When Katie and Michael Gerber joined S.O.A.R. (Special Opportunities Available in Recreation), the Bloomington-based Special Olympics Illinois agency, this year, they expected to enjoy some friendly competition and meet new people. What they found was much more than that.
The married couple, both special education teachers, captured gold medals with their Unified doubles partners at the Special Olympics Illinois State Tennis Tournament on August 16 at Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington. Despite weather-related disruptions that cancelled Saturday competition, doubles teams returned Sunday to compete for state medals.
Katie, a special education teacher at Normal Community High School, partnered with athlete Sam Carrillo to win first place in Unified Doubles Level 5 Division UD01. Michael, special education teacher at Leroy Elementary School, teamed up with athlete Bradley Meserole to take first place in Unified Doubles Level 5 Division UD02.
Though both are longtime educators, this was their first year participating in S.O.A.R.’s Unified Sports program.
“I just wanted to play tennis again,” Katie said. “I played in high school and hadn’t played in a while. This is so much fun.”
Katie first learned about S.O.A.R. through colleagues who had volunteered with the organization for years. After joining the Unified Sports program alongside her husband, Michael, the couple quickly found themselves welcomed into a community built on friendship, teamwork, and inclusion.
“The athletes and coaches and everybody are so fun,” Katie said. “We’ve made so many friends through S.O.A.R.”
For Michael, the opportunity combined two things he already loved: tennis and working with individuals with disabilities.
“I love tennis and I love this population of people,” he said. “I get to see how fun it is to watch them succeed. It just matched my interests perfectly.”
As first-year partners, both said Unified Sports has offered a new perspective on competition.
Katie said being paired with Sam has helped her focus less on winning and more on celebrating everyone’s success.
“I’ve learned to always look for the joy,” she said. “We’re not only going to celebrate ourselves, we’re going to celebrate other people. It’s helped me reflect more on sportsmanship in a way I maybe hadn’t thought about before.”
Michael echoed that sentiment.
“This has been a really cool experience. The athletes’ attitude, win, lose, or draw, is incredible. For the partners, there’s so much to gain from that.”
For both Gerbers, Unified Sports creates opportunities for meaningful connections between athletes and partners.
Katie believes the program helps expand the Special Olympics Illinois community by bringing together people who may not have otherwise become involved.
“It gives a great spot for people to feel included and feel seen,” she said. “It broadens the circle.”
That sense of inclusion has also extended to the Gerbers’ daughter, Charlotte, who has volunteered with several S.O.A.R. programs this year and developed friendships of her own.
For athlete Sam Carrillo, who has participated in S.O.A.R. for four years and competes in multiple sports, the experience is all about staying active and spending time with friends.
“My favorite thing about S.O.A.R. is doing cardio,” Sam said. Later he added, “I do have lots of friends that play in S.O.A.R.”
Bradley Meserole, who also participates in swimming, bowling, soccer and golf, was excited to return to state tennis after winning a medal last year.
Asked whether he was hoping for another medal this season, his answer was simple: “Yep.”
After one season in the Unified Sports program, both Katie and Michael say they would encourage others to get involved.
“Absolutely,” Katie said. “You get to move your body, meet new people and be part of something really special.”
Michael agreed.
“One hundred percent,” he said. “You get to learn from the athletes, see the joy they have in competing and be part of an incredible community.”
For two first-year Unified partners, the gold medals were certainly memorable. But the friendships, lessons, and sense of belonging they found through Unified Sports may be their biggest victory of all.
View results from the State Tennis Tournament. Learn about our Unified programming.