State Games open with solid warmup weekend
By By Jeff Byrd / sports editor
June 11, 2003
The State Games of Mississippi had a successful opening week with five events handing out medals.
The State Games Director April Luke said the weekend was a good warm-up for next week's official start which will see 10 sports get underway. The opening ceremonies are scheduled for June 20 at Meridian High's Ray Stadium.
The five events getting early jumps were biathlon, fencing, mule and donkey, martial arts and sailing.
Despite some low numbers in biathlon and martial arts, Luke said the weather had an effect on biathlon, but overall the numbers were in line with previous games.
Martial Arts again had five entries, despite a name change, that was hoped would bring a wider range of martial art enthusiasts to Meridian.
Fencing, which had been one of the last events to finish last year, was moved to this past weekend. The number of entries were good and the fencers enjoyed two days of competition at Bonita Lakes Mall.
Mule and Donkey had 32 events. At least two of its events had as many as seven exhibitors.
Sailing was again tough over a two-day stretch at Okatibbee Lake, but four boats competed in the cruiser class and two in the open, center-board.
Petal's Leo Potvin made his 12th straight appearance in the State Games and came away with a gold medal by winning the cruiser class.