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Photo by Bill Green
Gerald Fly practices using snowshoes to travel down a snow covered hill with head coach Jackie Smeller at his side as he practices for of snowshoeing competition at Maryland Winter Special Olympic events. |
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Libertytown ----At the practice field in a snow-covered sand volleyball court behind a church in Libertytown on Wednesday night, Gerald Fly waited to have his 30-inch-long snowshoes fastened. His coach, Jackie Smeller, tightened the buckles. Once done, Fly, 63, stood up, balanced himself and climbed a hill without faltering. He didn't "fly" down, but he was fast. Smeller said Fly's speed is the reason she will probably enter him in one of the longer races at the Maryland State Winter Special Olympics on March 1 and 2. The event will be at Wisp Resort in McHenry, in Garrett County. When not snowshoeing, Fly, a Frederick resident, said he works at Fort Detrick's commissary. "If anything spills on the floor, I wipe the floor," he said. "I check the bathrooms. Fill the towel racks and all that." Several people were at the practice, and several will be going to the Olympics. The coaching was organized by Community Living Inc., a Frederick organization that provides housing and services to people with developmental disabilities. After the athletes were ready, Smeller gathered them around her for some stretches. "Right leg bend, left leg out," she said. "Now bend your knees." A pause. "Now jump." They jumped, snowshoes and all. After that, they raced up and down the hill. Smeller encouraged Fly to let loose. With her coaxing, he went a little faster.
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