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NSSRA’s Golden Gators Win 8 Gold Medals at
Special Olympics Illinois’ Annual State Summer Games
It was a golden experience for nine members of NSSRA’s Gator
Athletics teams at Illinois Special Olympics’ annual State Summer
Games (SSG), taking June 7 - 9. Competing in swimming,
powerlifting and track and field, the team walked away with a
collective 14 medals, eight of them gold.
Winnetka, a SSG veteran at just 18, placed 1st in the 3000M Run
and 2nd in the 1500M Run. His teammate and first-time Games
competitor, Brett Tutt (Northfield), placed 4th in Mini Javelin.
Rounding out NSSRA’s band of athletes are three powerlifters,
Randy Huffmaster and Miguel Lara of Highland Park and Mike
Sener of Evanston. NSSRA’s powerlifters have dominated at the
“The 4x25M Relay was the most exciting event of the weekend,”
Games in recent years, and this year was no different. Winning
said Katie James, a coach and NSSRA’s Recreation Specialist for
Gator Athletics. “The Gators won by just a few seconds, and between three gold and three silver medals between them, nearly half of the
Gators’ total medal count, the team’s hard work over the last several
their families and our coaches and their teammates, there was a
whole lot of cheering, hugging and happy crying happening in the months showed.
bleachers.”
Mattson, also head coach for Gator Powerlifting, commented,
In addition to the 4x25M Relay, each swimmer also placed in one
“The guys are scrappy. They pump each other up at practice, and
or more of their other events, with Josh Devries (Deerfield) winning cheer when somebody gets a good rep in. They're a real team; one
1st place in the 50M Freestyle, Daniel Eichengreen (Highland Park) member's victory is everyone's victory.”
also taking 1st in his division of the 50M Freestyle, Gillian Segall
placing 2nd in the 100M Butterfly, and Tim Siebert winning gold in “One of our athletes had to miss last season because he was
dealing with some significant health issues,” Mattson continued.
the 25M Butterfly and bronze in the 50M Breaststroke.
“He was able to rejoin us this year though, and he bounced back in
a big way. Seeing him perform so well this year was a really special
Peter Mattson, head coach for the Gator Swim Team, remarked, “I
was amazed to see their level of teamwork and cooperation this
moment.”
year. They build each other up, are quick to offer encouragement
“Gator’s never give up,” was the team’s mantra this year, and after
if one of them is having a rough day and celebrate their victories.”
months of perseverance in practices and qualifying competitions,
He continued, “The 4x25 was a new event for everyone this year,
what is most impressive is not the Gators’ 14 medals, but their
but practicing for it brought them together, both as a team and as
tenacious spirit and loyal support of each other every step of the
friends.”
way.
Ranging in age from 18 to 39, three Gator powerlifters and two
track and field athletes also competed at the Games. Sam Green of
NSSRA | (847) 509-9400 • [email protected] • www.nssra.org
GOLDEN GATORS WIN AT STATE 17