Former Central Regional Snowshoers Place In New Jersey Special Olympics

Three gold medals and one silver.

Not bad for a team of two.

Central Regional's "Soaring Eagles" snowshoe team scored big at the recent New Jersey Special Olympics Winter Games held at Mountain Creek Sussex County in January.

And it wasn't your normal race. They did it on snowshoes.

Snowshoeing is quickly becoming a favorite for outdoor winter activity. Basically, it's racing over snow in snowshoes. And it's not easy.

"Combining aerobic activity with ease of walking over snow without sinking in, snowshoeing is an activity for all ages," according to the New Jersey Special Olympics website. Snowshoe races are part of the Arctic Winter Games and the winter Special Olympics."

The team members are Breigha Kubiel and Gianna Kruzsnis, both 21, said coach Jessica Cline Kubiel.

The two were on the Central Regional team before they graduated. But when they "aged" out of school, Kubiel was there to pick up the slack as the coach.

"I made a decision to start up my own team," Kubiel said. "It's one of the best things I've ever done."

Breigha and Gianna placed in "area 6'' section of the New Jersey Special Olympics, which includes both Ocean and Monmouth counties.

And for anyone who thinks snowshoeing is easy, think again. Breigha and Gianna train on the beach in Ocean Gate, doing 100-meter and 50-meter sprints. The sand is tougher to navigate in snowshoes than if they were racing in snow, she said.

Kubiel plans to help train the two to prepare for the summer Special Olympics. She's hoping that there will be more additions to the team in the future.

Lori Deaver's daughter Jade has also been a big help. She was involved in helping special education students at Central and is now helping to train "The Soaring Eagles."

Photo: Courtesy of Lori Deaver