May 20 Newsletter

Events / Activities / Updates

Upcoming changes to schedules:
To align practices for each sports the following will be implemented after 27 August:

• Softball: Mondays - Mascoutah JV Softball field @ 6:00
• Soccer & Soccer skills: Tuesdays - Laderman Park @ 6:00
• Track: Wednesdays - Mascoutah High School track @ 6:00
• Golf: Thursdays - Orchards Belleville @ 6:00
• Tennis: Saturdays - Mascoutah tennis courts @ 9:00
• Once summer games are over Flag Football will replace soccer on Tuesday.
  Volleyball will be on Wednesdays

WLTG Prom Night

• June 13, 2025 - FRIDAY
• Swansea / Belleville Moose Lodge 1221

Caring for Families

• This is for parents and anyone who takes care of someone. Support Group focus. 
• We are taking an interest poll so let us know and we will get back to you. 
• For contact info - it’s at the time or in person when you see​

Ainad Shriners Parade - June 6th

• Without Limits - Team Galaxy will be participating in the 2025 Shriner's Parade. The Without Limits SO Cheer Team will be performing and we welcome all of our members and athletes to ride or march along with us in this fun and spectacular parade!!!
• Please let us know if you would like to participate.
• MORE DETAILS TO COME

2025 Membership Dues are Due
We have a number of unpaid sports Membership Fees that have not been paid.  If you have been contacted by Marcia in regards to this, please pay them.  Thank you all!  

Its a new year and with a the new year comes our membership dues.  
To complete your 2025 Membership Dues, please visit our online Square to make your payment!  

2025 Event Dates & Deadlines Website Links

• 2025 Special Olympics of IL Event Dates & Deadlines 
• Fun Nights for 2025 - Schedules

Summer Games
Held on 20 June. If you receive a gold medal, you are eligible for Summer Games. Athletes
please get with your coaches if you are attending, if you are staying in the dorms and if you need
a ride to the games.

Dance / Theater / Gymnastics / Cheer

​​Artistic Gymnastics

• Sundays 9:00-10:00am
• Gateway Elite Gymnastics -- 700 Old Collinsville Road / Fairview Heights, IL 62208

Rhythmic Gymnastics:

• Wednesdays
• 5:15 pm Group 1
• 6:00 pm Group 2 
• Stars R Us Dance Studio / 9241 B Bellar Dr., / Mascoutah, IL

Dance Scheduling  --  Choreography / Practice Scheduling
See the latest schedule on the "Without Limits - The Arts" Facebook page!!

Theater Schedule for May​

• Saturday, May 24th, 10:30am, Review pgs. 1-10 "Oh, the Thinks You Can Think"
  People needed: EVERYONE
• Saturday, May 31st, 10:30am, review pgs. 14-20 AND pgs. 22-29
  • People needed:
    • Cats (1-3)
    • Jojo
    • Mr. Mayor
    • Mrs. Mayor
    • Whos

Theater Group Announcements
We have a venue!!!! Thanks to everyone that helped and reached out to places. Special thanks to Alice Howe who literally went knocking on doors for me.

• VENUE: O'Fallon First United Methodist Church
• 504 E Hwy 50, O'Fallon, IL (across from the high school)
• SHOW DATE: July 19, 2025
• TIMES: 12 NOON AND 2 PM
• REHEARSAL DAYS AT THE CHURCH:   July 15, 16, 17, 18 from 6 to 8 pm each night

SHOW SHIRTS are now available for order. They will be white short sleeve T shirts with Seussical logo on front and cast on back.
Prices are:

• $18.00 youth sizes & Adult S, M, L, XL
• $20.00 for XXL $21.00 for 3XL $22.00 for 4XL
• To place an order please Email [email protected]
• Payment can be check (made payable to Ellen Schwoebel) or venmo (@schwoebels)

Other WL theater merchandise is still available to order, see attached Picture below for prices.

• To place an order please Email [email protected]
• Payment can be check (made payable to Ellen Schwoebel) or venmo (@schwoebels)

Further info about the venue. Keep in mind this venue is a church so all participants and their family members must be respectful of the property at all times.

