabrera, Christopher Mafnas, Jay Flores, Vincent Cruz, Teena Villagomez, Kevin Josa, Allan Kosaka, Mariano B. Pablo, Raven J. Bernardo, Joshua Basa, Joseph Reyes, Kris San Nicolas and Edwin Bartolome, Softball Throw.
Yos Iglesias, Jerome Cruz, Mark Peredo, Joshua Mendiola, Ramon Flores, Jonathon Sham, Leoderico Hill, Joshua Basa, Preston Hale, Kory Barcinas, Jesse J. Cruz, James Gebhart, Justin Quintanilla, Liberty Arriola, Iowanta Hait, Davey Wusstig, Harold Cabrera, Jeremiah Meneses, Christopher Zapatos, and Kyle J. Manibusan, Standing Long Jump. Mariam Peredo, Wheel Chair 25m. All athletes took first in their respective heats and were awarded the gold medal.
Next up for these athletes are aquatics. Florig hopes more athletes and members of the community will get involved for the aquatic events scheduled for June 9 at the Agana Swimming pool.