Special Olympics' Skaters Get Chance to Show off Skills

Abigaile Stanton of Lake in the Hills was heartbroken this past week when she learned the Special Olympics’ games she’d been training for had been canceled.

The 11-year-old figure skater had been hitting the ice for over a year to prepare for the Illinois Special Olympics’ winter games. All events, which had been scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday in Galena, were canceled because of the snowstorm.

“She was really sad. She was crying and pretty upset,” said Abigaile’s mother, Mindy Stanton. “And after that, she was mad that it wasn’t rescheduled.”

To give area athletes the chance to show off their hard work, the stepped up and offered to host an exhibition program at noon Saturday, said Zane Shropshire, coach at the Crystal Lake Ice House, 320 E. Prairie St. in Crystl Lake. Shropshire has been coaching Special Olympics’ athletes for the past 17 years.

“It was not a good week for the kids – they have worked so hard,” Shropshire said. “We wanted them to at least be able to do their programs for the rink.”

Five area athletes, ranging in ages of 9 years old to 40 years old, will perform their programs. The athletes live in Lake in the Hills, Woodstock, Crystal Lake and Johnsburg.

The exhibition is open to the public, and Stanton is hoping to get a crowd out to watch the athletes.

“We have just been trying to spread the word to friends and families to get more  to come out,” Stanton said.

As for Abigaile Stanton, she’s ecstatic to have a way to show off her hard work.

“She is excited to be able to wear her outfit and skate her program,” Mindy Stanton said.