District 99 Celebrates Special Olympics Basketball Teams' Success at State Tourney

Submitted by Community High School District 99.

On Thursday, March 19 at 4 p.m. at South High School in Downers Grove, District 99 celebrated the success of its “District 99 Hoops” teams with a State Trophy Recognition ceremony.

The teams all competed at the Special Olympics Illinois’ three-day basketball event tourney on March 13-15 in Bloomington, Illinois and captured first, second and third in their respective brackets.

Thirty-six District 99 students play on three teams, each of which is comprised of a mix of students from North High, South High and District 99’s Transition Center. They joined nearly 1,600 other Special Olympics athletes from across the state, representing 135 teams.

“The strong success of our Special Olympics teams is yet another example of the high quality of all of our programs at District 99,” says Superintendent Dr. Mark McDonald. “We are exceedingly proud of the efforts of these students and staff members.”

The District 99 Hoops teams include:

State Champs – Hoops Team 1

Coaches Kevin Ahrens, Jack Cannon, Michael McGinnis

Players:

1. Jose Rosario (DGS
2. Eddie Gonzalez (DGS)
3. Deshawn Almon (DGS)
4. Charles Isaac Huddleston (T99)
5. Anton Allen (T99)
6. Dan Cat (T99)
7. Pierre Richie-DGN
8. Malik Nicholson (T99)

2nd Place - Hoops Team 3

Coaches Kim Jaros, Michele Geraghty

Players:

1. Mark Ploskonka (DGS)
2. Sara Brinkman (North)
3. Colin Cismesia (North)
4. Dennis Fones (T99)
5. MJ Gilbert (North)
6. Patrick Maresh (North)
7. Megan Murray (T99)
8. Miles Rybak (T99)
9. Joey Taviani (North)
10. Sly Poku (North)
11. Carlos Del Aguila (North)
12. David Raineri (DGS)
13. Andrea Ramirez (DGS
14. Jack Larson (DGN)

3rd Place - Hoops Team 2

Coaches Arthur Drenth, Michael Folsom, Kelly Murray

Players:

1. Anthony Murphy (DGS)
2. Alex Newell (DGS)
3. Angel Olcese (T99)
4. Mary Prades (T99)
5. Jalen Rose (T99)
6. Isabella Coloka (T99)
7. Collin Kaegebein (T99)
8. Allen Rosete (T99)
9. Dan Livesey (T99)
10. Patrick Lostombo (T99)
11. Michael Vlna (T99)
12. Allen Rosete (T99)
13. Philip Gonzales (DGS)
14. Lorenzo Forieri (T99)

Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit organization offering year-round training and competition in 19 sports for nearly 22,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and nearly 21,000 young athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics programs enhance physical fitness, motor skills, self-confidence, social skills and encourage family and community support. Seewww.soill.org for more information.