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Area teens, young adults take part in memorial swim meet

WARREN — Kelly Jo Carlson excelled as a swimmer at Warren Western Reserve High School and also helped others as a supporter and volunteer for Special Olympic swimmers.

Following her death at age 33 in 2004, her parents,  Paul and Lois Carlson, family and friends decided to carry on her memory by holding a memorial swim meet each fall.

The 13th annual event was held recently at Warren G. Harding High School natatorium.

Paul Carlson said this year’s three-hour event featured 125 swimmers from five counties: Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Kent and Ashtabula, including many swimmers from Fairhaven School in Niles.

The meet was staffed by members of the Carlson family and classmates and friends of Carlson.

“They love being here. They don’t care where they end up  in the swim races. They are thrilled to death to be part of this event,” said Lois Carlson.

The first memorial event was held at Youngstown State University then  moved to Harding High School.

Lois Carlson said Steve Lucko, who heads the swim program at Harding, was a swimmer with Carlson’s two daughters, Kelly Jo and Kristen Matthus, when they were all at Warren Western Reserve.

“Steve was very instrumental in getting all of this done so we could hold the meet here,” she said.

The Carlsons said many new swimmers are taking part and many of Kelly Jo’s friends from elementary, high school and college took part.

”The same friends came back each year to help,” Paul Carlson said.

“That is why it runs so smoothly because they all know what to do,” Lois Carlson said.

Nora Jones of Warren said her son, Marcus Wilson,  a client at Fairhaven Workshop in Niles, took part in the event.

She said she encourages her son to participate in the event.

”Once he gets here he is fine and enjoys taking part,” Jones said.

Bo Greene and Angela Verostko, swim coaches at Fairhaven School, said 27 participants took part at the event.

Greene said a team has been at the event for 13 years.

”They work hard all year and look forward to swimming at the event,” he said

Verostko said the swimmers enjoy seeing other swimmers from other counties.

”It’s a fun day for them,” she said.

Paul Carlson said the event is a qualifying meet for Special Olympics with the state meet to be held in Columbus.

He said his daughter would be proud of all that is done for the program.

Kelly Jo Carlson helped with the swimming program at Fairhaven School in Niles.

Paul Carlson said the meet allows special-needs adults the opportunity to show their swimming skills, to compete and to receive honors.

“This showcases their skills and abilities as swimmers,” he said.

Swimmers range in age and disability, but all have fun being able to swim and compete, he said.

Kelly Carlson went on to graduate from Kent State University and was in the process of completing her master’s degree in business administration at Webster University in San Diego when she died.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com