Special Olympics Illinois team heads to 2022 Special Olympics USA Games
Special Olympics Illinois has announced that it is sending a 105-member delegation to represent Illinois at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, being held June 5-12, in Orlando, Florida.
Team Illinois (#TeamSOILL) consists of 68 athletes, eight Unified Partners, 22 coaches, one Athlete Input Council representative and six additional delegates from across the state.
The delegation will compete in nine of the 19 Olympic-type sports offered, including track and field, bocce, bowling, Unified golf, gymnastics, powerlifting, soccer, swimming, and flag football.
The Special Olympics USA Games, which is hosted every four years, will mark the largest humanitarian event in Florida's history. The event will unite more than 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean. Over 10,000 volunteers will fill more than 20,000 volunteer shifts during the week. It is anticipated over 125,000 families, friends and spectators will witness the inspiring athletic accomplishments in 19 Olympic-style team and individual sports and more than 30 events at world-class venues across Orlando, centered at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World Resort.
Athletes, Unified partners and coaches were selected for #TeamSOILL based on their competition scores from previous local games as well as their performance at a series of qualifying tryouts.
"We're so excited for the athletes and coaches who are traveling to Orlando," Special Olympics Illinois President and CEO Dave Breen said. "It's a great honor to be selected to represent your state at USA Games, and it's also a great experience to compete against peers from across the country ... We can't wait to see the amazing things Team SOILL will accomplish."
To learn more about the delegation representing Special Olympics Illinois, or to support the team financially, visit soill.org.
For more information about the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, visit www.2022usagames.org.
Special Olympics Illinois is a nonprofit sports organization offering year-round training and competition in 18 sports for more than 23,100 athletes with intellectual disabilities and over 13,000 Young Athletes, ages 2-7, with and without intellectual disabilities. It strives to be a global leader in shaping a culture where people with and without intellectual disabilities are fully integrated into the community by providing year round opportunities in competitive sports, health education, leadership and personal development.
If you are interested in being a part of Special Olympics Illinois and its vision, contact your local region, call (800) 394-0562 or visit www.soill.org. Follow Special Olympics Illinois on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Team Illinois delegation
Athletics
Alex Huegen of Bartelso; Ean Yerbic of Canton; Joey Kauffman of Channahon; Jordan VanKooten of Chatham; Matthew Gorski of Chicago; Caroline Colianne of Evanston; Jaden Gryga of Frankfort; Sabrina Veverka of Gilberts; Rebecca Davis of Gurnee; Gavin Morrow of Machesney Park; Josie Stover of Mill Shoals; Faith Short of O'Fallon; Kaydee Parini of Ozark; Brian Antczak and Brandy Stowers, both of Pontiac; and Kraig Dahnke of Teutopolis.
They will be coached by Leonard Woodson and Matt Nelson, both of Chicago; Tim McDonald of Oak Park; and Lexie Cuppett of Troy.
Bocce
Frank Kajdanowski and Kenneth Ogden, both of Chicago; Kathleen Gastler of Godfrey; and Karyn Mrotek of Palos Heights.
They will be coached by Maggie Rutenbeck of Bloomington.
Bowling
Lexie Slota of Mokena; Todd Peddycoart of Monticello; Alicia Marta of Springfield; and Nico Techen of Winthrop Harbor.
They will be coached by Michelle Dwyer of Elmhurst.
Flag Football
Ryan Peacock of Beardstown; Christian Arreola, Peter Hertl and Cory Williams, both of Chicago; Alex Anderson, Grayson Deeney and Riley Hoffman, all of Evanston; and Ryan Gronowski, Louis Pisani and Peter Silagi, all of Naperville.
They will be coached by Eric Baumann of Vienna; Phil Eide of Mount Prospect; and Rob Queenan of Chatham.
Gymnastics
Lucas Miezel of Harwood Heights; Daniel Baker of Hinsdale; Colleen Costello of Millstadt; Chris Kenter and Kyle Tuckey, all of Palatine; Mareena Mattison of Prospect Heights; and Maddie Harnar of Swansea.
They will be coached by Jennifer Hitt of Edwardsville; Glen Marks of Arlington Heights; and Jaimie Yagunich of Chicago.
Powerlifting
Isaiah Cunningham and James Naughton, both of Chicago; Andrea Langford of Decatur; Kirk Nelson of Evanston; Alysia Specht of Frankfort; Matthew Ruegsegger of Montgomery; Brian McWhorter of Normal; and Ben Brizzolara of Sugar Grove.
They will be coached by Brenden Cannon of Chicago; Kelly O'Reilly of Hanover Park; and Chris Sturm of Bensenville.
Swimming
Katherine Harms and Sammy Jackson of Bloomington; Matthew Buck and Matthew Danaher, both of Chicago; Mari Landwehr of Geneva; Alexandrea Fix of Gurnee; Joseph Coffelt of Hometown; Jenna Dobson of Mineral Point; Catherine Reed of Mundelein; Marisa Prendergast of Vienna; Charles Nilles of Willowbrook; and Connor Nolan of Woodridge.
They will be coached by Miranda Henson of Bloomington; Tara Murphy of Chicago; and Jeff Price of Shiloh.
Unified Golf
Todd Tomaszewski of Frankfort; Allen Platt of Gardner; Mike Malcolm of Morris; and Todd Mallo of Orland Park.
They will be coached by Lisa Wisniewski of Chicago.
Unified Soccer
David DuBois, Chase Miller, Chris Morozin and Benjamin Nuttall, all of Libertyville; Luke Angelos, Liam Angelos, Noah Hewitt and Joseph Maller, all of Mundelein; and Hailey Spytek of Vernon Hills.
They will be coached by Andy Compton of Mount Prospect and Vince DeLuca of Libertyville.