Local athletes to compete in Special Olympics event

Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. this Sat., Oct. 25 at Borchard Community Center in Newbury Park––it’s a prelude to next weekend’s event

Local residents are among the Ventura County Special Olympics athletes who have been training to participate in the annual Ventura County Special Olympics Powerlifting Tournament beginning with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. Sat., Oct. 25 at Borchard Community Center, 190 Reino Road, Newbury Park.

Forty Special Olympics male and female athletes will be competing, including Michael Friekin of Agoura; Joe Montemorra of Newbury Park; Michael Bierman, Sky Casley, Heidi Moodie and B.J. Smoot of Thousand Oaks; and Michael Berman and Alison Wilk of Westlake Village. Bierman, 27, of Thousand Oaks holds the Special Olympics record for the dead lift at more than 460 pounds.

There will be two competition categories, the bench press and dead lift. In addition to local athletes, competitors will attend from Kern, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Orange counties as well as from Pasadena and Santa Maria.

The Ventura County athletes have been training with their coaches Bill Hutton, Will Moodie and Truk Ahlers. 24-Hour Fitness in Thousand Oaks has donated both training space and equipment, while Conejo Recreation and Park District has made the Borchard Community Center venue available at no cost.

Several other competitions have preceded this event, all in preparation for the Fall Sports Classic on Nov. 1 and 2 at California State University Fullerton.

For more information, please call Patrick Taillon at (805) 650-7717.