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<\/p>\nSEVEN SPRINGS, Pa. \u2013 Before heading home from the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games, athletes gave it one last push Thursday to win a medal.<\/p>\n
Awards ceremonies were held for more than 300 athletes who competed in alpine skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing during two days of competition at Seven Springs Mountain Resort.<\/p>\n
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Andrew Sambol (center), of Somerset County, celebrates after receiving a gold medal in the 50-meter snowshoe competition during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Joining Sambol at the medal stand is second-place finisher Maria Petrillo (left), of Chester County, and third-place athlete Adam Spiker, of Somerset County.<\/p>\n
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Berlin Brothersvalley High School students gather for a group photograph while volunteering at a snowshoe competition during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026.<\/p>\n
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Zachary Duranko, of Cambria County, proudly displays his medals at the snowshoe competition during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026.<\/p>\n
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Christa Mereen (right), representing Somerset County, gets a high-five from event volunteer Steve Szklany, of Pittsburgh, after competing in the 100-meter snowshoe race during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026.<\/p>\n
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Korey Steinberg (center), of Northampton County, leads the pack in the 100-meter snowshoe race during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026.<\/p>\n
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John Forosisky (left), of Cambria County, celebrates his gold medal performance with Pennsylvania State Trooper Tristan Fay after 100-meter snowshoe race during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026.<\/p>\n
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Abby Pritt, of Franklin County, competes in the 100-meter snowshoe race during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Andrew Sambol (center), of Somerset County, celebrates after receiving a gold medal in the 50-meter snowshoe competition during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Joining Sambol at the medal stand is second-place finisher Maria Petrillo (left), of Chester County, and third-place athlete Adam Spiker, of Somerset County.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Berlin Brothersvalley High School students gather for a group photograph while volunteering at a snowshoe competition during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Zachary Duranko, of Cambria County, proudly displays his medals at the snowshoe competition during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Christa Mereen (right), representing Somerset County, gets a high-five from event volunteer Steve Szklany, of Pittsburgh, after competing in the 100-meter snowshoe race during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Korey Steinberg (center), of Northampton County, leads the pack in the 100-meter snowshoe race during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n John Forosisky (left), of Cambria County, celebrates his gold medal performance with Pennsylvania State Trooper Tristan Fay after 100-meter snowshoe race during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Abby Pritt, of Franklin County, competes in the 100-meter snowshoe race during the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County on Thursday, February 12, 2026.<\/p>\n kAmr2>3C:2 r@F?EJ 2E9=6E6 pD9=66 #282? 46=63C2E65 96C 3C@?K6 >652= \ud83d\ude15 2 D?@HD9@6:?8 6G6?E]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm\u201c%9:D \ud83d\ude00 >J 7:CDE J62C 5@:?8 D?@HD9@6[ 2?5 :E >62?D 2 =@E E@ >6[\u201d D96 D2:5] \u201cx H@C<65 >J 92C56DE[ 2?5 x\u2019> 8=25 E92E x 5:5 :E]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n kAm#282?[ H9@ 2=D@ C646:G65 EH@ 255:E:@?2= >652=D 2E E96 82>6D[ D2:5 :E 766=D 8C62E E@ 4@>A6E6]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm\u201cx 92G6 E@ AC24E:46 2 =@E[ 2?5 H6 AC24E:46 2E &!y WE96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 !:EED3FC89 2E y@9?DE@H?X[\u201d D96 D2:5] \u201cx A=2? E@ <66A 4@>A6E:?8 3642FD6 x =:<6 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 H:E9 >J E62>]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n kAmp52> $A:<6C[ 2 $@>6CD6E r@F?EJ 2E9=6E6[ H2D A2CE:4:A2E:?8 \ud83d\ude15 9:D 7:CDE (:?E6C v2>6D]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm\u201c|J E62>>2E6D 5:5 D?@HD9@6 2?5 x 564:565 E@ 8:G6 :E 2 ECJ[\u201d 96 D2:5 27E6C C646:G:?8 2 D:=G6C >652= \ud83d\ude15 2 D?@HD9@6 6G6?E] \u201cx =@G6 :E 2?5 36:?8 @? D?@HD9@6D]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n kAm$A:<6C D2:5 E96 82>6D 2C6 E9C:==:?8]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm\u201cx H2?E E@ <66A 5@:?8 E9:D[\u201d 96 D2:5] \u201cx =:<65 36:?8 H:E9 >J 7C:6?5D 2?5 >66E:?8 ?6H A6@A=6]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n kAm$@>6CD6E r@F?EJ 2E9=6E6 ‘2?6DD2 r2CC@==[ H9@ H2D 4@>A6E:?8 \ud83d\ude15 D?@HD9@6 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6[ 46=63C2E65 96C 8@=5 >652= H:?]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm\u201cx C62==J =:<6 E9:D 2?5 H2?E65 E@ 5@ :E 3642FD6 :E D@F?565 =:<6 2 =@E @7 7F?[\u201d D96 D2:5] \u201cx =62C?65 9@H DEC@?8 x 42? 36]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n kAmr2CC@== D2:5 >66E:?8 ?6H A6@A=6 92D 366? 96C 72G@C:E6 A2CE @7 E96 82>6D]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm\u201cx\u2019> 8@:?8 E@ <66A 5@:?8 E9:D 3642FD6 :E\u2019D 7F?[\u201d D96 D2:5]k^Am<\/p>\n kAmp?5C6H $2>3@= 92D 366? A2CE:4:A2E:?8 \ud83d\ude15 (:?E6C v2>6D 7@C >@C6 E92? a_ J62CD 2?5 92D C646:G65 >F=E:A=6 >652=D]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm\u201c%96C6\u2019D 42>2C256C:6 2?5 7C:6?5=J 4@>A6E:E:@?[\u201d E96 $@>6CD6E r@F?EJ 2E9=6E6 D2:5] \u201c*@F 36E x\u2019== 36 324< ?6IE J62C] x =@@< 7@CH2C5 E@ E9:D 6G6CJ J62C]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n kAmy@C52? D2:5 E96 9@A6 \ud83d\ude00 E92E 2E9=6E6D 925 2 8C62E 6IA6C:6?46 2E E96 82>6D]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm\u201cxE\u2019D 23@FE E62>H@C6E:>6D 7@C E9:?8D E@ 8@ H6==[ 3FE H96? E96J 5@?\u2019E 8@ H6==[ E96J 2C6 =62C?65 =6DD@?D E92E J@F 42? H@C< @? 7@C ?6IE J62C[\u201d D96 D2:5] \u201cxE\u2019D 2=D@ 23@FE >2<:?8 DFC6 E96C6\u2019D DA@CED>2?D9:A] %96C6\u2019D ?@ D@C6 =@D6CD 96C6j 6G6CJ3@5J \ud83d\ude00 2 H:??6C]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n Kelly Urban is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. She can be reached at\u00a0(814)\u00a0532-5073. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0@KellyUrban25<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n