2017 Gator Athletes & Coaches (L-R): Jessica Thompson (Coach), Maureen Nemmer (Coach), Bill Fisher (Highland Park), Dianna Mann (Highwood), Sam Green (Winnetka), Jackie Richardson (Highland Park), Mike Sener (Evanston), Larry Muffet (Coach), Thomas Jachtorowycz (Glenview), John Zachary (Coach), John Walti (Libertyville), Randy Huffmaster (Highland Park), Hailey Haas (Coach), Miguel Lara (Highland Park), Jerod Mikkelsen (Coach), Vicki Shaw (Highland Park). Not pictured: Katie Millar (Mundelein), Bryan Parent (Wilmette) and Luke Toussaint (Glenview). Photos courtesy of NSSRA
NORTHBROOK – It was a mountain-top weekend for the 13 members of NSSRA’s Gator Athletics teams at Illinois Special Olympics’ annual State Summer Games, June 9 – 11. The Gators walked away with a collective 10 gold, 10 silver and five bronze medals, a wildly successful accomplishment at the Illinois Special Olympics State Summer Games.
“Just being at the Games is an achievement,” said Jerod Mikkelsen, NSSRA Recreation Specialist for Gator Athletics. He continued, “To then have such a strong showing is unbelievable. All the hard work during the season and the extra practices post-season definitely paid off. Everyone did amazing.”
Ranging in age from 11 to 57, 16 Gator athletes qualified for the June games with 13 competing. Twelve of the 13 athletes placed in one or more of their respective competitions. 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.
The powerlifting team performed exceptionally well for the second year in a row, earning 18 of NSSRA’s total 25-medal count. The entire seven-member team qualified this year to compete at the Summer Games, an extraordinary accomplishment. Mike Sener of Evanston, new to the team this year, managed to beat his personal record in Deadlift and won gold medals in all three of his events.
Thomas Jachtorowycz of Glenview, now a repeat competitor at the Games at only 11, won his first gold medal in the 100 Meter Run, and made his weekend even sweeter by winning Bronze in the Mini Javelin Throw.
The team competed hard and cheered their teammates on even harder, and their six coaches were an important part of their inspiring achievements in the gym and on the field. “The staff that came with us were unbelievable,” said Mikkelsen. “They definitely played a huge role in the success of the trip.”
One of those staff, Hailey Haas, is NSSRA’s Recreation Specialist for Adult Programs. She glowingly reported, “With this being my first time at Summer Games, I could not have asked for a better experience. The team’s high energy and positive attitude encouraged us all to strive for gold. Each and every participant competing displayed athleticism and teamwork and in their downtime had the best time together, laughing and creating memories. Before the weekend ended, all of our athletes were already discussing their goals for next year!”
NSSRA Gator Athletes’ 2017 State Summer Games Standings
Bocce
Vickilynn Shaw, Highland Park, 1st Place: Bocce Singles
Powerlifting
William Fisher, Highland Park, 2nd Place: Bench Press
Randy Huffmaster, Highland Park
1st Place: Combination Bench and Deadlift
2nd Place: Deadlift
4th Place: Bench Press
Miguel Lara, Highland Park
2nd Place: Deadlift
2nd Place: Squat
2nd Place: Combination Bench and Deadlift
4th Place: Bench Press
Kathleen Millar, Mundelein
1st Place: Bench Press
1st Place: Squat
1st Place: Combination Bench and Deadlift
2nd Place: Deadlift
Bryan Parent, Wilmette
2nd Place: Bench Press
2nd Place: Combination Bench and Deadlift
3rd Place: Deadlift
Mike Sener, Evanston
1st Place: Bench Press
1st Place: Deadlift
1st Place: Combination Bench and Deadlift
John Christian Walti, Libertyville
3rd Place: Bench Press
3rd Place: Deadlift
Track & Field
Samuel Green, Winnetka
2nd Place: 1600 Meter Run
3rd Place: 800 Meter Run
Thomas Jachtorowycz, Glenview
1st Place: 100 Meter Run
3rd Place: Mini Javelin
Dianna Mann, Highwood
3rd Place: Softball Throw
7th Place: 50 Meter Run
Jackie Richardson, Highland Park
3rd Place: 100 Meter Run
Luke Toussaint, Glenview
5th Place: 50 Meter Run 1st Place: Squat
Gator Powerlifters Bill Fisher (Highland Park), John Walti (Libertyville), Randy Huffmaster (Highland Park), Mike Sener (Evanston), Miguel Lara (Highland Park) and Bryan Parent (Wilmette) on the field after Friday night’s opening Parade of Athletes.
Randy Huffmaster (Highland Park), Jackie Richardson (Highland Park), Dianna Mann (Highwood), Bill Fisher (Highland Park) and Jerod Mikkelsen, NSSRA Recreation Specialist for Gator Athletics.
Gator Powerlifter Katie Millar (Mundelein) poses proudly with two of her three gold medals after competition on Saturday, June 10. Katie won gold medals in her Bench Press, Squat and Combination Bench and Deadlift events, and also took home a silver medal for Deadlift.
Gator Powerlifter Mike Sener (Evanston) proudly representing Gator Athletics at the State Summer Games! This is Sener’s first year competing as a powerlifter, and he won gold in all three of his events, Bench Press, Deadlift and Combination Bench and Deadlift.
Gator Track & Field athlete Sam Green (Winnetka) cheers on his teammates Saturday. Green won a silver medal in the 1600 Meter Run and a bronze medal in the 800 Meter Run.
Submitted by NSSRA.
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 http://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 http://www.soill.org
