NSSRA Gator athletes win big at Special Olympics

Posted July 17, 2016 11:00 pm

Jessica Grene of Highland Park poses with her gold medal for the bocce singles competition at the Illinois Special Olympics' State Summer Games. Courtesy of NSSRA

Submitted by Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association

It was a surreal weekend for the 18 members of NSSRA's Gator Athletics teams at Illinois Special Olympics' annual State Summer Games June 10-12.

Despite the sweltering heat and humidity, the Gators walked away with a collective 12 gold, 14 silver and 10 bronze medals, one of their most successful showings at the state games to date. Twenty athletes qualified for the June games, 18 ended up competing, and 17 of the 18 athletes placed in one or more of their respective competitions.

The Gators competed in bocce, powerlifting, swimming, and track and field. In order to qualify each athlete was required to win first place at each sport's respective regional competition. The powerlifting team performed exceptionally well, earning 16 of NSSRA's total 36-medal count. The entire six-member team qualified this year to compete at the Summer Games.

Accompanied to the games by seven coaches, the team competed hard and cheered their teammates on even harder.

"The athletes spent very little time in the dorms relaxing," NSSRA Coach and Recreation Specialist Gigi Schiller said. "When they weren't competing they were on the sidelines cheering for another athlete. They showed an overwhelming amount of support for one another."

"The entire group of athletes really impressed us this weekend," NSSRA's Recreation Specialist for Athletics and Fitness Mark Schultz said. "Not only were they battling fierce competition at the state level, but they battled through some brutal temperatures. From cheering each other on to cooling a teammate off with a spray bottle, the camaraderie was amazing. The athletes really set the bar high this year coming home with 36 medals, but knowing all of their personalities they will be up for the challenge to top that number next year."

"During a medal ceremony, the Gator team stood by as one track team received their medals," Schiller concluded. "They started the Gator chomp arm motions and even got other teams around them participating. We have plenty of Gator pride here."

Bocce

• Jessica Grene of Highland Park, first place: bocce singles

• Christopher Shaw of Northfield, second place: bocce doubles; and third place: bocce singles

• Vickilynn Shaw of Highland Park, second place: bocce doubles

Powerlifting

• William Fisher of Highland Park, second place: dead lift; third place: bench press; and fifth place: combination bench and dead lift

• Randy Huffmaster of Highland Park, second place: combination bench and dead lift; second place: dead lift; and fifth place: bench press

• Miguel Lara of Highland Park, first place: combination squat, bench and dead lift; second place: squat; third place: bench press; and third place: dead lift.

• Kathleen Millar of Mundelein, first place: combination squat, bench and dead lift; first place: bench press; first place: dead lift; and first place: squat

• Bryan Parent of Wilmette, first place: combination squat, bench and dead lift; first place: bench press; first place: squat; and second place: dead lift

Swimming

• Alison Shapiro of Highland Park, fifth place: 25 meter backstroke

• Michael Young, Glenview, first place: 50 meter backstroke

Track & Field

• Samuel Green of Winnetka, first place: 3000 meter run and third place: 4x100 meter relay

• Michael Hull of Deerfield, third place: 4x100 meter relay and seventh place: 1500 meter run

• Thomas Jachtorowycz of Glenview, second place: 400 meter run; third place: running long jump; and third place: 4x100 meter relay

• Dianna Mann of Highwood, second place: 4x100 meter relay and fourth place: 50 meter run

• Sam Mitchell of Highland Park, second place: 4x100 meter relay and fifth place: 50 meter run

• Jackie Richardson of Highland Park, second place: 4x100 meter relay and third place: 100 meter run

• Pamela Smith-Bergsrud of Lake Bluff, first place: softball throw and second place: 4x100 meter relay

• Luke Toussaint of Glenview, second place: 50 meter run; second place: mini javelin; and third place: 4x100 meter relay

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Dianna Mann of Highwood runs in the 4x100 meter relay at the Illinois State Summer Games. Courtesy of NSSRA

Members of NSSRA's powerlifting team at the Illinois State Summer Games, from left: Kathleen Millar, Miguel Lara, William Fisher and Randy Huffmaster. Courtesy of NSSRA

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