by lauryn | Feb 13, 2026 | Athletes, Families, Mission Focused, Region D, Region F, Sports, State Tournaments
Athletes, families, and supporters filled Chestnut Mountain Resort on the second day of the 2026 Winter Games, where athletes moved between award ceremonies and the next round of competition. bringing excitement, and plenty of smiles, to one of Special Olympics Illinois’ most anticipated state tournaments of the year.
Among them was first-time athlete Kelial Crooks, who had just earned his first Winter Games medal. “I’m feeling pretty good,” Kelial said, holding tight to the slalom medal that marked a milestone moment in his young alpine skiing career.
Kelial, an athlete from Region F, previously competed at his local regionals, but stepping into the statewide event felt different. The mountain was busier, the cheers were louder, and the stakes were higher. And he noted how it felt to arrive at Winter Games.
“Exciting — and a little bit nervous,” he shared.
What stood out most to him wasn’t the run itself. It was the people. “Being surrounded by people and family and friends,” he said. “Happy.”
Kelial credits his coach for helping him get to this point. “I would like to thank my coach, Tom, who helped me a lot with skiing,” he said. That mix of teamwork and trust, seen across every corner of Winter Games, is part of what makes these days so meaningful.
From the Mountain to the Snowshoe Course
At Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, Region D athlete Diego Villarreal was also celebrating a strong performance after medaling in the 50‑meter snowshoe race.
“I feel awesome,” he said, describing what it meant to compete with his team from Marquette Park.
For Diego, being part of a team is at the heart of his Special Olympics Illinois experience. “Having fun with my friends,” he said. “That’s my favorite part.”
He also takes that role seriously. When asked whether he feels like a leader on his team, he didn’t hesitate. “Yes.” And his approach to leadership is simple: be the one who brings energy.
“I was high-fiving them,” he said with a grin. “Yeah, it gets them hyped up.”
He explained why those moments matter. “If they’re having [a] down time, I try to make them right.” Diego prepared for Winter Games with stretching, drills, and regular practice across several sports. But his message to future athletes was straightforward: “Have fun. If you’re scared, take some deep breaths.”
That steady presence is something his mother, Joanne Rodriguez, has watched grow over the years.
“He started competing when he was eight, and it’s been a whole life experience,” she said.
Before joining Special Olympics Illinois, Diego often struggled to find spaces where he felt included. “They never let him play,” she said. “He would come home sad.”
Finding Special Olympics Illinois changed everything.
“He just fits right in,” she said. “I love watching him compete. It’s amazing to see what he’s accomplished.”
Joanne has watched him step into leadership naturally. “He likes to pump up his teammates,” she said. “He gets nervous, but once he’s with them, the nerves go away. They just pump each other up.”
This year marks the family’s second Winter Games, and the memories already stand out, from last year’s joke about snowshoeing “not in snow” that was followed by an overnight snowfall, to this year’s breakthrough moment when Diego won his division.
“Seeing him so proud makes me happy,” Joanne said.
For her, the growth she sees in Diego extends well beyond the finish line. “Leadership has made him more talkative,” she said. “He’s able to do speeches. I’m shy about speeches, and to see him do something that’s so hard for me, I love him for that.”
When asked what she’d tell another parent considering Special Olympics Illinois, her answer was clear: “It’s a joy. You’ll see your child blossom.”
The 2026 Winter Games concluded in Galena with the moments that matter most at Special Olympics Illinois: athletes pushing toward new goals, teammates supporting one another, and families celebrating every achievement. View Winter Games photos and results.
by lauryn | Dec 9, 2025 | Athlete Leadership, Athletes, Mission Focused, Region I, Sports, State Tournaments, Uncategorized
By Randy Kindred
In a matter of three hours, Summer Nagele sang the national anthem to open the 2025 State Bowling Tournament, participated in doubles competition, received a medal, chose her sandwich for lunch, answered a reporter’s questions and prepared to compete in singles.
It was a busy schedule for anyone, but especially for a 20-year-old whose doctor once told her parents she may never walk, talk or eat on her own. Nagele is a Special Olympics Illinois Athlete Leader and has been crowned four times as Illinois Miss Amazing, a program for girls and women with disabilities.
Miss Amazing indeed.
Currently the Illinois Miss Amazing Teen Queen 2025, Nagele’s disability went undiagnosed for many years. Autumn and Michael Nagele of Champaign sought answers for their only child and, despite the doctor’s grim early prognosis, “We never set limits on her,” Autumn said.
