Special Olympics at CSULB

FANS – There was no shortage of praise and deserved honors to go around June 10 as more than 1,100 athletes were celebrated for their athletic achievements at the 2018 Special Olympics Southern California Summer Games at Cal State Long Beach. Medals were awarded in basketball, bocce, swimming and track and field. In addition, Shannon Callahan and Joseph Hottendorf were named co-Most Inspirational Athlete of the Year. They were joined on stage by UCLA legend and Special Olympics Southern California founder Rafer Johnson. The two-day event included awards for not only the athletes, but the coaches who volunteer their time. The 2018 Coaches of the Season were: Bill Lovelace (track and field) and Dave Blomsterberg (flag football) of Santa Clarita & Tri-Valley, Hilda Bojorquez (bocce) and Claudia Chavez (basketball) of Inland Empire, and Kathy Brown (swimming) of Ventura County.