SEASPAR Athletes Medal at Special Olympics Illinois Winter Games

Submitted by SEASPAR.

Downers Grove, IL - Athletes trained by the South East Association for Special Parks And Recreation (SEASPAR) earned three medals at the Special Olympics Illinois Winter Games in Galena, Illinois, Feb. 2-4.

The Special Olympics Winter Games is one of nine state sports competitions, and the final state competition for Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, and Snowshoeing events. Approximately 400 athletes competed at the event at Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galena.

William Porch of Westmont represented SEASPAR in the Cross-Country Skiing competition. Porch earned a gold medal for the fourth straight year in the 500M event, finishing almost a minute faster than the silver medalist. Porch is considered the fastest Special Olympics cross-country skier in this event in the state of Illinois. He also earned a bronze medal in the 1K event.

Porch has competed in the Winter Games for years, and also participates in SEASPAR’s swimming program as one of the top 20 Special Olympics swimmers in Illinois in the 50M Freestyle and Backstroke events. Porch also qualified for the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games several years for Individual Bocce play, one of few SEASPAR athletes to do so. Porch was honored in 2015 as the SEASPAR Athlete of the Year.

Michael Duffy, also of Westmont, earned a bronze medal in the Alpine Skiing Super G (downhill) event, and took fifth place in the Giant Slalom event. Duffy has participated in SEASPAR’s Special Olympics alpine skiing program since 2008, but has only been skiing competitively since 2013. He has competed in snowshoeing events in the past, and also participates in SEASPAR’s Special Olympics athletics (track and field) program.

SEASPAR trains athletes for Special Olympics competitions in golf, aquatics, bowling, volleyball, basketball, tennis, softball, soccer, floor hockey, athletics (track and field), powerlifting, artistic gymnastics, bocce, skiing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. SEASPAR’s athletes compete in Special Olympics events throughout the year.

About SEASPAR

The South East Association for Special Parks And Recreation (SEASPAR) provides dynamic recreation programs and quality services for individuals with disabilities served by the park districts of Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, La Grange, La Grange Park, Lemont, Lisle, Westmont, and Woodridge, and the villages of Brookfield, Indian Head Park, and Western Springs.