Going the distance in Lake Wononscopomuc

LAKEVILLE — About 40 students swam across Lake Wononscopomuc from the beach at The Hotchkiss School to the beach at the town Grove and back again on Saturday, Sept. 9, as a fundraiser for Special Olympics Connecticut.

Keith Moon, who teaches English, history and Russian and is the head swim coach, said it was about one mile each way. The swimmers took a break after the first leg, and a couple of boats trailed after the swimmers in case anyone needed assistance.

Senior Quisha Lee, from Hong Kong, is the head of the Special Olympics Club at the school. She said the students solicit sponsors and try to raise $250 each from the swim.

Lee was also behind two photography exhibitions one at The Hotchkiss School in April 2023 and one at the  Peak Galleria Mall in Hong Kong in July 2023 (see www.soaringsouls.net). The two exhibitions were also fundraisers for Special Olympics Connecticut, Special Olympics Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Paralympic Committee.

Mike Mason, the president and CEO of Special Olympics Connecticut, thanked the students for their efforts.

Moon ran over safety basics, emphasizing that anyone who needed to could get in one of the boats.

“Remember, there’s nothing in the lake that can bite you.”

The group posed for a photo and then plunged in.

Participating swimmers lined up on the beach. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan