North Cook News

Athletes on the Pleasantdale school district's Special Olympics team opened the Pleasantdale School District 107's Jan. 18 board meeting by leading members in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Team coach Carissa Zill introduced the team members who would be leading the pledge, McKayla a basketball player and one of the team's "founding athletes" who was "wearing her bling," Zill said, from the team's recent third-place tournament finish; and track-and-field athlete Ricky.

Zill, who also teaches art at Pleasantdale middle school, told board members that the Special Olympics program, in its third year, added a bowling program to its lineup this year.

Zill said the program "serves kids not just from Pleasantdale, but they get to connect with kids from Gower, Highlands, McClur, Gurnee." 

"Yeah," Zill said, "it's pretty exciting."

After saying the pledge, Zill invited McKayla to show her basketball medal to board members and encouraged Ricky to share his favorite track and field event - "long jump," he answered - and why he loves Special Olympics.

Ricky said participating in Special Olympics activities lets him "let loose a bit," and that running and jumping helps him to work off his "extra energy."

Zill told board members the team has 16 athletes on its roster, with 13 regulars. Four of the students are from Pleasantdale; the rest from neighboring schools. Zill said the participation of several schools was beneficial for several reasons, including having enough players to field a basketball team while allowing for substitutes and an athlete missing a game.

Zill also invited board members who "are looking for things to do and you like to be a little crazy" to participate in next month's Polar Plunge. Zill jokingly said she and one other person were "the only jumpers right now, so we'd really like some company."