District 15's Special Olympics team wins gold at state basketball tournament
The Blue Jays, District 15's Special Olympics team, brought home the gold medal from the Special Olympics Illinois' State Basketball Tournament.
The team qualified for the state tournament by winning the silver medal in Special Olympics Illinois' District C Junior Basketball Tournament held Jan. 9, at Unity Junior High in Cicero. The Blue Jays then won the Junior Division II gold medal at the state tournament, which was held March 11-13 at Illinois State University in Bloomington, by beating Rushville in their opening round matchup and Belvidere in the finals.
Members of the team are:
• Dylan R., grade 6, Carl Sandburg Junior High
• Zach F., grade 8, Winston Campus Junior High
• Lucas C., grade 5, Thomas Jefferson School
• Jackson T., grade 6, Winston Campus Elementary
• Faith D., grade 4, Stuart R. Paddock School
• Juan R., grade 8, Carl Sandburg Junior High
• Brian C., grade 8, Carl Sandburg Junior High
• Armand S., grade 4, Thomas Jefferson School
• Jon C., grade 8, Winston Campus Junior High
• Emmett M., grade 6, Winston Campus Elementary
• Aidan M., grade 4, Thomas Jefferson School
• Keoni M., grade 2, Marion Jordan School
Additionally, in the basketball individual skills competition held at the area tournament in December, Sierra H., a fifth-grader at Lincoln School, won a silver medal, and Abby L., a fifth-grader at Frank C. Whiteley School, won a bronze medal.
The Blue Jays are coached by Linda Gilles-Zirbes, Amanda Carlstrom, Cindy Freisen and Terri Storino.
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