NSSRA Gators well represented at state summer games | The Highland Park Landmark
Northbrook – June 7, 2017 – Northbrook’s Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association will send 15 of its Gator athletes to compete in the Special Olympics’ annual state summer games this Friday through Sunday in Bloomington-Normal.
The Gators will compete in bocce, powerlifting, swimming, and track and field. Each athlete earned qualification by finishing in first place at each sport’s respective regional competition. NSSRA is sending one bocce player, one swimmer, six track and field athletes and its entire seven-member powerlifting team to compete in the summer games.
NSSRA’s athletes won 33 gold, 17 silver and 7 bronze medals in qualifying competitions, with some athletes qualifying for more than one event. NSSRA recreation specialist for Gator athletics Jerod Mikkelson was very pleased with the team’s effort and progress.
“All the athletes have done an amazing job this season and have worked very hard,” Mikkelson said. “A lot of credit definitely has to go to the coaches for these sports. They have done a great job training all of our athletes and helping them each succeed.”
The Gators range in age from 11 to 57, and all 15 athletes are returning competitors. Six coaches will accompany them to the competition.
NSSRA’s team of coaches has steadily worked with the athletes throughout their respective seasons, challenging them and pushing them toward the goal of the State Summer Games.
“All the athletes have put in so much time over the weeks leading up to games to keep their skills sharp,” Mikkelson said. “Everyone is very excited and striving to do the best they can. It has become a tradition during our end of practice stretches to replace the number ‘8’ with ‘state’. It’s served as extra motivation for the athletes and to say they are eager for the upcoming trip would be an enormous understatement.”
The Illinois State Summer Games are held annually at Illinois State University, attracting over 4,000 athletes from districts throughout the state.
NSSRA Gator Athletes
Bocce
Vickilynn Shaw, Highland Park
Powerlifting
William Fisher, Highland Park
Randy Huffmaster, Highland Park
Miguel Lara, Highland Park
Kathleen Millar, Mundelein
Bryan Parent, Wilmette
Mike Sener, Evanston
John Christian Walti, Libertyville
Swimming
Jay Slotnick, Northbrook
Track & Field
Jackie Richardson, Highland Park
Alison Shapiro, Highland Park
Samuel Green, Winnetka
Thomas Jachtorowycz, Glenview
Dianna Mann, Highwood
Luke Toussaint, Glenview