“It took 16 long years and we finally got a diagnosis,” Autumn added. “If she wants to do something, we’ll try to support her in any way we can. Because of that, she is the amazing human she is today. She doesn’t let anything stop her.”
Summer was diagnosed with KCNK9 Imprinting Syndrome (also Birk-Barel Syndrome), a condition so rare her mother said she is “one in about 100 in the world” to be diagnosed. Characteristics include intellectual disability, decreased muscle tone and unusual facial features.
Yet, there she was Saturday at Victory Lanes in Decatur, performing the national anthem, serving as a friend and mentor to her 12-year-old doubles partner, Alorah “Lou” Rosenberger, and embracing one of the nine sports in which she participates, most through Special Olympics Illinois.
“Special Olympics Illinois has meant that I’ve grown more confident, more self-esteem,” said Summer, a Champaign Central High School graduate who works at Rally House in Champaign. “My confidence grew a whole lot. I was able to self-advocate for myself before, but with Special Olympics Illinois, I kind of got the ability to get more confidence in advocating for myself.”
That has led to advocating for others. In her role as an Athlete Leader, she speaks to organizations about the benefits of programs such as Special Olympics Illinois and the Miss Amazing program.
Summer’s three previous Miss Amazing titles were 2017 Illinois Miss Amazing Preteen Queen, 2019 Illinois Miss Amazing Junior Queen and 2023 Illinois Miss Amazing Teen Queen. This year, she also was first runner-up at the national Miss Amazing competition in Chicago.
Summer said she relishes spreading the word about the program, saying it helps others “build self-confidence and self-esteem and allows people just like us to compete.”
“We all have some sort of disability,” she said. “It’s just so much fun to do it and you get to tell them about your passions.”
She embraces being an Athlete Leader, saying it “enables me to do what you saw me do this morning … sing the national anthem, and also give speeches and tell people who might not know a lot about Special Olympics Illinois more about Special Olympics Illinois.”
Autumn Nagele said her daughter “enjoys telling people about the things she does and Special Olympics Illinois is right at the top of the list.”
Michael Nagele expressed pride in how his daughter has grown from a young, inexperienced athlete to a mentor and positive role model.
“We really look at what we have, not what we don’t have,” he said. “There’s a quote I remember that says something like a flower doesn’t look at other flowers, it just blooms. I think about Summer in that way.
“Are there kids who can perform better athletically than her? Yeah, and there are some who don’t do as well as her. We take the wins where we can get them with her and she develops at her pace. We just really encourage her and help her to learn and grow at her own pace.”
‘Victory’ in Itself
The State Bowling Tournament had long been at Landmark Lanes in Peoria. Special Olympics Illinois learned in mid-September that a change in ownership at Landmark would necessitate finding a new location.
Tracy Hilliard, Senior Director of Sports and Competition at Special Olympics Illinois, said Victory Lanes was secured by mid-October.
“We were fortunate,” Hilliard said. “Our staff that is in Decatur indicated they were looking at this facility. We had a couple of suggestions and they made the visit here. It was pretty quick.
“This is a 40-lane (facility), which is a good size. Landmark was 50, but we already have three shifts. The staff here at Victory has been phenomenal. The regional tournament is moving their tournament from Champaign to here as well.”
Millikin Lends a Hand
Decatur’s Millikin University provided several volunteers to assist with the tournament. Hilliard said the school also sends volunteers to the State Golf Tournament each September at Decatur’s Hickory Point Golf Course.
“Millikin is a strong supporter of Special Olympics Illinois,” Hilliard said. “That college has always been very supportive.”
View photos and results from the 2025 State Bowling Tournament.
by lauryn | Nov 4, 2025 | Athletes, Families, Mission Focused, Region A, Sports, State Tournaments, Uncategorized
By Randy Kindred
The importance of families was on full display last weekend during the State Flag Football Tournament at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.
The Byron Gladiators are a family-run, independent organization formed in 2020, with the Druien family in a lead role. When the Gladiators competed Saturday in their second straight state flag football tournament, Ron Druien was coaching, his wife, Jenifer, was on the sidelines flashing cards to signal in plays, and their twin sons, Tyler and Ethan, were playing.
Jenifer Druien also is the head coach for track and an assistant coach for swimming and bowling. Other parents head up those sports, as well as bocce and snowshoeing. “All the parents participate,” Jenifer said.
Tyler and Ethan Druien are 17 years old and seniors at Byron High School. Saturday, Tyler wore the number 95 in honor of Lightning McQueen from the movie Cars, and Ethan had number 22, the number his father wore as a player.
