Middle Gate Hosts 4th Grade Olympics

By Tanjua Damon

Fourth grade students at Middle Gate School hosted their own Olympic games Tuesday as they finished their unit on Australia.

About 100 fourth graders competed in a track and field Olympic type competition, competing in the 50-yard dash, hurdles, shot put, discus, long jump, and relays at the school.

Physical Education teacher Laura Cooper was asked by fourth grade teachers what she could do to help with the study of Australia. Ms Cooper decided to move the track and field unit from the spring to the fall since the 2000 Olympics were held in Australia.

Before the boys and girls started competition, Ms Cooper reminded them that the games were about sportsmanship and that everyone was a winner no matter what.

“In the spirit of the games, I expect you to be really good sports,” she said. “Congratulate people who do really well. Don’t feel sorry for yourself if you don’t get top prize.”

There are four fourth grade classes at the school; each arrived at the mock Olympics in class colors of red, blue, green, and yellow.

Elisabeth Zehall, Christian Gonzalez, Thiago Gonclaves, and Lorrissa Lippi carried the “torch” around one lap of the field to start the games off.

Following are the results for the day’s events:

In the boys 50 yard dash, medals went to Marc Scheunemann: gold; Tyler Edwards: silver; and Jimmy Duch: bronze. The winners in the girls 50 yard dash included Dana Gnerre: gold; Nora Lynn Shinko: silver; and Kate Bamberg: bronze.

Boys hurdles winners were Chris Page: gold; Thiago Gonclaves: silver; and Brian Reszoly: bronze. Girls hurdles included Cassie David: gold; Natalie Villa: silver; and Sonia Brand-Fisher: bronze.

Shot put winners for the boys included Thomas Mastrocinque: gold; Ian Mason: silver; and Michael Notaro: bronze. The girls who took medals included Krystal Perrotti: gold; Lauren Picerno: silver; and Lorissa Lippi: bronze.

Discus winners included boys C.J. Donahue: gold; Jacob Browning: silver; and Armend Ramadani: bronze. Girls – Marissa Hansen: gold; Briana Liotta: silver; and Lauren Picerno.

Boys Long Jump winners were Jimmy Duch: gold; Bret LeBlanc: silver; and tied for bronze included Michael Bunger, Gene Yllanes, and Jim Zarifis. Girls winners in the long jump were Dana Gnerre: gold; Amanda Allain: silver; and Elisabeth Zehall: bronze.

Boys Relay winners included gold: Brian Reszoly, Jim Zarifis, Kevin Canavan, and Joey Tantimonioo; silver: Jimmy Duch, Gene Yllanes, Joseph Knapik, and Keith Hoffman; bronze: Robbie Blanc, Harry Griffin, Michael McDonald, and Ian Mason.

Girls Relay Winners were gold: Taylor Shaw, Nora Lynn Shinko, Brianna Liotta, and Krystal Perrotti; silver: Amanda Allain, Denise Branecky, Kelsey Gillespie, and Cassie David; bronze: Stephanie Villa, Kristen Brassard, Jessica Goldberg, and Dana Gnerre.