On Saturday, March 24, Lake Forest College students, faculty, community members, and swim fans gathered at the Sports and Recreation Center to cheer on local Special Olympian swimmers at the Area 13 Special Olympics Aquatics Meet.
The meet hosted 175 athletes, ages 8 years and older, who hailed from Northern Cook County, Lake County, and McHenry County. Of the 175 swimmers that raced, 95 advanced to compete at the Summer State Olympic Games. The Summer State Olympic Games will take place on the campus of Illinois State University on June 15-17. In addition to swimming, the Summer Games will sponsor track & field, powerlifting, bocce ball, gymnastics (artistic & rhythmic), and soccer.
Each year athletes from the Forester swimming and diving team and several other athletic programs assist the coordinators of the meet with timing, escorting participants from the ready room to the pool deck, and organizing award ceremonies following each race, to name a few.
Lake Forest College Athletic Department thanks everyone who played a role in making this meet a success and looks forward to making another Special Olympic splash next year.