Ocean and Monmouth Counties Send Six Athletes to the 2016 Olympics in Rio
The Jersey Shore will be represented at this year's Olympic games in Rio. Six athletes from Monmouth and Ocean County's will be participating this year's games. Here's a complete list of the athletes (and the events they'll be participating in) so you can cheer them on as they battle for Team USA in Rio:
Monica Aksamit
Hometown: Matawan, NJSport: Fencing
Aksamit, who is ranked fifth in the United States in fencing, was born in New York. She is currently a resident of Matawan, NJ. This is her first Olympic team. She is attending this year's games as a replacement athlete. You can follow Monica on Twitter to see the games through her eyes.
Robby Andrews
Hometown: Old Bridge, NJSport: Track and Field
Andrews, who is 25 years old, is a native of Manalapan Township. This will be his first Olympic games after placing fourth in the World Track & Field Championship earlier this year. He will compete in the men's 1500m on Tuesday (August 16). Robby recently spoke to the Asbury Park Press after making the team, and he said: "I couldn’t be happier or prouder. All the hard work, all those miles, all those tough days, they've all been worth it." He has been tweeting from Rio, and you can follow along with him here.
Robert Griswold
Hometown: Manalapan, N.J.Sport: U.S. Paralympic men's swimming team
Griswold, who has cerebral palsy, is a 2015 graduate from Freehold Township High School. Griswold actually got his start in swimming at the Ocean County YMCA when he was 6. He is currently majoring in Political Science at Carson-Newman University. Follow Robert on Twitter here. The Rio 2016 Paralymics get underway in September.
Connor Jaeger
Hometown: Fair Haven, NJSport: Swimming
Jaeger, a 2010 graduate from Rumson-Fair Haven high school, will be appearing in his second Olympic games. Connor came in 6th place in 1500m freestyle in 2012's games. You can see Connor on NBC's primetime Olympic coverage tonight (Saturday, August 6) in the mens 400m freestyle. Follow Connor on Twitter to cheer him on in Rio.
Frank Molinaro
Hometown: BarnegatSport: Wrestling
The 27-year-old was a three-time state wrestling champ when he attended Southern Regional High School. He went on to Penn State where he captured an NCAA Championship in 2012 with an undefeated season record of 33-0. He'll compete in the Mens freestyle 65 kg on Sunday (August 21). During the opening ceremony on Friday he tweeted: "Opening ceremonies was an amazing & humbling experience!! Could not have made it without God's strength & a rock solid fam." You can follow Frank on Twitter here.
Ajee Wilson
Hometown: Neptune, NJSport: Track and Field
Wilson, who is 22 years old, will be competing in the Women's 800m on Wednesday (August 17). She was a track start at Neptune High School, and she is now a senior at Temple University. After qualifying the olympic team, she told the Asbury Park Press that her dreams had come true. “I’ve been thinking of this moment for a long, long time. At last it’s really happened. Wow, finally," she shared with the APP. You can follow her on Twitter here.