NSSRA Gator Athletes Overcome Scorching Temperatures to Win Big at June 15 – 17 Special Olympics Illinois State Summer Games
Northbrook – Tuesday, June 19, 2018 – Heat advisory or not, NSSRA’s Gator athletes could not be stopped this weekend at Illinois Special Olympics’ annual State Summer Games. Though temperatures climbed into the 90s through Sunday, with heat index readings peaking from 100 to 105 degrees each afternoon, the Gators braved on, winning a collective 18 medals, eight of them gold.
Vicki Shaw of Highland Park battled the blazing heat first thing Friday afternoon during the Bocce Singles event, maintaining her poise and focus to win a bronze medal. “The team started a ‘Vicki chant’ to keep her spirits up,” said NSSRA Recreation Specialist and Gator Track & Field Coach Hailey Haas. “That kind of heat can be a real obstacle for athletes, but Vicki kept at it and stayed so positive throughout competition, and her teammates’ cheers helped her stay strong.”
Ranging in age from 11 to 60, 12 Gator athletes qualified for the June games with 10 competing. Eight of the 10 athletes placed in one or more of their respective competitions, though one athlete, Dianna Mann of Highwood, did not get the chance to compete as her event was suspended and later cancelled due to the severe heat. The Gators competed in bocce, powerlifting and track and field. In order to qualify each athlete was required to win first place at each sport’s regional competition.
NSSRA’s band of 10 athletes was small but mighty. “At opening ceremonies, the Gators may have been one of the smallest teams but they were one of the loudest and most enthusiastic groups in the bleachers,” said NSSRA Recreation Specialist and Coach Katie James. “We are so proud to be a part of the Special Olympics community, especially this year on the 50th anniversary.”
The Gators had another big reason to cheer during opening ceremonies as one of their teammates, powerlifter Katie Millar of Mundelein, was recognized for making Team Illinois, an incredible achievement. Katie will be competing in just a few weeks at the Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle, and her success was recently highlighted in a World Wrestling Entertainment video feature.
Speaking of powerlifting, NSSRA’s five powerlifters continued to dominate for the third year in a row, winning 15 of NSSRA’s total 18-medal count. Mike Sener of Evanston, only in his second year on the team, won gold in all three of his events, while Bill Fisher of Highland Park placed first in Bench Press.
Miguel Lara of Highland Park performed exceptionally well, winning gold in Deadlift, a silver medal in his Squat event and two bronze medals in Bench Press and Combination Bench and Deadlift.
Millar collected three medals on her own, first place in Squat, and second in Bench Press and Combination Bench and Deadlift. Finally, not to be left out, Bryan Parent of Wilmette brought home four medals, second in Squat and third place in Bench Press, Deadlift and Combination Bench and Deadlift.
Thomas Jachtorowycz of Glenview, a three-time competitor at the Games at only 11, won gold in his only event, Mini Javelin Throw, while Sam Green of Winnetka, a long-time competitor at the Games, won gold in his division of the 3000 Meter Run. Green came back just one event later to place fourth in the 800 Meter Run.
“The entire weekend, the Gators were incredibly positive even when things didn’t go their way,” said Haas. She continued, “For example, Thomas won gold, but he also made friends in his division amongst his competitors. The most important part of the Games are the opportunities our athletes are given to be both gracious winners and losers. To see the way Thomas and all of our athletes both cheered each other on and congratulated their opponents throughout the weekend, that alone makes this year’s Games a huge success for us.”
“The group braved the heat to watch their teammates compete every day,” said James. “They showed incredible sportsmanship all weekend-long, and they deserve every bit of success they achieved. We can’t wait for next year.”
NSSRA Gator Athletes | 2018 State Summer Games Standings
Bocce
Vicki Shaw, Highland Park
3rd Place: Bocce Singles
Powerlifting
Bill Fisher, Highland Park
1st Place: Bench Press
4th Place: Deadlift
4th Place: Combination Bench and Deadlift
Miguel Lara, Highland Park
3rd Place: Bench Press
1st Place: Deadlift
2nd Place: Squat
3rd Place: Combination Bench and Deadlift
Katie Millar, Mundelein
2nd Place: Bench Press
4th Place: Deadlift
1st Place: Squat
2nd Place: Combination Bench and Deadlift
Bryan Parent, Wilmette
3rd Place: Bench Press
3rd Place: Deadlift
2nd Place: Squat
3rd Place: Combination Bench and Deadlift
Mike Sener, Evanston
1st Place: Bench Press
1st Place: Deadlift
1st Place: Combination Bench and Deadlift
Track & Field
Sam Green, Winnetka
1st Place: 3000 Meter Run
4th Place: 800 Meter Run
Mikey Hull, Deerfield
6th Place: Softball Throw
Thomas Jachtorowycz, Glenview
1st Place: Mini Javelin throw
Dianna Mann, Highwood
Was not able to compete as all outdoor afternoon events were cancelled Saturday due to severe heat.
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Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA) provides and facilitates year-round recreation programs and services for children, teens and adults with disabilities who live in the partner communities. NSSRA is an extension of ten park districts, two cities and one village in the northern suburbs of Chicago. This partnership includes the Park Districts of Deerfield, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette and Winnetka; the Cities of Highwood and Lake Forest; and the Village of Riverwoods. NSSRA has been creating an environment of belonging through play since 1970, and has the distinction as the first Special Recreation Association in the country. For more information about NSSRA and the programs and services they provide visit www.nssra.org.
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Special Olympics Illinois, part of the global Special Olympics family, opened its first games at Soldier Field in 1968. In the years since they have grown to provide opportunities for over 20,000 Illinois athletes with intellectual disabilities in all 102 counties. For more information about Special Olympics Illinois visit www.soill.org.