Saint Viator students support Special Olympics athletes at regional tournament
Saint Viator High School student volunteers gained valuable social and emotional skills while assisting at the recent Special Olympics Illinois regional volleyball tournament.
The tournament was held Sept. 13 on campus at Saint Viator, where athletic director Nolan Dowling collaborated with Brenden Cannon and Nate Barney from Special Olympics Illinois to make the event a success.
Student-athletes from Saint Viator’s boys and girls volleyball, and boys soccer teams helped with setup, game scoring, refereeing, cheering, and supporting the Special Olympics athletes.
A group of three volleyball players — sophomores Nate Gauthier and Tommy Cholewa, and junior Owen Geroux — were among those lending a hand. Owen remarked, “It’s great to see them join together and be competitive,” while Nate added, “It’s cool to see others playing a sport I love and that all levels can play.”
The tournament filled both gymnasiums with energy as four games were played simultaneously. Special Olympics Illinois President & CEO Pete Beale-DelVecchio attended to cheer on the athletes and encourage parents.
Cannon praised the collaboration with Saint Viator.
“I have worked for Special Olympics Illinois for close to 15 years,” he said. “We have partnered with numerous schools to host our competitions, and Saint Viator went above and beyond for our volleyball event. The faculty ensured everything was set up, offered their equipment, and the students who volunteered were the key to the event’s success. We received nothing but positive feedback from coaches, parents, and athletes. This was a perfect start to our new partnership.”
The event highlighted the importance of community engagement and providing opportunities for Special Olympics athletes to shine.
“From the time we arrived until we left, everything felt inclusive and welcoming,” Cannon said. “The atmosphere and energy that the Saint Viator faculty and students brought to our athletes made this a quality competition that everyone benefited from. Special Olympics Illinois is looking forward to growing our partnership with Saint Viator, and we are confident it will be a long-lasting one.”