Fun, in its purest sense

Some Elgin Area School District U-46 athletes have been pulling double duty lately.

This is the time of year when the district's Special Olympics athletic program begins practice for the upcoming soccer and track and field seasons.

However, track and field practice has a little company in the form of extended basketball practice after two U-46 Blue Stars teams qualified for the state Special Olympics basketball championships.

Both Blue Stars teams, who won gold medals at the regional competition at Bartlett High School in late January, will compete in Normal on Saturday, March 15. The night before, the athletes will be part of a special exhibition at the IHSA Class 3/4A boys basketball state finals at Carver Arena in Peoria.

"We've got representatives from all five high schools," said assistant coach Sarah Mooberry, a 1995 Elgin High School graduate who is now a physical therapist for the district.

"We had so many kids interested that we didn't want any kids sitting on the bench so we did two high school teams and they qualified in two different divisions (Divisions 2 and 3--there are 5 levels total). "This is big for these kids. Everybody has an opportunity for physical fitness. Our program is geared toward participation by everybody. We're not necessarily win-driven."

Mooberry's high school classmate and the program's head coach Melissa Pedrigi (who Mooberry lauds as "the backbone of our team'), now a special education teacher in the district at Wayne Elementary School, played a major role in the Special Olympics program starting in the district.

"It was started seven years ago," said Pedrigi. "I was working on it as one of my Master's internship programs. The Special Olympics contacted the school district and wanted to do something with the district. I took the lead on it and seven years later here we are."

Pedrigi said U-46 has over 200 athletes from schools throughout the district participate in the program each year. Special Olympics participants are classified as individuals with cognitive disabilities. Mooberry said athletes in the program have disabilities such as autism, Down's syndrome, mental impairment, cerebral palsy and spina bifida.

"Our program can accommodate anybody," said Mooberry, who noted the basketball program also has district elementary and middle school teams.

A total of 5 sports are offered (8-week seasons), including basketball, track and field, bowling and soccer. A special motor activities day is also available for athletes with more severe disabilities where different sports stations are set up. Wheelchair activities are also offered.

Four U-46 bowlers qualified for the Special Olympics state finals in December but that meet was canceled due to inclement weather.

Pedrigi feels the program has a more significant importance than simply the sports themselves.

"It's inspiring. The athletes are learning the rules of the game and playing. They like the competition," said Pedrigi. "But it's a great social place where they can hang out with their friends and can be teenagers in a place where they can connect."

"It's fun to see their personalities shine," said Mooberry. "They are out there having a great time. I enjoy seeing students in social settings like this. It makes for a lot of fun afternoons."

Pedrigi never sees a sad face during practices.

"They come in after a hard day at school and they come in energized and ready to practice," said Pedrigi. "They are always asking when the next game is. They motivate each other as a team and pick each other up when they are down. They are always giving each other high-fives."

Streamwood junior Kevin Helmer has been in the program since it started 7 years ago.

"Playing after school is the best part," said Helmer, an athletic fixture at Streamwood where he is also the manager for the varsity boys basketball and baseball teams.

Special Olympic basketball players must adhere to standard sport rules, something Helmer is well aware of.

"It's hard not fouling the other players," said Helmer, an Elgin resident, whose favorite basketball teams are the Chicago Bulls and Northwestern University.

Freshman Angelica Sanchez is also mindful of the rules when attempting to block shots.

"Blocking people without pushing," said Sanchez when asked what the hardest part of the game is.

Sanchez, another Chicago Bulls fan, also sees a prime benefit in the minutes prior to practice starting after school.

"We enjoy eating a snack after school," said Sanchez.

Streamwood High School special education teacher Kimberly Hawley is impressed with how the athletes come from all of the different district high schools and excel as a unit.

"It's amazing to see them all come together as a team," said Hawley.

Both Pedrigi and Mooberry stress the Special Olympics program would not be able to thrive without the assistance of the coaches and parents. Basketball practices are held at old Elgin High School. Mooberry said parents are responsible for getting the athletes to the central practice locations, except soccer -- where a district bus drops the athletes off at the practice site.

"We have great support from the parents," said Mooberry. "We could not function without our parents. It's not like the regular conference where you go to games at Elgin or Larkin. Our conference covers a much greater area in places like Naperville and Crystal Lake."

"I love these kids and I love these families," said Pedrigi, who laid major praise on assistant coaches Debbie Choutka and Sandy Mann for their contributions. "There are a lot of coaches and a lot of volunteers who help out. We couldn't do it without them."

One of Mooberry's greatest thrills is seeing athletes advance through the program.

"Our program serves a large age span of 8 to 21," said Mooberry, a former badminton player at Elgin. "You see them when they start and you watch them compete in high school and the growth and achievement is amazing. They are incorporating all of their goals they are working toward in school and are using those tools competitively."

And this program will continue to benefit the U-46 athletes for years to come.

"Special Olympics is a life-long program," said Mooberry. "It's for people with disabilities of all ages. These kids are gaining a sense of belonging, success and pride and those are things that will carry on for you no matter what setting you are in."

Mooberry said all of the hard work the athletes put in and the enjoyment they exhibit comes pouring out when baskets are scored.

"You see them scoring baskets and they are grinning from ear to ear," said Moobery. "To be perfectly honest, sometimes they give us more positive reinforcement than we could ever give them. What is expected for some other athletes is a huge accomplishment for these kids. When they score a basket they look at their parents in the stands and smile. Their excitement is contagious."

A Blue Star State

The U-46 Blue Stars qualified two teams for the upcoming Special Olympics high school basketball state finals.

U-46 Blue Stars #1

Deangelo Howard (Larkin), Kevin Helmer (Streamwood), Max Berk (Streamwood), Andrew Comstock (Streamwood), Angelica Sanchez (Streamwood), Stephanie Swon (Center House), David Golon (Center House), David Arias (Center House), Johnny Sandoval (Center House), Clarissa Bobo (Central SWEP), Ryan Lloyd (Central SWEP), Ashley Ottaviano (Central SWEP), Greg Kowalczyk (Central SWEP)

U-46 Blue Stars #2

Allie Ravn-Hansen (Bartlett), Cornelius Patton (Bartlett), Emily Zaideman (Bartlett), Leo Guzman (Bartlett), Andrea Gonzalez (Elgin), Simone Kilberts (Elgin), Silvino Gaytan (Aurora Education Center), Brendan Moore (South Elgin), Haywood Hughes (South Elgin), Natalie Herrera (South Elgin), Patrick Chanthalusy (South Elgin), Tim Weber (South Elgin)