Monadnock Valley Patriots earn medals in Durham

Medals earned and memories made!

Local athletes traveled to the University of New Hampshire Durham this past weekend and returned with medals for their efforts.

The Monadnock Valley Patriots (MVP) is the Adult Special Olympics team in the Monadnock area. Athletes on the team are from Bennington, Dublin, Hancock, Hillsborough, Jaffrey, Peterborough, and Milford. Some of the athletes have been a part of the team since its inception in 2013 and more join each year as they age out of the high school program.

The athletes recently traveled to UNH for the Special Olympics State Summer Games. Over 650 athletes and partners from across the state competed in bocce, equestrian, power lifting, sprint triathlon, tennis, and swimming. The running long jump, shot put, and softball throw were also among the day’s challenges, as were 50m, 100m and 200m walks and runs. Competitions in other seasons include bowling, snowshoeing, Nordic and Alpine skiing and basketball, of which John Lawlor is the coach.

The MVP Bocce team brought home gold, silver and bronze metals in both individual and team events in competitions that took some very close throws to get to a win. The most senior team member, 71-year-old Ken Wilder, was thrilled with both his gold and bronze medal wins. Other athletes walked, ran and threw their way to medals in the softball throw as well as the 50m, 100m, 200m walks and runs.

The July 11 Heroes Cup at Holman Stadium in Nashua, a baseball game of fire vs. police, is a fundraising event to benefit this program through Special Olympics New Hampshire. The Patriots will begin practicing at Bowling Acres in Peterborough in September for their next competition which will be in that sport in November.