• The venue is small. Backstage areas will be cramped.
• The church is excited to help us

​
I Feel Like Dancin' Recital

• If your dancer is doing their solo / duo / trio at recital, contact Kati Hassal
• Recital is scheduled for Saturday, July 12th at 2PM
• To be held at Christ Church - Scott Campus

Nutcracker & Theater & Dance Updates - Exciting News for 2025!  From Kati!!!
See the latest schedule on the "Without Limits - The Arts" Facebook page!!

Nutcracker 2025:

• Rehearsals Begin: June 2025  
• Performance Date: December 2025  
• Nutcracker Tea: Prior to the performance – an opportunity for friends and family to take pictures and meet our beloved characters! Date to be announced.  

Important Nutcracker Notes:

• If you were assigned a part and wish to keep it, **let me know ASAP.**
• If you were assigned a part but no longer want to participate, **let me know ASAP.**
• If you were not originally cast but want to participate, **let me know ASAP.** I would love to include you!
• We are returning to the original Nutcracker version – forget any new choreography you may have started. We’re going back to the classic!  

Choreography Help Needed:

• I’m scheduling choreography now and need a few more people to help finish by February 2025. If you need choreography, please let me know!  
• Also, if you have any recordings of past choreography I’ve done, please send them my way. I lost my iPad with all my choreography notes! :(  

St. Louis 2 -- Solos/Duets

• Recital or Competition: Let me know if you want to compete or just perform at the recital.
• Addiction Nationals (Chicago): Solos/duets welcome! Approximate cost: $200/dancer
• Addiction Regional (St. Louis): May 9-11, 2025  
  • Cost: Around $150/solo or $75/dancer in duets  

General Reminders: 

• Stay tuned to our Facebook page for class updates.  
• We follow Mascoutah school cancellations – if they’re closed, so are we. 
• Purchase your "SO-Cheer Gear" today!!!

The Merch Store is Open with new Logo
Follow the link and order today!

Sports & Athletics

Coaches Training
Region J will be holding a coaches training session on 16 July. Most activities will be held inside to avoid the heat or rain. There will be special sessions for Basketball, Volleyball, Bocce, softball and track. Coaches this is an opportunity to get your certification in your sport you coach. Please use the link here to take a survey   We will take the results and offer trainings in the sports with the most interest.

We Need Coaches & Volunteers—Join Our Team!
As our Without Limits - Team Galaxy programs continue to grow, so does our need for dedicated coaches and volunteers. To maintain the quality and safety of our sports programs, we must meet athlete-to-coach ratio requirements—and right now, we’re falling short in several areas. Whether you have experience in sports or simply a passion for inclusion and teamwork, your support can make a huge impact. Training is provided, and your involvement helps create meaningful opportunities for athletes of all abilities. If you’re interested in joining our coaching team or supporting in other ways, please reach out—we’d love to have you on board!

Requirements for Special Olympics Sports at WLTG
There are three steps that need to be done / accomplished before joining Without Limits-Team Galaxy (WLTG) Sports or prior to their first practices. 

1. Each member must have a Without Limit-Team Galaxy membership and must be in the Special Olympics Digital Center of Excellence (COE).  If you have questions about the COE, please contact Marcia Morgan
2. You must also have a Waiver and Release on file with WLTG.
3. If you need to pay your WLTG annual membership fees:  please contact Ellen Schwoebel.  If you need a membership, you can bring a check to the first practice.  

​Sports Committee Needs You! 
The Without Limits-Team Galaxy Sports Committee is looking for any parent or coach that would like to be on the community. We would address Special Olympics sports, coaching and assuring we have the right equipment. If interested in part of the committee, please contact Rich Crothers

WTLG Upcoming Sports
We will be starting an interest for the following sports real soon; tennis, golf and softball. Please note: Signing up is important. This way we can assure Without Limits-Team Galaxy has enough coaches and resources. If interested in one of those sports, please contact Without Limits Team Galaxy.

Sharks Swimming Team - 2025 

• May 25th practice is canceled for the holiday weekend!  
• Happy Memorial Day this weekend!
• Purchase your "Shark-ware" today!!!​

Golf 2025

• Practices will be held every Thursday at  Orchards Golf Course at 6PM
• Regionals will be August 1st
• Questions feel free to email Jeff Elder [email protected] or call his cell @ 314-780-1696.

Soccer Teams & Skills

• No soccer this week due to weather forecast.
  
