Olympians Take the Spotlight in Simi Valley

SIMI VALLEY — With a Boy Scout color guard leading the way and the combined power of two school bands blasting a processional march, three of Simi Valley’s four Olympic athletes strode into the courtyard outside City Hall on Monday to receive the congratulations of hundreds of their neighbors.

Olympians Nick Butcher, Justin Huish and Jeff Weaver were honored by city officials and more than 200 cheering, screaming residents at a ceremony late Monday afternoon. Olympic field hockey player Tom Vano was not able to attend the ceremony.

“We are very excited about these representatives of Simi Valley who went to Atlanta,” said Huish, 21, who won two gold medals in archery, appeared dressed in his trademark baseball cap and shades and led the other two Olympians as they marched to a podium set up between City Hall and the Simi Valley Library. The crowd’s applause escalated into roars and continued well after the combined Royal High and Simi Valley High band finished playing and the athletes, joined by their families, sat down.

Stratton then read a proclamation from the City Council declaring Aug. 20-26 “Olympian Week” in Simi Valley.

After Stratton’s announcement, representatives of Simi Valley’s state and federal legislators lined up to pile compliments and proclamations on the athletes, and to present them with flags that have flown over the U.S. Capitol, framed newspaper articles recounting their exploits and certificates from the state Senate and Assembly.

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In addition to Huish’s two golds, the Simi athletes brought home one additional medal--a bronze in baseball snagged by Jeff Weaver. The men’s field hockey team on which Butcher and Vano played finished in 12th place.

The athletes accepted the accolades without speeches, but stayed in the courtyard afterward to autograph the scraps of paper and event programs thrust their way. One man--who waded patiently through the sea of fans gathered to see Huish--even brought a paper archery target.

“We told them they had to stick around for at least three more hours,” Stratton joked.