Five Special Olympians from the Boothbay area placed in 13 events and brought home 11 medals, including a gold, at the 2014 USA games held in Princeton, N.J., June 14-21.

Basketball players Brenda LeConte and Ronda LeConte won bronze medals with their team, ending in third place out of 15 teams.

Thomas Wilcox won silver medals in three swimming events: 100 freestyle, 100 back, and relay. Donny Dunning also swam and won a gold medal in 50 freestyle, a bronze for the 25 backstroke, and two silvers for both the 50 backstroke and relay. Joey Ranco won a silver medal in relay, a bronze in the 100 freestyle, came in fifthin the 200 backstroke and sixthin breaststroke.

“The boys flew with me on the Cessna jet, which the company donates to fly in athletes from all over the country,” said coach Toby LeConte. “The girls came down on the bus with the other basketball players.”

During the evening, the athletes toured the area. They went on a harbor tour, saw the Statue of Liberty and the Freedom Tower, and the New Jersey 9/11 memorial. They visited a campus carnival which, despite being small, LeConte said was probably the most exciting event for the athletes.

“The four days had unreal heat,” LeConte said, “95 degrees and 100 percent humidity, I thought I was going to melt. But it was all worth it, they had a good time.”

During the closing ceremonies, with LeConte describes as “a big party,” pin and T-shirt trades were all over the place. LeConte traded for a Texas 2014 USA games shirt, while the boys tried to get the Maryland shirt.

“It was black and considered the 'coolest' shirt,” LeConte said. “Everyone wanted that one.”