Thirty-nine Dodger athletes competed in the Special Olympics Area Basketball event at Butler Elementary on Feb. 14. Twenty-six of the athletes earned first place and will move on to the state competition March 13-14 in Iowa City.

Students finishing in first place included Lilly Walters, Marlene Sassman, Karmen Holmes, Emmersyn Newsome-Preston, Mason Doughty, Landen Stanley, James Williams, Carter Petersen, Courtney Jo Hardman, Mackenzie Derrig, Sydney Derrig, Madisen Hansen, Jayden Stanley, Quentin Derrig, Seth Gardner, Alfredo Sandoval, Lakota Akin, Jonathan Zigrang, Payton Wuebker-Brookshire, Damian Hanrahan, Chancellor Shivers, Tyler Petersen, Ivan Rubio, Nolan Slininger, Quentin Berube and Kaleb Hammersland.

Students finishing in second place included Jasmine Hardman, Ty Stephens, Jacob Straw, Taytum Lind, Shiloh Halbur, Caleb Sitterle and Tanner Hammersland.

Students finishing in third place included Dylan Lincoln, Christopher Holmes, Heath Newburn and Steven Summers.

Additional participants for the Dodgers were Dalton Coppinger (fourth place) and Ben Touney.

“Our students did a tremendous job,” said Liz Rusher, Fort Dodge Community Schools Special Olympics coordinator. “I love that our athletes love the Special Olympics, have fun competing and achieve success. It was truly a wonderful day for all involved and those who qualified for state can look forward to another exciting experience.”