Barrington Dist. 220 Special Olympics team honored

Some members of the Barrington High School Special Olympics track and field, basketball and soccer teams were honored at this week's meeting of the Barrington Area Unit District 220 school board.

The after-school program has been growing steadily since it was introduced by Shandra Nosal, who started the track and field team six years ago. The basketball team was formed last year and the soccer team is just beginning its first year now. The teams are made up of students with special needs at the middle school and high school levels. They are coached by area parents and assisted by district students.

"You see them in school being more confident and more social; academics improve as well," Nosal said. "The peer coaches get a lot from this as well; they probably benefit the most, honestly."

Now that soccer has been added, the student athletes can participate in sports year-round.