Special Olympics celebrate winter games

More than 350 Special Olympics athletes competed in the 28th annual Special Olympics Illinois Winter Games, held Feb. 5-7 in Galena and Dubuque, Iowa.

During Winter Games, athletes competed in one of five sports: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, speed skating or snowshoeing.

Skiing and snowshoeing events took place at Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galena; and skating events took place at Five Flags Center in Dubuque.

To compete in Winter Games, athletes must have trained for at least eight weeks and qualified through one of 17 Areas in the state.

Winter Games is one of 175 Special Olympics competitions held throughout the state each year, giving athletes an opportunity to demonstrate the sports skills they have developed through training.

Alpine Giant Slalom: Nicholas Grandenitti, Huntley, third place; Gina Lofgren, McHenry, third place.

Alpine Slalom: Nicholas Grandenitti, Huntley, second placel Amy Hutchison, Twin Lakes, Wis., first place; Rebecca Whitehead, McHenry, fourth place.

Alpine Super G (downhill): Amy Hutchison Twin Lakes, Wis., first place; Gina Lofgren, McHenry, second place; Rebecca Whitehead, McHenry, third place.

Cross Country 4X1K Relay: Anne DeDobbelaere, Elgin, NISRA first place; Todd A. Hanson, Elgin, NISRA, first place; Lisa Ann Menichino, Bartlett, NISRA, first place; Joan Sherman, Elgin, NISRA first place.

Cross Country Skiing 1K: Todd A. Hanson, Elgin, third place; Barry Howell, Algonquin, second place; Joan Sherman, Elgin, second place.

Cross Country Skiing 3K: Lisa Ann Menichino, Bartlett, second place.

Cross Country Skiing 500M: Anne DeDobbelaere, Elgin, first place; Todd A. Hanson, Elgin, fourth place; Barry Howell, Algonquin, third place; Lisa Ann Menichino, Bartlett, first place.

Cross Country Skiing 5K: Anne DeDobbelaere, Elgin, second place; Joan Sherman, Elgin, first place.

Figure Skating Singles: Kayla Barnard, Algonquin, first place; Kristen Blomgren, Woodstock, first place; Serene Khadijah Hamilton, Carpentersville, third place; Stephen Hedman, Woodstock, first place; Heather L. Holtz, McHenry third place; Ashton Kawa, Crystal Lake, first place; Sandra Warner, Harvard, second place.

Snowshoe 200M Race: Deborah (Debbie) Healy, McHenry, fourth place.