SRACLC Crusaders place at state basketball tourney

Posted April 04, 2015 9:01 am

Submitted by SRACLC

The Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County's Crusaders-Black basketball team traveled down to Bloomington-Normal on March 14 and 15 for the Special Olympics State Tournament. The Crusaders finished in fourth place and had a very successful season, taking away two first place championships in the District and ITRS tournaments.

This year, the team consisted of five "veteran" players and five "rookie" athletes, as coach Katelin Sheppard called them. The combination resulted in a real bond between the teammates that helped lead them to victory on the courts.

"I couldn't have been happier with the season. Each practice they worked their tails off, and it really paid off. They are a great group and it was a joy to work with them this season," stated Sheppard, SRACLC Recreation Specialist.

Rounding out the team are these dedicated players: Kyle Tuckey and Joey Hanson from Lake Zurich, Antonio Esch and Alexis Winegard of Vernon Hills, Amanda Johnson and Tim Luhr out of Grayslake, Scott McNamee and Katie Millar of Mundelein, Dominick Deslauriars of Libertyville, and Madeline Donohue of Island Lake. Coaching alongside Sheppard and devoting their time to helping these athletes reach their full potential were two others: Cristina Hughes and Julie Bond.

In addition to offering Special Olympics sports, team and individual programs, SRACLC also provides many other programs for individuals with disabilities, including summer camps where participants can socialize with others their age and engage in a variety of fun-filled activities. Special events and weekly programs are also offered, covering an extensive range of activities and interests, starting at ages 3 and older.

For more information or to register for programs, contact the SRACLC office at (847)-816-4866, visit www.sraclc.org, or like them on Facebook.

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