Skills, emotions high at Special Olympics

There were cheers, smiles and even a few tears during the annual Special Olympics Spring Games held Sunday in Naperville.

The daylong event brought more than 600 athletes from the West and South suburbs to the campus of North Central College for a sunshine-filled day of competition in a variety of track & field and power lifting events. Special Olympics provides opportunities for young people with developmental disabilities to enjoy, and succeed in, athletic activities.

The day got started with an opening ceremony that included the parade of athletes and a torch run featuring area law enforcement personnel. It didn’t take long for emotions to run high inside North Central’s Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

“This always makes me cry,” said Stella Washington of Evergreen Park, whose grandson competed in several track events at the games. “It’s such a great thing for all those kids.”

The athletes competed in a number of running events, includes races of 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,500 and 3,000 meters. Athletes also demonstrated their skills in the long jump, shot put, tennis-ball throw and softball throw, as well as power lifting.

Katie Hamann, coach of the Spring Games team fielded by Lake Park High School in Roselle, said the games and Special Olympics events like it improve athletes’ self-esteem and help connect them with other classmates.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “These kinds of events really bring out the best in everyone.”

She pointed to her team members, who were dancing together in the bleachers as they waited for the races to start.

“You can see how happy this makes the kids,” Hamann said.

Joseph Matz, one of Lake Park’s athletes, said he enjoys the challenge of preparing for a race and then competing in it.

“It feels good when you do a good job,” he said.

Angelica Haut, another Lake Park athlete, said she loved the social aspect of the games.

“I get to be with all my friends,” she said.

As the events began Sunday, cheers could be heard throughout the competition area. Cayla Sherman of Aurora was particularly happy after winning first prize in a softball throw event. She smiled brightly as she received her medal.

“I felt so happy!” she said.

“It really builds confidence,” said Cayla’s mother, Cheryl Sherman. “These events give her the chance to do things she might not get to do otherwise.”

Sandy Lowder, coach of the team from Hope D. Wall School in Aurora, agreed. Wall serves students with special needs from Aurora school districts 129 and 131.

“I’m such a believer in what Special Olympics does,” Lowder said. “You look out here and see all the positive reinforcement these kids are getting. You see how their families cheer them on. And these events have real physical benefits, too. It’s a wonderful, wonderful program.”

Gold-medal winners in Sunday’s games are eligible to advance to the Special Olympics Illinois State Summer Games, which will be held June 10-12 at Illinois State University. The Summer Games are expected to attract more than 3,500 athletes from around the state.