Student Spotlight: Elita Cronin and Paige Rippinger
by Xander Lundblad, BHS student/BPS101 Communications Dept. intern
Best friends typically do everything together. For Batavia High School freshman Elita Cronin and sophomore Paige Rippinger, being together helps them be their best. Together, they participated in the 2018 Special Olympics this past May where they both came home with medals and ribbons.
This year, the Special Olympics spring games were held at Marmion Academy, which Elita said was “beautiful!”
Elita won a silver medal for the softball throw and a bronze medal for the 50 meter run. Paige won ribbons for taking sixth place in the 50 meter run and fifth place in the softball throw. Both athletes practiced at Rotolo Middle School for several weeks this spring along with their team, the Mid-Valley All Stars.
Elita and Paige practicing the 50 meter run at Rotolo Middle School.
Several BPS101 student athletes are part of the Mid-Valley All Stars and did extremely well at the Special Olympics spring games at Marmion this year. These students were honored at Batavia High School’s spring assembly. Take a look at the results:
High School Level
- Elita Cronin, 9th Grade, BHS, 2nd Place Softball Throw, 3rd Place 50 M Run
- Paige Rippinger, 10th Grade, BHS, 6th Place 50 M Run, 5th Place Softball Throw
- Zachary Hylka, 12th Grade, BHS, 2nd Place Softball Throw, 3rd Place 50 M Run
Middle School Level
- Katherine Ball, 6th Grade, RMS, 1st Place 1500 M Run
- Michael Pavnica, 6th Grade, RMS, 2nd Place Tennis Ball Throw, 6th Place 50 M Run
- Eleanor Samsami, 6th Grade, RMS, 2nd Place 50 M Run, 2nd Place Softball Throw
- Willem vanLoon, 7th Grade, RMS, 3rd Place 50 M Run, 1st Place Tennis Ball Throw
- Maxine Delmundo, 8th Grade, RMS, 2nd Place Softball Throw, 7th Place 50 M Run
- Anna Kroger, 8th Grade, RMS, 7th Place Softball Throw, 6th Place 50 M Run
Elementary Level
- Kathryn Sauer, 1st Grade, Maercker, GMS, 5th Place 50 M Run, 1st Place Tennis Ball Throw
- Luke Lindeman, 2nd Grade, Ivan, GMS, 4th Place Softball Throw, 6th Place 50 M Run
- Noah Kennedy, 2nd Grade, Clarey, GMS, 4th Place 50 M Run, 1st Place Softball Throw
- Peter Litow, 2nd Grade, Smith, LWS, 4th Place Softball Throw, 5th Place 50 M Run
- Ellison Kosky, 3rd Grade, Amesquita, GMS, 5th Place Softball Throw, 2nd Place 50 M Run
- Zackary Martinson, 3rd Grade, Guth, GMS, 1st Place Softball Throw, 6th Place 50 M Run
- Wyatt Stahl, 4th Grade, Palombella, GMS, 1st Place Softball Throw
- Thomas Brooks, 5th Grade, Foster, GMS, 4th Place Tennis Ball Throw, 5th Place 50 M Run
- Joseph Flaherty, 5th Grade, Lundgren, GMS, 1st Place Tennis Ball Throw, 4th Place 50 M Run
Another student athlete, BHS freshman Robert Finch, competed in Special Olympics Illinois at the state level in October and won a gold medal for volleyball. He also played in a Special Olympics District Soccer Tournament this spring through the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association. This was a Special Olympics Illinois qualifying tournament to compete at the state in June 2018. While the FVSRA Stars did not qualify, the team played hard and stayed extremely competitive.
A few other students who didn’t participate in the Special Olympics, but are still very active in athletics include BHS freshmen Grace Lindenmeyer who practices weekly as part of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association. She has been riding horses for five years, has competed in horse shows, and has trained alongside the Northern Illinois University women’s team. BHS freshman Carson Miara has been playing baseball with the FVSRA for the past eight years.
Elita, who continues her athleticism as a member of the Cheer Alliance Wildcat Team, will be participating in the Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Celebration at Soldier Field in July 2018. Elita shared that she’s pretty excited about this opportunity.
“The majority of my time with the dynamic duo occurs in the classroom, but seeing them navigate the hallways, locker room, cafeteria, and their community—like Marmion’s track—is a real treat because that is where I see their friendship and confidence blossom!” said Julie Preziosio, BHS VTP teacher. “Together, they are quite a force!”
Both Elita and Paige said that having family, teachers, friends, and their peer partners from the Batavia High School VTP (Vocational Transition Program) come out to watch the Special Olympics at Marmion was one the highlights of the Special Olympics experience this year. They also said they were excited and proud to march in the parade right before the Olympics began and when they received their medals. Surprisingly, they both said they were not nervous at all. What?!
“It helps when we are together,” said Elita.
Paige and Elita celebrating with their ribbons and medals at the Special Olympics spring games.
Can’t wait to see what the Mid-Valley All Stars achieve next!