Their family bond is strong, a common thread among Gladiators players and parents.
“I think the biggest reward is the families getting together and the kids and the friendships that have blossomed,” Jenifer Druien said. “And also the parents … the friendships and the support system.”
Ron Druien said players and parents have become like extended family. He connected with a friend from his youth, Mike Keller, through the Gladiators. They coach the football team together, with Keller’s son, Ryan, among the players.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Ron Druien said. “One of the things I like is we come down here as our small organization and I believe these young men here (the Vaughn Yellow Eagles) are from Chicago, with an organization that is a lot bigger than ours.
“We lost by two scores (30-14). I think we did OK. I was proud of them. We didn’t win, but we were successful.”
Win or lose, the Gladiators see a lot of each other. Jenifer Druien said the families have parties and also bowl year-round as a group.
“We get together once a month (to bowl) when it’s not in season,” she said. “Otherwise, we do it once a week when it’s in season. It gives the parents time to hang out and the kids time to hang out. It’s great.”
Learn more about the Special Olympics Illinois Families Network.
Tight Pack of Wolves
The Independent Wolves receive valuable help from parents of their players. Based in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, the Wolves are an independent agency that evolved from the Special Olympics Illinois programs at Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South high schools.
Assistant coach Paal Joshi teaches at the Glenbrook Alternative School and is an assistant football coach at Glenbrook South. He coaches the Wolves alongside head coach Craig Ameel, who is in his 38th year of coaching Special Olympics Illinois athletes.
“It’s a family within a family,” Joshi said.
Ameel agreed, saying parental involvement is “huge” in the operation of the program.
“One of our guys, his parents couldn’t drive so he came with another parent, who said, ‘I’ll bring him down,’” Ameel said following a 29-20 win Saturday. “Our families … we’re very lucky that our families are able to and willing to help out.”
Titans Lend a Hand
Among the volunteers making the tournament run smoothly were members of the Illinois Wesleyan University women’s flag football team. The newly formed Titans will play their first season beginning in March.
On Saturday, Claire Anderson, Lily Greenfield, Deanna Cirebea and Natalyah Stallings were on Field 2, serving as clock and scoreboard operators and holding down markers.
They enjoyed the experience.
“It’s seeing how much the sport can create bonds,” Anderson said. “I also think it’s really cool that we’re hearing them talk on the field about what plays they’re running. We’re watching it happen and we’re like, ‘We do those plays.’ We’re like, ‘This is awesome.’ We get to see how really similar it is.”
Also helping as on-field volunteers were members of the Illinois Central College baseball team.
View photos and results from the 2025 State Flag Football Tournament.
by lauryn | Sep 8, 2025 | Athletes, Mission Focused, Region G, Sports, State Tournaments, Uncategorized
By Randy Kindred
The dictionary tells us soar means to “fly or rise high in the air,” and to “increase rapidly above the usual level.” The Bloomington-Normal area has a different SOAR, which stands for Special Opportunities Available in Recreation.
Yet, this past weekend, SOAR managed to soar. Representing Region G, the organization spread its wings and took flight at the Special Olympics Illinois State Golf and State Softball Tournaments.
At Decatur’s Hickory Point Golf Course, SOAR had its best-ever six teams qualify for the 9-hole Unified state competition. At Springfield’s UIS Softball Complex, Coach Julie Smith’s hard-working team won twice to earn the gold medal in its division.
The golf tournament included more than 220 athletes, Unified partners, and coaches. The softball tournament attracted more than 630 athletes and coaches.
Here are some highlights from both events.
Back in the Swing
Among the SOAR duos at the golf tournament were Patrick Haynes and his Unified partner, Brian Lahr.
Lahr heads up the SOAR powerlifting program and also enjoys playing golf. SOAR had gone several years without a golf program but reinstituted the sport three years ago.
That was welcome news to Lahr, who competed in the 9-hole Unified state competition last year with a different partner. Haynes also had qualified for state, but he was unable to compete when his partner became ill.
Haynes and Lahr were all smiles Saturday after combining for a first round 92, fourth best out of 17 teams heading into Sunday’s final round.
“You hit some great drives today buddy. I’m proud of you,” Lahr told Haynes, who also competes in basketball and volleyball with Special Olympics Illinois.
“It was fun out there,” said Haynes, 26. “We did so well.”
On a glorious sunny day, Lahr’s heart was warmed by the camaraderie of the Special Olympics Illinois athletes.
