Special O Basketball Gibsons Team & Gibsons Firefighters
 
Thursday, December 6th at Gibsons Elementary saw the Gibsons Basketball team play a great game of hoops with members of the Gibsons Firefighters. There were great passes, baskets and plays made on both sides.

​Can you feel it? Nearing the end of 2018 and December is busy! November however was not without its charms. New executive member, Katie Borowski wanted to support Special Olympics. “The best way I knew how to do this was working as program coordinator.” Katie enjoys visiting to each sport and watching the athletes in action. Her goal? “To promote Special Olympics athletes of all ages, especially those in the programs for younger ages.”
 
Floor hockey fans will be happy to know their athletes are working hard. Drills and scrimmages, concentrate on 3 goals; have fun, get exercise and learn a thing or two. Head Coach Mike Gojevic has coached this team for four years and is thrilled with the athletes’ progress. He is looking forward to having the RCMP play his team in March.
 
Long time floor hockey player Bryan Ware enjoys having fun and just “being with the coach and fellow athletes”
 
Kyle VanderHeide, a floor hockey player for two years running, “loves it.” He enjoys the exercise and “running around and playing”
 
Athlete coaches Michael Brooks and Derick Pye both enjoy seeing “the development and progression of athletes over time.”
 
Rhythmic Gymnastics is a great way to spend a Tuesday evening. The head coach Ralf Borowski has many goals for his athletes this season but always starting with fundamental movements in the ribbon, ball and hoop routines and becoming more advanced over time.
 
After his daughter Hailey joined last year, coach Grace Gardner asked Ralf to help out. When fire-fighting duties took Grace off Coast, Ralf was invited to become the new head coach. Ralf took two rhythmic gymnastic coaching courses this summer to improve his skills and now says this is the highlight of his week.
 
First year athlete Talia Nielsen joined up because she thought it would be fun to be with her friend Hailey. Her favourite routine is the ribbon. Linsey Davidson an 8-year veteran and provincial games medal winner like Talia also prefers the ribbon.
 
Fitness is paramount to any athlete, and no one understands that better than a fitness coach. Unfortunately, regular Monday fitness coach, Tania Finnigan had to leave the program for a while, because, life. Fortunately, for us, regular Friday fitness instructor, Verna Chan, owner of The Garage Fitness, agreed to step in on Mondays as well. We thank her for sharing her time.
 
The swimming highlight of November was a fun swim meet between the Orca athletes and the Chinook swimmers with lots of friendly competition and cheering from both teams. After freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly a100-metre medley and even freestyle kick there was yummy pizza from Saffron Restaurant.
 
This month, come on out to cheer on the Gibsons Firefighters and the Gibsons Bball team on December 6th at the Gibsons Elementary Gym.
 
And finally, our amazing Christmas banquet will be at the Sechelt Legion on the 15th (with the big red dude making an appearance I heard).
 
Special Olympics continues to be a force to be reckoned with! See you all next year!