Special Olympics Illinois hosts annual state tennis tournament

Dozens of athletes and their families came from all over the state to compete for gold.(Photo courtesy WMBD-TV)

By WMBD-TV

BLOOMINGTON – Special Olympics Illinois hosted its annual two-day state tennis tournament at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington on Saturday and Sunday.

Dozens of athletes and their families came from all over the state to compete for gold.

Rob Queenan with Special Olympics said it doesn’t matter how they play or whether they win or lose, these athletes have fun no matter what.

“The love of the sport, you know, that they just love playing, they love competing, whether they’re getting, you know, first place or they get, you know, they get a fourth place ribbon. They don’t care. They just love playing and participating,” Queenan said.

Special Olympics Illinois will hold the softball state tournament in Springfield in September.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…