On Nov. 14, two talented athletes traveled to Orlando to compete at the Special Olympics powerlifting championships held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Junior Cindy Augustin and sophomore Alex Chavala, both representing Marathon High School, captured gold medals at the competition.
Chavala’s win was an exciting come-from-behind victory after sitting in second place following the bench press portion of the event. Chavala then cleared a strong deadlift to overtake another athlete and win the gold medal. Augustin outlifted her opponents as well to make it a pair of golds for the Dolphin power duo.
Coach Cathy Warner praised the athletes’ dedication, discipline and determination, which, she said, embody the spirit of Marathon High.
“These two athletes gave everything they had,” said Warner. “They worked hard, stayed focused and showed what it means to never give up.”
Warner’s support of the Special Olympics has been unwavering at Marathon, so it is not surprising that she, too, earned special recognition at the event. Warner captured an award for Monroe County for being an inspirational coach. Already honored as Marathon High’s Inclusion Teacher of the Year, Warner is also Marathon’s varsity girls soccer coach, with a roster that includes Augustin.
Photos Contributed
