Swimmer Sean Maynard of Craven County is making a big splash in and out of the water this year.

“Swimmers take your mark!” Bang! Six swimmers dove from the starting blocks to begin competition in the 500 yard freestyle event. Lots of cheers for Sean Maynard could be heard from the deck as his teammates, family and friends were rooting for the newest member of the Havelock High School swim team in Havelock, NC.

Mary Dwyer, Special Olympics Jones County coordinator, watched the race in her role as a high school aquatics official but was also silently rooting for her friend Sean. It had been Mary who encouraged Sean to try-out for his high school swim team after watching him compete in Special Olympics for the past five years. She knew Sean, 17, had a real gift in the water.

“I knew he could make the team,” said Dwyer. “But what has been amazing is to see how much he has improved and excelled both in and out of the water!”

Over the course of the Havelock High’s three-month swim season, Sean mastered a flip-turn and improved his freestyle times in every event. Most impressive was the nearly two minutes he shaved off his 500 yard free time! He also dropped 22 seconds from his time in the 200 yd free and took key seconds off his 100 and 50 yard free times as well! He works out six days a week and his efforts have paid off. His performance each meet earned key points for his team and he even qualified for consideration of a spot in the 3A High School Regional meet in the 500 yd–free. During the high school season-ending banquet, Sean was recognized with the Most Improved Male Swimmer award and received a standing ovation!

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More than 700 Special Olympics athletes from across the state will come to Raleigh to compete in bowling, equestrian, floor hockey and tennis during the 2008 SONC Midsummer Tournament July 18-20.  Download an individual or group volunteer registration form today!

Remember how much fun kickball was a kid?  It's even more fun as an adult!  Gather a 10-person adult co-ed team and come play in the Cary Kickball Classic on Saturday, May 17!  The Classic is a fundraiser hosted by the NC Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics and is sponsored by Mac's Tavern in Cary.  
Entry fee is $150 per team.  Team members can create a personal fundraising web page to generate the entry fee and more at www.firstgiving.com/sonc .  Each team must have a minimum of four females.  Classic will be played rain or shine!

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 15-17 officers from Wake County Sheriff's office will be on top of the Chick-fil-A in Fuquay-Varina raising funds for Special Olympics North Carolina.  Come out, bring the family, enjoy a great Chick-fil-A meal and support a worthy cause at the same time.   Officers will be at Chick-fil-A  from 5 p.m. until close on May 15 and then all day on both  May 16 and May 17!

NC State Bureau of Investigation and NC Alcohol Law Enforcement officers will be up on the roof of the Chick-fil-A at Garner Towne Square from open to close on Thursday, May 15; Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17!  They will be raising money for the North Carolina Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

Come out and join the fun and enjoy a great meat and support a worthy cause too!

So, gather up the family, come out for some great food and support Special Olympics at the same time!

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