RB Special Olympics goes to state

After 18 years of the Special Olympics basketball team existing at Riverside Brookfield High School, this year is finally their year. The team finally qualified for the state tournament! The word “excited” is an understatement. All thirteen  players, three coaches and dozens of students and other volunteers have truly put in their all this year, and it was worth it. Throughout the season th...

Marissa Bloodgood is coming on strong during her second year at RB. She has been on basketball ever since she started attending the school. She is beyond ready to take on state. Bloodgood is most excited for one thing in particular. “I want to make the game buzzer,” said Bloodgood. Bloodgood has been trying her best to make it this whole year. Unfortunately, she has not yet been able to do so.  She...

“She’s tough, she’s strong, and she’s loyal,” said Eileen's best friend and teammate Julia Villarreal. Eileen Cecconi has been on RB Special Olympics for the past two years. To her this year was particularly special. It is her senior year, and she gets to go to state with her best friend by her side. When Villarreal and Cecconi are not shooting hoops with their team, they do various...

Sigita Cuplinskas is no new face when it comes to state. She has been to state in the past with Special Olympics track. She is beyond excited to be taking on this challenge a second time and with a new team and coaches. Cuplinskas made it through the season with a big help from her coaches. “My coaches have helped me the most because they keep pushing us to remember,” said Cuplinskas. Cuplinskas...

Alex Lange has many hobbies. From basketball to video games to napping, he loves to do it all. Lange has played basketball for many years. He used to play at Oak Park River Forest High School on their Special Olympics team. He also has experienced making it to state in the past through RB’s Special Olympics track and field team. Lange is pretty excited to make it to state again. He gets to go...

Nick Lojas has become very close with his team this season. Lojas is a returning player, so he knows how the team works together and always tries to motivate them to do better and keep up the good work. Lojas is very dedicated to the team and always puts in his best effort. Lojas is a true player. “Nick is tall and lean and really made for basketball,” said Mary Jahnke, a retired paraprofessiona...

Alyssa Lozada is not only known for her sassy personality, but also for her great basketball skills. Lozada’s coaches and friends have seen all the progress she has made this season. Student Annalisa Cinkay is one of the many students who have helped Lozada this season with improving her skills. “She was a little rocky at the start, but now she’s throwing it over my head and really impress...

“You’ll never meet a more happy-go-lucky guy. Everything he does, he does with a smile. When you see Joe, your day is instantly better,” said senior John Kosner, who has been working with the Special Olympics team on their journey to state. Joe McKelvin is a freshman here at RB. This was his first year at RB and already he has clearly left a huge impact on everyone in the community. McKelv...

Colleen Meade started basketball when she came to RB and she has loved it ever since. From actually playing to simply goofing off and dancing around the court, Meade is alway making the best out of all situations. Senior McKenna Doyle has gotten very close with Meade this season. “She is so sassy. She doesn’t walk or run around the court. She struts,” said Doyle. “She loves playing with...

It has been a long season for the whole team. Athlete Michelle Owrey has had an amazing season with lots of ups and downs. Owrey had one favorite part of this season. “Passing the ball to Shawn,” said Owrey. Owrey especially enjoys passing the ball to her teammate Shawn Spera because she knows that he will always make the baskets. Owrey said that she bonded a lot with Spera throughout this...

Shawn Spera, who recently turned 21, first got the chance to celebrate his 21st birthday with his team at an after-school practice. Spera was more than happy to be here with his team, even on his birthday. Spera always enjoys practices. “Shawn always looks forward to coming to practices. He always shows up in a really great mood,” said Audrey Connelly, a sophomore who devotes her extra time ...

21-year-old Josh Sylvie is constantly making others laugh and making their day. Through his wonderful sense of humor and his huge smile, Sylvie has a huge impact on not only his teammates but the whole school. Many students and teachers volunteer to work with the Special Olympics team and have really learned a lot from these players. Senior John Kosner is one of many students who has gotten the...

Senior Aaron Torres has been on the basketball team for all four years, always devoting his time and effort to the team. Torres is very excited to be able to make it to state, especially his senior year. “[The most exciting thing is] just being able to finally see what it’s like at state,” said Torres. Torres and his team are always helping each other out on and off the court. Torres�...

Taking on state is a huge challenge for  Julia Villarreal. Recently, at the state qualifier, Villarreal sprained her ankle and had to use crutches. She has been slowly recovering and making her way back into the game after this minor setback. Villarreal’s team has been beyond supportive throughout this challenge. “They carry my backpack from class to class and call me daily to see how I am doin...