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Fans wore blue and gold as they packed the stands for Lyons Township High School (LT) Special Olympics athletes at the Pack the Place event on Friday, Jan. 14.

Games started at 4:30 p.m. in the school’s North Campus Fieldhouse to continue a multiyear school tradition.

LT’s Special Olympics basketball players challenged three teams in one evening. The schedule featured the LT Gold team versus Park Junior High School, the LT Blue team versus Community High School District 99 and the LT White team versus Riverside Brookfield High School.

Last year’s event was not held due to COVID-19.

Holding the sign, Hannah Voigt, 17, a Lyons Township High School junior of La Grange Park, is in the stands. She is here to cheer on No. 12, Gold team member (unseen) Anna Luszcz, a Lyons Township High School student from Brookfield. Image from Pack the Place on ,Jan. 14, at Lyons Township High School in La Grange.
Holding the sign, Hannah Voigt, 17, a Lyons Township High School junior of La Grange Park, is in the stands. She is here to cheer on No. 12, Gold team member (unseen) Anna Luszcz, a Lyons Township High School student from Brookfield. Image from Pack the Place on ,Jan. 14, at Lyons Township High School in La Grange.

“Obviously things are different this year because of COVID, but we usually get a great turnout, the whole community,” said Emma Colangelo of Lombard, lead LT Special Olympics sponsor and White team coach.

Colangelo Is also a special-education teacher at Lyons Township High School.

“The students get involved, the staff gets involved, it’s always a great time and the kids absolutely love it,” Colangelo said of Pack the Place.

The Lyons Township High School junior varsity spirit cheerleaders formed a tunnel on the basketball court before each game, showcasing student athletes who entered with individual recognition and applause fanfare.

“They would rather cheer for these games than any games,” said Bobbette Pulliam, cheerleading coach and Lyons Township High School senior class social worker.

Far left, during the National Anthem with the Lyons Township High School junior varsity spirit cheerleaders is Carlie Kuhlman, 16, a Lyons Township High School sophomore, of La Grange. Image from Pack the Place on Friday, Jan. 14, at Lyons Township High School in La Grange in the North Campus Fieldhouse.
Far left, during the National Anthem with the Lyons Township High School junior varsity spirit cheerleaders is Carlie Kuhlman, 16, a Lyons Township High School sophomore, of La Grange. Image from Pack the Place on Friday, Jan. 14, at Lyons Township High School in La Grange in the North Campus Fieldhouse.

Cheerleader Carlie Kuhlman, 16, a Lyons Township High School sophomore of La Grange, said the basketball players she cheered for that Friday night are, “very talented.

“It is a privilege for me to be here,” Carlie said.

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Gabby Williams, coach of the Gold team, is a special education English teacher.

“Very proud of them, just excited,” Williams said of the student athletes. “I love it because I just love how happy they are.”

Darwin DePina coached the Blue team and serves as a school district paraeducator for special education.

Lydia Schiferl, a Lyons Township High School student from La Grange, and of the gold team, has the ball. Image from Pack the Place at Lyons Township High School in La Grange.
Lydia Schiferl, a Lyons Township High School student from La Grange, and of the gold team, has the ball. Image from Pack the Place at Lyons Township High School in La Grange.

“This is an awesome opportunity for not only the players, but the fans to see what these student athletes do on the court, and how much fun they have,” DePina said.

“It’s just a pleasure to coach them.”

The event began with the national anthem. Half-time entertainment included an expanded cheerleader routine.

The Friday night event was free to attend. Any donor proceeds collected benefited LT Special Olympics.

Here a few more pictures from the game:

Left, No. 21, of the gold team, Fletcher Dixon, 17, a Lyons Township High School junior from Western Springs, goes in for play in the first game of the event. Images from Pack the Place on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 at Lyons Township High School (100 S. Brainard Ave.) in La Grange in the North Campus Fieldhouse.
Left, No. 21, of the gold team, Fletcher Dixon, 17, a Lyons Township High School junior from Western Springs, goes in for play in the first game of the event. Images from Pack the Place on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 at Lyons Township High School (100 S. Brainard Ave.) in La Grange in the North Campus Fieldhouse.
The National Anthem. Images from Pack the Place on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 at Lyons Township High School (100 S. Brainard Ave.) in La Grange in the North Campus Fieldhouse.
The National Anthem. Images from Pack the Place on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 at Lyons Township High School (100 S. Brainard Ave.) in La Grange in the North Campus Fieldhouse.
Jane Shapland, 2, of Naperville, waves a pom pon while watching Lyons Township High School junior varsity spirit cheerleaders on the court sidelines. Images from Pack the Place on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 at Lyons Township High School (100 S. Brainard Ave.) in La Grange in the North Campus Fieldhouse.
Jane Shapland, 2, of Naperville, waves a pom pon while watching Lyons Township High School junior varsity spirit cheerleaders on the court sidelines. Images from Pack the Place on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 at Lyons Township High School (100 S. Brainard Ave.) in La Grange in the North Campus Fieldhouse.