Lemont's Zach Wilkens Wins Gold Medal at Special Olympics State Games

Lemont High School’s Zach Wilkens recently became the second Lemont Special Olympics student-athlete in as many years to win a gold medal in state competition. Wilkens captured the 30-meter motorized slalom event at the Special Olympics State Games, which were contested on the campus of Illinois State University. Wilkens, who recently finished his sophomore year at Lemont, also earned a silver medal in the tennis ball throw.

Lemont’s first Special Olympics state gold medalist was Michaela Tauer, a current junior who won in the softball throw as a freshman in 2014.

The performance from Wilkens at the State Games was the highlight of a successful season for Lemont’s Special Olympics team.

The team participated in a regional event at Thornwood High School on May 2. Eight Lemont athletes earned at least one top-five finish, and the team racked up 13 top-five finishes in all at the event. The team received a lot of support from their classmates, teachers and even the Lemont Fire Department and Lemont Police Department!

To kick off the regional, the team received a police and fire escort from the parking lot to the highway.

Lemont had two athletes combine to win three events. Wilkens won in both the motorized wheelchair slalom and tennis ball throw events, while senior Andrew Forzleywas victorious in the 100 meter run. Both Forzley and Wilkens will be invited to participate in the Special Olympics Summer Games this June at Illinois State University.

Junior Darrin Nickleski was the runner-up in the 50 meter run, while senior David Szperlak and freshman Thomas Stapleton each earned second-place finishes in the softball throw.

Other competitors included Tauer, senior Brian Leahy, and juniors Larry Kluga andIsaac Ziebell.

These student-athletes and coach Margie Pilarski had a lot of support. Several students assisted, including seniors Jimmy Brennan, Easton Kral, Reann Kwasneski and Ali Lund; and juniors Marisa Burton, Maddie Coules, Mallory Douglass, Lexi Kelley,Kevin Leahy, Paige Murphy and Katelyn Papierski.

Many teachers, staff members and community members helped out the team, including Krissy Bergles, Emily Burkiewicz, Cheryl Flanagan,Christi Flores, Cindy Greene, Willie Hayes, Leslie LoCascio, Ryan McLaughlin, Lisa Nowakowski, Joe Rodeghero and Kathie Vabalaitis. The team would also like to thank the Lemont Fire Department and Police Officer Brian Danaher.