Geneva man hailed for Special Olympics win

GENEVA – A new green and white sign has been posted at Randall and Bricher roads on Geneva’s west side proclaiming Home of Matthew Wechter 2023 Special Olympics State Summer Games winner of fastest heat men’s 25-meter backstroke.

Mayor Kevin Burns unveiled the sign at a recent City Council meeting in recognition of Wechter’s Special Olympics achievement.

“We have a little something to recognize your excellence in everything you do and we’re delighted that you’re with us tonight,” Burns said in presenting the sign to Matthew.

Matthew Wechter, 34, has been downstate at Special Olympics championships many times. Most recently, he “was seeded in the fastest 25-meter backstroke, the sprint, and won convincingly,” his father, Larry Wechter, said.

Matthew Wechter started out in the world 15 weeks premature and weighing in at a shade under 2 pounds, his father said. Matthew spent the first four months of his life in a neonatal ICU at Loyola University Medical Center because neither Delnor Community Hospital – as it was known then – nor Central DuPage Hospital could care for such a tiny, fragile baby, his father said.

Larry Wechter said when Matthew came home from the hospital, he had therapy five to six days a week for years – physical, occupational and speech therapy.

When he was 3 years old, Matthew started swimming under the tutelage of now-retired coaches Sue and Hank Lange of St. Charles for almost 30 years.

“The main point is Matthew has been persistent for many, many years, working very, very hard at different sports and so forth, but he really excels at swimming,” Larry Wechter said.

Larry Wechter acknowledged many of the people who have helped Matthew, including his school social worker and neighbors Paul and Mandy McCurtain.

The Langes and McCurtains came to support Matthew’s Special Olympics recognition.

“His very best friend in high school – in the middle of COVID – brought him our wonderful dog so he could have a companion during that horrible time,” Larry Wechter said.

Kylie Rieser brought Matthew a black-and-white terrier-mix rescue named Nick and the dog became Matthew’s constant companion.

“She found out about this dog and said, ‘I think this would be perfect for Matthew,’ ” Larry Wechter said. “He is the cutest, sweetest dog in the world.”

Also attending the meeting to support Matthew were his older brother, Aaron, and his mother, Connie.

Matthew, who lives at home with his parents, swims at the Center of Elgin twice a week and goes horseback riding twice a week at Happy Hooves Therapeutic Farm in Blackberry Township and at HorsePower Therapeutic Riding in St. Charles Township. He also participates in a day program, his father said.

“We are extremely proud of Matthew,” Larry Wechter said. “Despite his early birth and the struggles he had – to survive and to thrive – he is quite a young gentleman and he is extremely persistent. He never gives up.”