HCSD trio finalists for Special Olympics Athletes of the Year

 AREA -- Three student-athletes from the Harlan Community Schools Delegation have been selected by Special Olympics Iowa as honorees for the 2020 Des Moines Register’s All-Iowa Sports Awards program.
 Seniors Gracie Assmann and Chloe Hays of HCSD are both among three finalists for the Special Olympics Iowa Girl Athlete of the Year while Cameron Hicks, a junior, is one of three finalists for the Special Olympics Iowa Boy Athlete of the Year.
 To be considered for these awards, athletes must be high school-aged (14-22), be heavily involved in Special Olympics Iowa events and be a positive representative of Special Olympics Iowa in their community.
 The Des Moines Register Sports Awards honors the state’s best athletes, coaches and teams for achievements from throughout the school year. The winners in each category will be recognized Thursday, June 18, during the virtual Sports Awards program set for a 6:00 p.m. broadcast at sportsawards.desmoinesregister.com.
 The program will feature celebrity presenters such as Michael Phelps, Gabby Douglas, Patrick Mahomes and many more.
Gracie Assmann -- This marks the second straight year that Assmann has been a finalist for the All-Iowa Special Olympics Girl Athlete of the Year. She is involved in athletics (track and field), basketball, bocce, bowling and cheerleading.
 Assmann has been competing in Special Olympics since 2016. During those five years, she has won gold or silver six times at state-level competitions. She also has a cumulative GPA of 3.08.
Chloe Hays -- Hays has been involved in athletics (track and field), basketball skills, bocce, bowling and cheerleading during her 11 years competing in Special Olympics. She has participated in state competitions 11 times and brought home gold six of those times.
 Chloe’s level of excellence reaches far beyond Special Olympics as she is also an active volunteer in her community, a four-year member of the HCHS volleyball team and has maintained a 3.53 GPA.
Cameron Hicks -- Hicks is involved in athletics (track and field), basketball skills, bocce and bowling and has been competing in Special Olympics since 2015. The four-sport athlete has qualified for the state level four times and placed fourth or better each time. He has a GPA of 3.59.