CLAY COUNTY – About 30 athletes represented Clay County at the Florida State Special Olympic Games at Lake Buena Vista last weekend, and several came home with gold, silver and bronze medals.

The effort, spearheaded by Clay County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Zach Cox, was a prelude to the USA Games, which also will be staged at Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports complex, next month.

“We had 30 Clay County athletes participate, which the funds from the torch run and Tip-A-Cop that we did at Texas Roadhouse. Those funds help send those athletes down to Orlando, you know, because some, some athletes can't, you know, can't afford to go down. What weather you know, whatever the case may be, where they just can't afford it or medical bills, you know, so on and so forth. There's a bunch of different scenarios.”

The county’s volleyball team won a gold medal, while Shannon Soultanian won golds in individual and unified bocce doubles.

Alex Fuller won two silvers in athletics, while A.J. Jones won a bronze in athletics.

Also, Brandon Quinlog turned in a silver-medal effort in bocce.