“Golf is hard, so to see these guys perform at the level they do is a lot of fun,” Lahr said. “It’s watching all of them support each other. It’s like, ‘We’re all here to watch each other and support each other and have fun.’”
A Barry Good Time
The State Golf Tournament’s individual skills competition included 49-year-old Craig Barry.
Representing Region E, Barry lives at Good Shepherd Manor in Momence. He was quick to converse with volunteers running the skills events – the short putt, long putt, pitch shot, iron shot, wood shot, bunker shot and chip shot.
Barry placed fifth in his division, but felt like a winner because his parents, Jim and Martha Barry of LaGrange Park, had come to watch him. When they arrived, he hugged his father, then kissed his mother on the cheek.
“He doesn’t know a stranger,” Martha Barry said. “They’re all his friends.”
Craig Barry will tell you he has two homes, one with his boys and one with a computer.
“We’re the computer home,” Martha said, smiling.
“We come down (to Momence) usually every other week,” she added. “Next week, they’re having a big fall festival and he sings with the choir. They’re singing so we’ll be down.”
Together, They Won
Among the leaders on SOAR’s champion team for the State Softball Tournament was Travis Brady. He helped SOAR defeat the NWCSRA Wolves Green, 11-6, in the semifinals and PTOEC from Region J, 15-9, in the championship game.
“We had good communication and we played as a team,” Brady said after the first game. “For a second (this summer) we didn’t have any practices because of the heat and the weather. Once we got practices, we came together and communicated and hit well.”
Brady lives in Bloomington and also competes in basketball, volleyball, soccer and tennis. He said Special Olympics Illinois has provided him with a large network of friends.
In June 2026, he will join Team Illinois at the Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, competing in Unified volleyball.
“It’s been on my bucket list for a long time,” he said. “I just want to enjoy it as much as I can.”
Smith also will be at the USA Games as the Team Illinois volleyball head coach. She said Brady is among “a good group of athletes” on her softball team.
“They listen and they work really hard at practices,” Smith said. “We’ve only had like four practices because of rain and heat. Every time we practice, they put 150 percent into it.
“I can’t tell you from the beginning until now how much they’ve improved. Every game it seems like we just keep getting better and better. It’s all because they’re just working really hard out there.”
Learn more about the State Golf and Softball Tournaments, plus view photos and results as they’re available.
by lauryn | Aug 19, 2025 | Mission Focused, Region H, State Tournaments, UCS/Unified, Uncategorized
This year, UCS is launching Brag Reports — a chance for schools and students to share their successes, ideas, and inspiring experiences with our team and with each other. These reports celebrate the impact of Unified Champion Schools by highlighting the stories, moments, and lessons that make our community so powerful.
One shining example comes from Alison at Pleasant Plains High School, who shares how her time at the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games shaped her leadership and strengthened her passion for inclusion.
Alison’s Brag Report
These past three summers, I have had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Youth Leadership Experience at the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games. These experiences have not only deepened my appreciation for the volunteers and members that work for Special Olympics Illinois, but also given me lasting memories and friendships.
From the moment you arrive, there is a unique energy in the air, the atmosphere is filled with excitement, compassion, and unshakeable determination. The athletes, coaches, volunteers, and families all come together in a celebration of inclusion, perseverance, and joy. One thing I will never forget is experiencing Opening Ceremony for the first time. The energy is electric and the stadium is full of people, all ecstatic for the days ahead of them.
One of the most rewarding parts of this experience has been getting to meet new people from all walks of life. Whether it was exchanging stories with fellow volunteers or cheering side by side with athletes’ families, every interaction reminds me of the powerful connections that sports can create. I was also grateful for the leadership experience I gained. Whether helping coordinate events, guiding athletes through their schedules, or stepping in to solve unexpected problems, I was able to grow my confidence and skills in a supportive, high energy environment. Being trusted in these roles helped me see myself as a leader, and someone who can step in when it is needed most. Above all of the things I have taken away from this experience is the interactions with the athletes. Their determination, sportsmanship, and sheer joy were nothing short of inspiring. Watching them compete with fierce focus and unshakable enthusiasm, reminds me of what true strength looks like.
As I reflect on my times at Summer Games, I walk away with a full heart and a firm belief in the power of inclusion, leadership, and human connection. This event and experience reminds me that we are all capable of greatness and that sometimes, the most meaningful victories are the ones that happen off the scoreboard.