• Soccer practice will resume on Tuesday (27 May) will be at Laderman Park. Practice will run from 6:00 to 7:00.
• State will be on 20-22 June 2025
• Soccer Camp will be on 17 June at 5:00 at O’Fallon Family Sportsplex Park.=
  • We will be on field #1. Show time is 4:45 if possible.
    Wear uniform: Without Limits-Team Galaxy jersey, black shorts, black socks (must cover shin
    guards).
  • We will do a camp and then play a scrimmage. I am also trying to arrange another
    game for June.
• Skill athletes are invited.

Athletic Teams / Track & Field

• Track practice will be held on 21 May (Wednesday) at Scheve Park at 6:00.
• Practices will continue to be on Saturday's next week at 9:00 at Mascoutah High School Track
• State will be on 20-22 June 2025

Tennis

• An optional practice is being offered by Scott.
  
• Please email Marcia to let her know if you will be attending.
  
• Practices will be on Saturday’s at 9:00 at Mascoutah High School Tennis courts.
• Need a couple doubles teams to play some matches on Sunday to get the needed games in before we have to turn them in to the regional office on May 20th

​Flag Football

• Starting on June 24th (Tuesdays) at Laderman Park at 6PM
• Without Limits-Team Galaxy will be co-hosting a Flag Football game on 18 July in the evening in Edwardsville for Illinois and St. Louis Region.
• The co-host is a development program out of Dallas, Texas.
• Flag Football (Regional: 28 September in Mascoutah)

Softball
Softball practices will be on Monday at Mascoutah High School JV Field at 6PM.
It's time for softball , and this year we are looking to try our hand at traditional!
Coach Adam and Rich are excited to challenge our very talented players . 

• Practices after that will be for all players . 
• Practices will be held at the Mascoutah high school at the softball field on Mondays at 6 pm they will probably last an hour to hour fifteen minutes. 
• Please email Jenn for questions and interest to play . 
• All athletes must be entered into the CoE and members of Without Limits - Team Galaxy

Volleyball

• We will be starting Volleyball on Wednesday evenings starting July 9th (5PM & 6PM starts)
• Practice will be help at the Leu Civic Center.
• One hour will be scheduled for Skills and one will be schedule for teams.
• email:  withoutlimits-teamgalaxy.com to express your interest

Bags / Cornhole is coming soon!!!!
Interested?  A tournament will be scheduled sometime this summer.  ​

Athlete of the Month of May - Stacy Morgan

This month’s athlete is Stacey Morgan. Stacey was born in Paris (Paris, Tennessee) on 13 February 1978. He has lived in three states (Tennessee, Kansas and Illinois). Stacey joined PTOEC and Special Olympics when he was 8 years old. He has participated in: Track and Field (softball throw, 50 yd. dash), Basketball, Soccer, Bowling and Golf. )ver the years, he has become more and more interested in the team sports. Over the last 23 years, he has earned more medals than his family and friends can count. 

Stacey attended Belleville East High School. He currently works in the dining hall, “Nightingale,” for Challenge Unlimited out of Alton, at Scott Air Force Base. He has been working through Challenge for over 10 years. Stacey has a strong repetition of
being a hard worker and friendly to everyone at work.

Stacey loves to listen to any kind of music, especially “Aero Smith.” He enjoys watching the local sports teams (Cardinals, Rams and Blues) and college sports (Football and Basketball.) He loves all type of scary movies (Friday the 13 th, Nightmare on Elm Streets & Halloween series.) He loves being outdoors and chasing “rabbits.” Stacey is the true social butterfly and loves spending time with family and friends. He loves parties and holidays and playing the Wii. He enjoys hanging out with friends like Todd and Rusty. Stacey’s mom, Marcia, live in O’Fallon, IL. Stacey also has a brother named Scott. He also enjoys the Fun Nights.

Stacey was awarded the prestigious honor in 2007 of “Honorary Coach” of the Belleville Futbol Clubs (BFC) Under 15 boys by the members of the BFC U 15 squad. Every game he stood on the side lines that year the team came away with a victory. His
demeanor always gave the players joy. He also loves attending and watching the BFC soccer teams. His success in soccer also includes winning over seven Illinois Special Olympics state championship over the years.
​
Stacey is a beam of light for all he comes in contact with him. His outgoing personality and antics only brings smiles and joy to ever who is around.

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