Cheers at Prospect propel suburban Special Olympians toward state meet
You will hear a lot of cheering for athletes at a Special Olympics event.
One thing you won't hear is anyone cheering against someone. Indeed, those in the crowd pull as much for the other athletes as they do for their favorites.
At Sunday's Special Olympics Illinois Area 18 Spring Games, held at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, the crowd celebrated abilities many of us take for granted.
Attended by hundreds of athletes from the Northwest suburbs, the competition serves as a qualifier for the Summer Games in June at Illinois State University in Normal.
For 13-year-old Kyle Dec of Palatine, who participated Sunday in the 50-meter run and the softball throw, the rewards are immeasurable.
His stepfather, Ken Pflanz, said Kyle has competed every year for the past five years. Last year, he took first place in the 50-meter run.
"You can obviously see the excitement in all of the kids," Ken Pflanz said. "They really get excited about running their race or doing the event that they're in."
Jordan Feldman, Area 18 director, said more than 650 athletes competed in 24 different track and field events Sunday.
Most competed in either the softball throw or the 50-meter or 100-meter run. The most challenging event is the shot put.
"There is a lot of skill and technique that go into actually putting the shot, opposed to throwing the shot," he said.
Carolyn Zieske of Arlington Heights, mother of 18-year-old athlete Erik Zieske, said the experience is more important to her son than winning.
"I think it's fun for him," she said.
"He is not much of a competitor. Usually, he only gets gold medals when he has no competition."
Most athletes participating Sunday were 8 or older, though there was also a young athletes program from ages 6 to 8. The oldest participant is in his 70s.
Feldman said Special Olympics has many benefits, citing the case of athlete with autism who, just three years ago, would not talk or make eye contact.
"Since he has joined Special Olympics, since he has been around this group of people, he has opened up," Feldman said.
"He talks. He gives you eye contact. He gives you hugs if you ask. He used to never do that."