Ferges Overcomes Fear and Opponents

The top finishers in all the events at the Special Olympics Summer Games were given medals. According to Betsy Ferges, she was given something a lot more valuable.

Betsy Ferges got to watch her daughter, Amy, compete in swimming events at The College of New Jersey on Saturday and Sunday. Amy Ferges competed in the 100 freestyle, 50 freestyle and 4x25 free relay.

On Saturday afternoon, the Warren residents were all smiles as they waited for Amy to get a medal.

"It's a wonderful experience to watch her compete and be so happy," Betsy Ferges said. "It's rewarding to the whole family."

That family has been expanded to include all the members of the Somerset Stingrays, Amy's swim team.

"They can't wait for the other athletes to come in so they can share the joy of the medals with their teammates," said Carol Croll, the head coach of the Somerset Stingrays.

"This is really rewarding for everyone. These athletes give their all. They keep improving. Because of the kind of people they are, I don't have trouble keeping volunteers. Volunteers start and they don't want to leave."

Instead, they become part of the family.

The Special Olympics Summer Games was the competitive end of this season. It was an event that included over 2,300 athletes and thousands of more volunteers and spectators. As part of the event, the athletes moved into the housing facilities at The College of New Jersey for the weekend.

The members of the Stingrays got to spend a lot of time together before saying their goodbyes. Practices resume in late November.

"She (Amy) gets to be independent," Betsy Ferges said. "She goes away for the weekend. She's so happy."

While Amy, 33, also bowls, it's quite remarkable that the sport she has come to excel in is swimming.

"Amy came to us in her 20s," Croll said. "She had a bad experience and was petrified of the water."

She started swimming at Special Olympics five years ago.

"She went from someone that was afraid to put her toe in the water to someone who swims 100 meters and now helps other swimmers," Croll said.

Ferges not only swims 100 meters, she does it fast.

"I won two gold medals," Amy said. "I like going to Special Olympics. I like seeing my friends."

They also like seeing her.

"I couldn't be prouder of all my athletes," noted Anita Licata, the assistant coach of the Stingrays.

According to Licata and Croll, they are touched and inspired by the members of the team.

"No one complains," Croll noted. "A lot of smiles. Special Olympics can really change someone's life. Amy had a phenomenal and wonderful change as a person. She went from someone that afraid of the water to a gold medal swimmer."