Former New Trier goalkeeper gains national acclaim for advocacy work

Aidan Crawford became involved with Special Olympics USA in middle school, volunteering in part because of how much his sister, who has Down syndrome, loves sports.

So when the Wilmette native and former senior goalkeeper for the New Trier Trevians enrolled at Loyola University and noticed the campus lacked a Special Olympics student organization, he decided to create a chapter his sophomore year. 

The group has since enabled more than 90 Loyola students to volunteer to help run sports practices at the nearby Misericordia Home, a Chicago-based nonprofit that provides housing and support to individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. 

That work has not gone unnoticed.

It was made public before a recent Loyola University-Chicago game that Crawford — now the goalkeeper for the Ramblers — is the captain of the Allstate National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Good Works Team. 

“I was proud to be recognized in that way and represent the university on a national scale, but I’ve also really enjoyed the publicity that came to the organization itself and Misericordia itself,” Crawford said of the accolade and the Special Olympics student org. 

“Lots of people have asked me more about the organization and have sought to become more involved and I think that’s the best thing that’s come out of this,” Crawford said. 

This is the inaugural year for the Allstate NACDA Good Works Team, which has highlighted seven total student athletes across the nation “who are making a difference outside their sport,” Pat Manak NACDA’s chief executive officer said in a news release. 

Crawford recalled he was first introduced to soccer through the Wilmette Park District. Once he eventually came to play for New Trier High School, he relished how the position of goalkeeper required exercising a lot of leadership and trust with his fellow teammates.

As Loyola has a reputation as a service school, he was surprised the university didn’t have a Special Olympics student organization on campus. 

Knowing well through his sister and his involvement with the Wilmette Stars Special Olympics team how the opportunities for those with disabilities to be able to play sports are few and far between, Crawford decided to help create a Special Olympics organization at Loyola. 

The university itself doesn’t have a student body of athletes for the Special Olympics, so the group partners with Misericordia, where Crawford’s brother also works. Volunteers attend practices on a weekly basis and are involved with state and national-level projects as well. 

In the fall months, the students are helping with track and field and floor hockey, practices, then basketball and bowling in the winter and soccer in the spring. The Special Olympics volunteers also help with a Motor Activity Training Program.

While still a relatively young club — the group won new student organization of the year during the 2023-’24 school year — Crawford said the Loyola Special Olympics chapter is growing fast. 

Still, Crawford said he was “shocked” when Holly Rowe, an ESPN reporter interviewing him ahead of his Aug. 26 game against Purdue Fort Wayne, broke the news that he had been selected as captain of the Allstate NACDA Good Works Team.

Crawford said he was already aware he had been selected to be part of the new cohort but felt particularly proud to represent the Loyola Athletic Department as it supports acts of service and social justice advocacy. 

“Making contributions to make the world a better place is kind of at the heart of what a successful life can be, our contributions to our community,” Elise Crawford, Aidan’s mother, said of her son receiving the national recognition. 

“That’s one of the things that we’re most proud of him about. We’re proud of many of his other accomplishments, but this kind of accomplishment is special.”

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