Learn more about Unified Champion Schools programming.
by Michelle Mayer | Jun 24, 2025 | Mission Focused, Region C, Region G, Region K, Sports, State Tournaments
By Randy Kindred
As a freshman at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Ryan McGuire trailed the pack significantly in cross country. Running with a paraprofessional, McGuire typically finished the three-mile races five minutes after the next slowest competitor. The following year, he moved up to the back of the pack. His junior year, he was in the middle of the pack. And by his senior season, McGuire was “nearer to the front,” said his father, Martin.
“You might have been surprised that after his freshman year, he kept on running,” Martin McGuire said. “But he kept after it and kept getting better and better.” After running three miles in 34 minutes as a freshman, Ryan covered the distance in 16 minutes, 23 seconds as a senior. He was just getting started.
Competing in Special Olympics Illinois Region C, the 23-year-old McGuire won a gold medal Saturday morning in the 3,000-meter run at Summer Games, where the state-level competing for athletics (track & field) and seven other sports, is held. He could have run much farther, even in the humid conditions at Illinois State University’s track.
McGuire, who has autism, has become a marathon runner. In April, running with two support runners, he completed the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon course in 2 hours, 52 minutes, 4 seconds.
Next up is the Berlin Marathon in the fall.
“That will be his fifth Abbott World Major Marathon and he’s run all of them under three hours,” Martin McGuire said. “His plans are for the Tokyo Marathon next year. He may be the first Special Olympic athlete to finish the Abbott World Major Marathons in under three hours in each of them.”
Competing in Tokyo would leave only the newly added Sydney Marathon left among the Abbott World Major Marathons. That one will have to wait a bit, but likely, McGuire will run in it, with Dad cheering him on. “This is what Ryan and I do,” Martin McGuire said. “This is what we like to do … getting ready for races and running.”
When Ryan is in training, he runs six days a week and cross-trains on Sundays in a swimming pool. “Do you have running in your background?” his father was asked.
“Not at all,” Martin McGuire replied. “When Ryan goes on a long run, I might ride my bicycle trying to keep up.”
Clearly, running is important to Ryan. So is the message it sends.
“Ryan likes to have people remember that people with autism and delayed development have a lot of talents and a lot of special gifts,” Martin McGuire said. “For each and every one of us, we have to keep going and find what our gifts are and then develop them.”
“Team Brian”
Brian Brown of Harrisburg won gold Saturday in the 50-meter run and experienced a lot of love after receiving his medal. Family members, some wearing ‘Team Brian’ t-shirts, greeted him with smiles and hugs. Included was a group hug from Brown’s nieces and nephews.
Brown’s mother, Jennifer Ratley, said her son began competing in with Special Olympics when he was nine. He’s 32 now. “We have a lot of medals,” Ratley said. “We have everything, every color, even a few ribbons.
“He loves being up here. He has friends here from everywhere. He doesn’t know a stranger. Even though they race against each other, they’re all friends. They do it for fun.”
Kinleys carry on
The Summer Games continued a long association with Special Olympics for Kurt and Karen Kinley of Normal. Kurt, 24, competed in a relay and the 400-meter run. Karen, 18, took part in the softball throw and 100-meter run. Kurt has competed since he was eight years old.
“I like to get medals for everyone,” he said. “I like to inspire other people. Every athlete is so amazing.”
Kurt and Karen compete for Bloomington’s SOAR. They are supported by their parents, Dave and Michele Kinley. Dave is a former school administrator and Michele is a Special Education teacher in McLean County Unit 5.
“We’ve been very fortunate to live in a community where there are so many different opportunities,” Dave Kinley said. “Two weeks ago, we did Pizza in the Park through SOAR. It was for dads, so it was Kurt, Karen and me. Karen is going to take a candle making class through SOAR. There are just a lot of things.
“It’s been a real blessing to our family.”
From a mall to medals
When Eric Haderlein of Libertyville was very young, he would run through a local mall during the winter to “get some energy out,” said his mother, Ann Haderlein.
“There was a girl working there who would watch him every morning and she was like, ‘One day, I bet he’s going to be in the Olympics,’” Ann said. “Now, he is!”
It may not be in the international Olympics, but the state Summer Games are exhilarating for Eric, 29. He has competed for many years and relished the bronze medal he won Saturday. Asked what he likes best about the Special Olympics Illinois, he replied, “Winning and having fun.”
“He really looks forward to it,” his mother said. “It gets him out and it’s social. He was very excited (by the medal). He feels very proud of himself.”
To learn more about the 2025 Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games, please visit soill.org/summergames.
