Celebrated for their attitude and their ability to get along with others, as well as attendance and participation, Laura Weidner and Barry Green have been chosen as the local Special Olympics athletes of the year.

“They’re very high functioning, very friendly and outgoing – dedicated, I guess you could say,” explained Sandra Goodwin, who coaches the five- and 10-pin bowling programs, as well as floor hockey. She is also the community co-ordinator for Special Olympics Ontario – Cambridge.

“They were all really happy to get them,” she added of the awards.

Weidner bowls in the five-pin bowling program. She is known for always having a smile on her face and trying her best.

Green bowls in the five- and 10-pin programs, as well as playing basketball and floor hockey and rarely misses a week of any activity. He was at the provincial games in Kingston last year and is waiting to see if he qualifies to go to the nationals in British Columbia next year.

The group’s third major award, the Kevin Largey Memorial Swimming Achievement Trophy, was presented to 15-year-old Cooper Moore – one of the youngest local Special Olympians in any sport.

“He has participated in several swim meets and has improved greatly this year,” Goodwin explained of why Moore was chosen as recipient. “Cooper is a friendly young man and tries very hard each week.”

The award is named in honour of a coach who was killed in a collision with a train.