Craig Howell ON THE BIG STAGE – Local Special Olympians Kay Ferrari and Matteo Filipelli will be representing West Virginia at the upcoming Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Pictured, from left, during a send-off celebration held Sunday in Wellsburg are Kathy Ferrari, Kay Ferrari, Matteo Filipelli and Coach David Hull.

WELLSBURG – Two local athletes are preparing to travel to Minnesota for a national competition.

Kay Ferrari and Matteo Filipelli will soon be heading to Minneapolis and St. Paul to take part in the Special Olympics USA, representing West Virginia in the national games set for June 18 to 26.

“They both had to qualify at the state level,” explained Carla Lada-Hull, Matteo’s mother, during a send-off celebration held Sunday at the Wellsburg Moose Lodge.

The games are set to begin June 20, bringing together 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and 75,000 fans from all 50 states, according to the Special Olympics USA Games official website. Venues will include the campus of the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn.

For Ferrari, the competition will be a return to the national stage. She previously competed during the 1999 games in Raleigh, N.C., taking part in the 100 and 400 track and field events and bringing home multiple silver medals.

“I’m very excited to go for my second time,” she said.

This time around, Ferrari will compete in bocce, while Filipelli will compete in cornhole.

Dave Hull, one of the coaches for the team, explained Filipelli will be part of history in this year’s national competition.

“It’s the first time they’ve had cornhole at nationals,” he noted, explaining Filipelli will be one of four athletes from West Virginia competing in the sport.

Filipelli also indicated he is excited to compete.

In addition to bocce and cornhole, competitions during the games will include track and field events, basketball, bowling, competitive cheer, flag football, golf, gymnastics, pickleball, powerlifting, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball.

The competition comes at no cost for the athletes, as their flights, uniforms, food, and other necessities are paid for through the national organization and contributions from the community.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)