By: Sean Moylan
Columbus’ Jonathan Lunetta is not your average Special Olympics athlete.
He cracks jokes that are funnier than most professional comedians. Every time he competes in the aquatics events at Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games at The College of New Jersey, he brings along a rooting section that’s larger than that of some rock stars. But he’s also a very good athlete who usually goes home with more than one medal.
By early Saturday afternoon, Lunetta, a 14-year-old, had already won a gold medal in the 25 meter freestyle and he was working on a second medal in the 25 meter breaststroke. He was also scheduled to compete in the 4×25 meter freestyle relay.
"We have at least 20 family members and friends to see him this year," smiled Jonathan’s mother Kathy Lunetta. "They’re very loud."
This is a special year for Lunetta because he is graduating the 8th grade at the Burlington County Special Services School he attends and he’s looking forward to helping out with the decorations. He’s also branching out and starting to try new swimming events. His swim teacher, Debbie Atkinson, helped in large part to make him the excellent swimmer he already is.
The Burlington County Special Services swimmers have had some of the best looking swimming apparel for years, but now they’re going to look sharper than ever with the latest additions to their wardrobes.
"She (Coach Atkinson) got the whole team jackets," said Kathy Lunetta, who is very appreciative of all the work Atkinson does for the team.
22-year-old Alaina Giancola, who also resides in Columbus, is back with the team and she medalled in the 25 meter freestyle and the 50 meter freestyle on Saturday. She too was scheduled to compete in a 4×25 meter relay race.
"Alaina Giancola is swimming very well," added Atkinson, whose athletes had to qualify for their events at last week’s Summer Games. "Her races were very good."
Bordentown’s Colin Sked, a 23-year-old who swims for the Mercer Red Cross Swimmers, was scheduled to have competed in the 4×50 meter freestyle relay, the 4×50 meter medley relay, the 50 meter freestyle and the 50 meter backstroke.
Meanwhile, in the track and field events, Florence’s Bernadette Moran, a 14-year-old, was scheduled to have competed in the 50 meter dash and the softball throw. But those are just a few of several local athletes who competed at Special Olympics Summer Games this year.
When the heavy rains came hours after last Friday night’s Opening Ceremonies, the lights went out for a short while at The College of New Jersey. But Jonathan Lunetta never panicked or got scared. He’s a very brave man who does well in pressure situations and he’s a hero in the Lunetta family.

