On March 15, the Special Olympics Basketball team won the State Championship, a first for the program in 21 years. Not even a full month later, many athletes had to transition from competing in basketball to participating in Special Olympics Track.

“We do have a lot of players on both [Special Olympics Basketball and Track],” Assistant Coach Katie Schuetz said. “The recognition was so important, and it was so cool for our team to see another team like us be recognized and appreciated. I think it speaks more to the fact that these are things that are accessible to them rather than their love for basketball versus track and field. It’s more so that it’s hard to attend something that’s not built for you, and that’s part of [the]  inclusivity we’re always trying to grow here at LT.”

Compared to basketball, Special Olympics Track is more of an individual sport, where athletes compete against themselves in an attempt to improve upon their own scores, rather than other athletes, Schuetz said. 

“These athletes have been working on fitness and athletic conditioning since the winter, which has helped them have a strong start to our track and field season,” Head Coach Katherine Hickey-Weiss said. “Athletes are looking forward to potentially adding some more State gold medals to our collection.” 

At competitions, athletes participate in one running event and one throwing event, Schuetz said. These events are assigned based on a combination of athlete preference and coach selection. In early March, athletes participate in an assessment day, where coaches place athletes in a variety of events to gauge their interest. Athletes who use a mobility device, such as a wheelchair or a gait trainer, can use that as well while competing. 

“Athletes have done a great job learning new track and field events that they may not have participated in last season,” Hickey-Weiss said. “Athletes do a great job of supporting and encouraging each other throughout the season.”

Some of the events competed by athletes include short and long distance running and walking, standing long jump, running long jump, high jump, javelin throw, softball throw, tennis ball throw, and shot put. One athlete is competing in the pentathlon this season, Hickey-Weiss said. 

“I like running,” athlete Jack van Alphen ‘26 said. 

During the season, van Alphen competes in the 50-meter run and the shot put event. Outside of track season, he participates in Special Olympics Basketball and Powerlifting, which helps prepare him for his track events, van Alphen said. 

“Some challenges [we have faced this season] have been just coming back from not doing it after a whole year,” Schuetz said. “It’s hard to take a year off, and it’s also hard to facilitate practices when it’s not in season. So just having the kids come back and remember what it’s like to work hard and what their events are and how to do it…are challenges for us.”

The team practices every Tuesday from 3:30-5 p.m., and they competed on a few weekends in April and May. During practice, peer leaders—students who would not normally qualify for Special Olympics Track—help out and encourage athletes. 

“I personally love our practices,” Schuetz said. “When we’re talking about being a team and coming together at the end of practice, we always play a game. A big fan favorite is freeze tag. The whole team plays together. They all chase each other. The peer leaders play with us. Some of the coaches play too, and it’s really fun to watch the sprinters run after the distance runners. It’s a good time.”

On May 2 and 3, the athletes had the opportunity to qualify for State at the Spring Games, hosted at Marmion Academy. 

“My favorite part is watching the pride in athletes’ faces when they have completed their event and earned an award at the Spring Games,” Hickey-Weiss said. “I love watching [their] skills grow with every season.”

The team will next compete at the State tournament, located at Illinois State University, from June 12 to 14.