Seventeen-year-old Abby Stanton of Lake in the Hills said participating in the 2017 Champions Special Needs Skating Competition was more than just an athletic feat. It’s a place where she can be herself and meet other skaters.
“Competing doesn’t scare me,” she said. “I get to see my friends.”
The 25th annual skating competition took place on Jan. 7 at the Franklin Park Ice Arena. The event included 102 athletes from as far as Wisconsin participating in figure skating, sled hockey, speed skating and ice hockey competitions.
The day concluded with the ice hockey competition against the Chicago Blackhawks Special Hockey Team and the Wisconsin Timber Wolves.
“This competition is a special opportunity for these kids,” skate school director Anne Raucci said. “It’s important for the Franklin Park Ice Arena to host this.”
Raucci said that athletes participate in two events that are added to receive first-, second- and third-place trophies. The competition is also a qualifier to see what teams will go on to a state-level competition.
“This has been a collaboration throughout the years, and we have more and more people participating,” Raucci said. “We host it every year for the kids.”
Stanton has been competing in the Special Olympics since 2009. Her father, Chris Stanton, said that the event helps his daughter see her peers.
“The thing that Abby likes the most is being around all of her friends,” he said. “It’s an activity every week [in which] they can be together, and they enjoy skating.”
Michelle Reuter of Woodstock had similar thoughts. Her daughter, 21-year-old Carlie Reuter, enjoys figure skating and likes spending time with her companions during skating competitions. Reuter feels that the skating community is friendly and close-knit.
“When Carlie is in school, she participates in inclusion classes,” she explained. “When she comes to skate, she’s competing with people who are a lot like her. It’s a comfort.”
“I’m so happy when I’m skating,” Carlie Reuter said. “I like having fun with my friends when I skate.”
Mark Carlson of Lemont said his daughter, 14-year-old Madeline Carlson, likes the attention of performing in front of a crowd. Three years ago she couldn’t stand on the ice, and now she can do pirouettes and turns.
“She’s usually very introverted, so competing is a change for her,” he said. “What’s easy for us is harder for them — sometimes simple tasks we take for granted. This competition is a chance for them to have their moment in the sun.”
Maryann Pisano is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
