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Three Glen Crest track athletes qualify for Special Olympics state meet

Two Glen Crest Middle School students will compete at state Special Olympics meet, which will be held on June 9 and 10 at Illinois State University in Bloomington. Isaiah Hayes will compete in the 50-meter run and the standing long jump. J.J. Holder will compete in the softball throw.

Both athletes qualified for the state meet by finishing first in the regional qualifier held at the College of DuPage in May. Glen Crest Middle School student Aiden Bosley also qualified for state, but will not compete due to a schedule conflict. Glen Crest athletes

The meet is known as the “Summer Games”, and is considered the premier sports competition for more than 4,000 athletes competing in six sports. For more information and a schedule of the events, go to: https://www.soill.org/event/summer-games/?instance_id=596 

The CCSD 89 athletes competing in the summer games are part of the first Community Consolidated School District 89 Special Olympics team. This fall, CCSD 89 Director of Student Services Gene Olsen and Glen Crest Principal Kim Price asked staff members to consider putting together a track team. Staff helped sponsor the team by purchasing tie-dye CCSD 89 Special Olympics shirt and raffle tickets.

The athletes were coached by CCSD 89 elementary teacher Mike Casmer, Westfield Elementary teacher Paige Martino, Glen Crest teacher Kelly Nordlund, and Glen Crest teacher Danny Sheridan.

At the May 7 College of DuPage regional meet, six Glen Crest students and one Westfield Elementary student earned medals or ribbons. Students compete in divisions based on past performances.

  • Aiden Bosley (Glen Crest): Gold in the 50-meter run
  • Jake Doyle (Glen Crest): Bronze in softball throw; Participation ribbon in 50-meter run
  • Mia Foster-Simbulan (Westfield): Silver in the 50-meter run; silver in tennis ball throw
  • Isaiah Hayes (Glen Crest): Gold in 50-meter run; gold in standing long jump
  • J. Holder (Glen Crest): Gold in softball throw; silver in 50-meter run
  • Lexi Koenig (Glen Crest): Silver in 50-meter run; bronze in softball throw
  • Wyatt Salek (Glen Crest): Fifth-place ribbon in softball throw; Seventh-place ribbon in 50-meter run

For many of the students, it was their first time involved in a Special Olympics competition. CCSD 89 elementary teacher Mike Casmer began working with the students in the fall, holding weekly practices. At the first practice, some of the students were overwhelmed.

“It was hard getting (Mia) in the door to get started,” Camser said. “After 20 minutes, she was so excited, having fun, and getting close with the other students.”

The Special Olympics students enjoyed working with the middle school athletes who visited for practices as mentors. When they athletes got to walk on the track for the opening ceremonies at College of DuPage, they loved being part of a team.Special Olympics team

“I think they were absolutely thrilled to be there,” Casmer said. “There was smiles on their face the whole time.”

The support from student mentors and parents has been so successful that the District plans to add a Special Olympics teams in soccer and basketball during the next school year.

“We are really excited for our athletes and proud of all their accomplishments,” Olsen said. “I am grateful to the Special Olympics for supporting us with this new partnership and we look forward to future collaborations with them.”