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Suburban athletes to compete in Special Olympics Summer Games

Dozens of suburban athletes will be among the 4,100 competitors in the annual Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games this weekend at the campuses of Illinois State University in Normal and Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.

Competition in six sports - swimming, track and field, bocce ball, gymnastics, powerlifting, and soccer - begins at noon Friday and concludes by noon Sunday. The games run from noon to 6 p.m. Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 7:30 a.m. to noon Sunday. The entire event is open to the public.

Summer Games is the largest of the more than 175 Special Olympics competitions held statewide each year. To qualify, athletes had to earn gold medals in track and field at Area Spring Games and in district competition for gymnastics, bocce or aquatics, and participate in sanctioned competition or area qualifiers in soccer or powerlifting.

"This is our first year," said Diane Compton of Westmont, whose 10-year-old daughter, Erin, will be competing in rhythmic gymnastics.

Erin has been training with Elite Gymnastics in Downers Grove since November.

"I like the ribbons," she said, adding that her big sister, Megan, coaches her.

The soon-to-be fourth-grader at Manning Elementary in Westmont Unit District 201 also was named Miss Amazing Illinois Pre-Teen Queen and will be volunteering at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

"It's been really good for her," Compton said. "We've really enjoyed rhythmic gymnastics because it's provided a lot of quality movement experience. We've seen improvements in even her music. She plays piano. It's helped her get the concept of rhythm down. It's really a good opportunity and fun, too. Any time you can have a child see themselves as an athlete, (it) is a very good thing."

The Summer Games' Opening Ceremony begins at 8 p.m. Friday with the Parade of Athletes and Honorary Coaches into Illinois State University's Hancock Stadium. The Special Olympics flag will be brought into the stadium by Illinois athletes and coaches who will be participating in the Special Olympics World Games 2015 in Los Angeles from July 25 through Aug. 2.

Police officers representing 23 legs of the Law Enforcement Torch Run will enter the stadium with lighted torches and pass them to athletes from Team Illinois who will light the Flame of Hope, signifying the official opening of the Summer Games.

The torch run is Corey Paskvan's favorite part. The 28-year-old from Gurnee will be singing the national anthem during the ceremony, and said he is not nervous.

"It's fun," he said.

His life's goal is to sing the national anthem at a Chicago Cubs game, said his father, John Paskvan.

A graduate of Warren Township High School, Paskvan has participated in Special Olympics for 15 years, competing in a variety of sports. This weekend, he will be competing in backstroke and freestyle relay as part of the Warren Special Recreation Association team.

"It's been spectacular for him from a development standpoint," John Paskvan said. "The biggest thing is a gain in self-confidence, working as a team, and just plain having fun with it."

Returning to this year's games is the Unified bocce competition, with about 100 Special Olympics and non-Special Olympics athletes of similar age and ability competing on teams.

A Special Olympics Young Athletes event will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday at the U-High Practice Field. The program aims to meet the physical and developmental needs of children ages 2 to 7 with intellectual disabilities before they are eligible to participate in Special Olympics at age 8. Stations will be set up for running, jumping, striking, kicking, balancing, throwing, catching and an obstacle course. On Saturday, 6- and 7-year-olds will participate in the 50-meter run (10 a.m.), tennis ball throw (12:20 p.m.), and soccer skills (1 p.m.).

Stephen Katz, 30, of Arlington Heights, said he is looking forward to hanging out with his friends and coaches at the pizza party his Northwest Special Recreation Association team has each year at the end of the games.

Katz started with Special Olympics when he was 8. He has been competing for years and been to the state games numerous times. A Special Olympics Global Messenger, he will be competing in powerlifting.

"I do bench press and I do dead lifts. I lift 300 pounds," he said, adding that it makes him feel "healthy and strong."

Athletes will get a chance to celebrate and socialize with their peers and community members at the Victory Dance, which this year will be from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday in Uptown Normal.

"The Special Olympics are phenomenal for the kids, but they are just as important for the parents," John Paskvan said. "It gives us a chance to see our kids compete on equal footing, and it gives us a chance to network with other parents. When you go to the state games, you see the athletes' community, and you become the minority. And that's pretty moving, too."

For more information about the games, call (800) 394-0562 or visit soill.org.

Erin Compton, 10, of Westmont, will compete in rhythmic gymnastics this weekend during the Special Olympics Summer Games. Courtesy of Diane Compton
Stephen Katz, 30, of Arlington Heights, earned gold for bench pressing 155 pounds, and silver for a 285-pound dead lift at the Special Olympics District Meet in April at Maine East High School. He will be competing in powerlifting this weekend at the Special Olympics Summer Games. Courtesy of Laurel Katz
  The Jacobs High School team enters the stadium during the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics Area 13 Spring Games held in May at Lake Zurich High School. Gold medal winners from area games will be among the 4,100 competitors in the annual Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games this weekend at the Illinois State University campus in Normal and Illinois Wesleyan University campus in Bloomington. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
Corey Paskvan, 28, of Gurnee gives the double thumbs-up for his two gold medals for swimming in a previous state competition. He'll sing the national anthem and compete in the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games. COURTESY OF JOHN PASKVAN
Corey Paskvan, 28, of Gurnee, swims the backstroke in a recent regional qualifier for the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games. COURTESY OF JOHN PASKVAN
In a addition to swimming, Corey Paskvan of Gurnee also plays softball for the Free Spirits. He'll be competing in the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games. COURTESY OF JOHN PASKVAN
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