District 15's Special Olympics team wins gold at State

Posted April 27, 2015 11:00 pm

Submitted by District 15

The Blue Jays, District 15's Special Olympics team, brought the gold medal home from the Special Olympics Illinois' State Basketball Tournament, which was held March 13-14 at Illinois State University in Bloomington.

Members of the team are:

•Brian Caro, grade seven, Carl Sandburg Junior High

•Tyler Connelly, grade eight, Winston Campus Junior High

•Ashley Costigan, grade eight, Plum Grove Junior High

•Lucas Cross, grade four, Thomas Jefferson School

•Faith Di Paolo, grade three, Stuart R. Paddock School

•Zach Fuller, grade seven, Winston Campus Junior High

•Kurt Kasanders, grade five, at Winston Campus Elementary

•Emmett Maude, grade five, Winston Campus Elementary

•Dylan Raess, grade five, Willow Bend School

•Haley Scott, grade seven, Plum Grove Junior High

•Jackson Tallian, grade five, Winston Campus Junior High

Additionally, in the tournament's individual skills competition, Noor Gewargis, a sixth-grader at Marion Jordan School, won a gold medal; Abigail Lopez, a fourth-grader at Frank C. Whiteley School, won a silver medal and Henry Shaw, a fifth-grader at Winston Campus Elementary, won fourth place.

The Blue Jays are coached by Terri Storino, Linda Gilles-Zirbes, and Karen Winberg.

District 15's Special Olympics team, the Blue Jays, competes in eight sports throughout the year; bowling, basketball, cheerleading, soccer, softball, snowshoeing, swimming and track and field. The team is comprised of District 15 students with intellectual disabilities, cognitive delays, and/or significant learning or vocational problems. It offers them a chance to be part of a team through an extracurricular program designed specifically for them. By participating, students learn how to make friends and play with others, and they gain a better sense of self while developing social and self-help skills.

For more information, visit ccsd15.net or contact Terri Storino, coach of the District 15 Special Olympics team, at storinot@ccsd15.net or by calling Marion Jordan School at (847) 963-5564.

• Submit 'Your News' at www.dailyherald.com/share.

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.