D202 Middle School Special Olympics Teams To Compete At State Level

PLAINFIELD, IL — Two middle school Special Olympics basketball teams from Plainfield are headed to the state games March 7-9.

The Red Cheetah and the Blue Cheetahs competed in the regional tournament on Jan. 12, earning silver and gold medals, respectively, to advance to the state level taking place at Illinois State University.

The teams are made up of students from Aux Sable, Drauden Point, Heritage Grove, Ira Jones and John F. Kennedy middle schools.

This is the first year Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 hosted a middle school Special Olympics program. Haley Koziol, the middle school Special Olympics athletic director and FBI Select teacher at Drauden Point, said expectations were high for the teams, but coaches focused on developing fundamental basketball skills and gaining experience.

"Coaches and supporters are incredibly proud of the athletes' growth and dedication throughout the season," she said, per a District 202 news release.

The two teams are comprised of the following players:

Red Cheetahs, with coaches Dani Harness and Laura Gialo and parent volunteer Willie Noble

• Parker Cuello, sixth grade, Drauden Point Middle School
• Jake Garbis, sixth grade, Heritage Grove Middle School
• Imanol Lupian, seventh grade, Heritage Grove Middle School
• Eizlee Reyes, eighth grade, Ira Jones Middle School
• Lilianna “Lily” Diversey, seventh grade, Ira Jones Middle School
• Wade Nobel, eighth grade, Ira Jones Middle School
• Ryan Angelus, eighth grade, John F. Kennedy Middle School

Blue Cheetahs, with coaches Brenda Rosenbaum and Haley Koziol and parent volunteer Jason Lammert

• Camden Annis, sixth grade, Aux Sable Middle School
• Ryen Lebsock, sixth grade, Aux Sable Middle School
• Will Rosario, seventh grade, Drauden Point Middle School
• Nicholas “Nick” Lammert, seventh grade, Drauden Point Middle School
• Payton Labellarte, seventh grade, Drauden Point Middle School
• Jonathan Gandy, eighth grade, Drauden Point Middle School
• Joseph “Joey” Schmid, seventh grade, Ira Jones Middle School
• London Williams-Demus, eighth grade, John F. Kennedy Middle School