Posted: Jan. 8, 2010 |(0) Comments

Every person deserves their moment in the spotlight, and when Shorewood freshman gymnast Caitlin Nadar got her chance Jan. 6 in the Greyhounds dual meet with defending division 2 state champ Whitefish Bay, she seized it.

No, Nadar didn't claim the all-around title, or lead Shorewood to a striking upset, and she did need a little help from her coach Sarah Paul to finish her uneven bars routine, but with her light-up-the-world smile and play-to-the-crowd attitude, she won everybody in the Bay gym over, earning an emphatic "10" from the judges for her charisma alone.

And when it was all over, she was engulfed by her teammates in a sea of hugs and kisses.

"It was just the sweetest thing," said an emotional Blue Dukes coach Mary Liniewski. "There wasn't a dry eye in the house when she was done with her floor routine. The crowd just went wild."

And that's a moment Nadar, who is a vital part of Shorewood's special education program, will carry with her the rest of her life.

"She just did not want to leave (after it was done)," said Paul. "She just wanted to stay and bask in the glory for awhile. You've got to embrace those moments when you get them, because - as you know - they just don't come around that often."

So now, Nadar will go back to being a good teammate and a good student. Paul, who had made arrangements with Liniewski at the meet to have Nadar perform in an exhibition capacity after the varsity was through, said Nadar will get another chance in a North Shore/Greater Metro Conference dual meet later this winter.

Another moment in the sun.

Encourages participation

It's all part of Shorewood's inclusive "transitions program" which helps make the special education (cognitively disabled, Down's Syndrome, etc.) students feel more a part of the broader school community.

"Wherever possible, they are encouraged to participate, especially in extra-curricular programs," said Shorewood High School and Intermediate School special education teacher Chris Gagne. "… No one batted an eye when Caitlin and her parents told Mr. (Bill) Haury (the school activities director) that she was going to come out for gymnastics this winter."

Nadar, who may also go out for softball in the spring, will also likely be a part of the special education program's community work experience program next school year, Gagne said. Already, four members of the Shorewood special education population (there are 17 of them all told, kindergarten through 12th grade) are involved in that.

"They're just really encouraged to reach their potential here, no matter what area that involves," Gagne said.

And Nadar has been involved in gymnastics for some time, having come up through Liniewski's recreation program in Whitefish Bay. She has limitations due to her disability, but Paul notes that she is a "fantastic floor worker" and can handle a basic vault (off a lower height) in fine fashion.

"She also has a great laugh," Paul said, "and it's infectious."

Which all led to that Jan. 6 night.

Thrill of competition

"When I told her that she was competing, she was absolutely thrilled," said Paul.

Both coaches spoke to the judges about the situation and asked them if Nadar could not only compete but also be scored, too. They agreed.

She handled the vault well, needed that help on the bars, did the balance beam and finished with a flourish with the floor exercise. There, she needed just a little sideline coaching from Paul as to when to do a cartwheel or when to dance.

The only thing she didn't do well was the traditional signaling of the judges that each performer does at the end of each routine.

Liniewski said that little faux pas wasn't even noticed.

"She was just looking to the crowd," Liniewski. "The judges were irrelevant. This was all about her competing, about being part of a team. Just amazing. ... I tell you, this was one of those great moments you get sometimes. I told our kids afterwards that in the future when you're down about yourself or worried about how you look, just think about what Caitlin did this night."

Paul concurred.

"It was really so good for the rest of our team," she said. "They're all very compassionate kids so willing to help her (Caitlin) and myself. It was just a great growing experience for them."

And an integral part of Nadar's moment in the sun.