Steven Krouskopf

Special Olympics Athlete of the Month: Steven Krouskopf received the award for his play in floor hockey.

Krouskopf, who works at the Vons in Montecito, has played several sports in his 10 years in Special Olympics, and floor hockey is his favorite, said Round Table board member Aaron Brown.

Krouskopf’s coach, Jaime Rutiaga, called the athlete “a class act out there. Floor hockey, as you know, can be a very aggressive sport,” he said.

A left winger, Krouskopf scored a hat trick at a tournament in Irvine and helped Santa Barbara capture the gold medal at a second Irvine tournament.

Matthew McPeters

Matthew McPeters was awarded as Special Olympics’ Athlete of the Month.

McPeters, who went to Santa Barbara High and works at UCSB, sparked a late-inning rally for his softball team with a hit to help them come back from a 4-2 deficit to win the game.

McPeters – a Special Oympics athlete for five years – also competes in floor hockey and bowling.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is the Special Olympics Athlete of the Month. Johnson’s favorite sports are basketball and bowling. His high score is 150 and his coach Amanda named him the captain of the team. The Wisconsin native was sporting a Bulls tie and thanked the crowd after receiving the award.

Dave Sampson, left, and award presenter Aaron Brown, right.

Dave Sampson was honored as the Special Olympics Athlete of the Month. Sampson was recognized for his play on the soccer field. He plays for Santa Barbara United, which he helped earn the bronze medal at the recent North County Special Olympics Games in Santa Maria.

“You should seem him fly,” soccer coach Brian Goodell said of Sampson, who is a multi-sport athlete for Special Olympics. “We’re very lucky to have him.”

Ted Randolph

Ted Rudolph was named the Special Olympics Athlete of the Month on Monday at Harry’s. Rudolph bowls, plays softball and basketball, but his favorite sport is tennis.

Sue McCue, coach of the local tennis team, the Acers, said Rudolph has played for many seasons. “He’s a very good tennis player and very knowledgable about the game. CathyAnn Simon (executive director of the Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons) said he’s truly an inspirational athlete.”

Debra Day

SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE OF THE MONTH: Debra Day was honored as the Special Olympics Athlete of the Month. Day has been involved in Special Olympics for 20 years and has competed in 11 different sports in that time. Her main sport is bocce ball. She is a player and coach for the Bocce Belles, and the team recently won a gold medal at a tournament in Santa Clarita.

Sue McCue, Debra’s coach, noted her devotion to the sport.

“She’s rock solid, dedicated and takes the role as athlete and bocce coach very seriously,” said McCue.

Rachel MacKenzie, right, with coach Leah Simpson

Special Olympics Athlete of the Month: Swimmer Rachel MacKenzie won three gold medals and a bronze at a recent swim meet in Ventura.

“She always has a smile on her face,” coach Leah Simpson said of MacKenzie. “She’s very positive. She has one of the most positive attitudes on the team.”

Brontsema got a lift from MacKenzie’s smile.

“Her smile is beautiful and infectious,” he said. “To come in to see that beautiful smile, helps me through the day a bit.”

Special Olympics Athlete of the Month: Jeanette Payne

Special Olympics Athlete of the Month: Jeanette Payne is a standout performer in track and field and softball.

Payne works at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, sorting the mail for all the branches.

She’s medaled in the softball throw and the walk race at the Summer Special Olympics Track and Field meet in Long Beach.

Aaron Brown, the sponsor for the Special Olympics Athlete of the Month award, announced that the Special Olympics basketball tournament will take place Sunday at UCSB’s Thunderdome at 9:30 a.m.

Tim Jones

A coach at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table luncheon said that Special Olympian Tim Jones “can flat out play” basketball. It wasn’t a Special Olympics coach, but rather UCSB men’s assistant coach Dave Campbell.

“I’ve seen this guy play at our camps over the years… In fact, Timmy, if you want to suit up this weekend we might be able to use you on the Gauchos,” joked Campbell.

Jones, a point guard, averaged 15 points per game last season as his team, coached by award sponsor Aaron Brown, went 12-1 with two gold medals and a silver medal. He also averaged eight rebounds and nine assists per game, being involved in basically every point his team, which competes at the top level.

“Timmy’s one of the top athletes in all of Special Olympics,” said Brown. “He has a love for basketball, and it shows on the court.”

Lauren Lee Wingate

SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE OF THE MONTH: Lauren Lee Wingate’s beaming smile lit up the room, and is one of the reasons why she’s such a respected and well-liked Special Olympian.

She participates in floor hockey, basketball, track and field, tennis and soccer, and she also works at the Ralph’s downtown. In a recent floor hockey match in San Diego, she recorded six goals.

“She was amazing on the left side and we really appreciate all of her hard work,” said her coach, Jaime.