CCSD 89 Special Olympic athletes close out season with silver medals
Four Community Consolidated School District 89 students earned silver medals at the year-end Special Olympics regional track meet held at Marmion Academy in Aurora.
Each of the athletes competed in a running and a throwing event. The medalists include:
- Glen Crest student Aiden Bosley earned a silver medal in the softball throw and a bronze medal in the 50-meter run
- Glen Crest student JJ Holder earned a silver medal in the softball throw and a silver medal in the 50-meter run
- Glen Crest student Lexi Koenig earned a silver medal in the softball throw and fourth place in the 50-meter run
- Glen Crest student Wyatt Salek earned a silver medal in the softball throw and fifth place in the 50-meter run
Students compete in divisions based on past performances. More than 100 athletes competed in the meet on April 29
The track meet marks the end of the first year of a full, year-round Special Olympics program in CCSD 89. The district started a Special Olympics track team during the 2016-17 school year, and added soccer and basketball teams this year.
Westfield teacher Paige Martino, the Special Olympics athletic director, said she noticed that the students were more confident in their second year, both on the field and in the classroom. One of the best developments was the connections that formed between the athletes and their peer buddies.
“A lot of these kids have different classes, but being able to compete on the same team and have the support from the whole school was really heartwarming for them,” Martino said. “The bonds that they formed out of that really made a big difference.”
CCSD 89 will continue to run all three sports next school year. Anyone who would like to know more about participating in Special Olympics can contact Martino at pmartino@ccsd89.org or (630) 858-2770, extension 3378, or CCSD 89 Director of Student Services Gene Olsen at golsen@ccsd89.org or (630) 469-8900, extension 3515.