2026 Special olympics USA Games Team Arkansas
In June 2026, Special Olympics Arkansas will take a 90-person delegation to Minnesota to compete at 2026 Special Olympics USA Games! USA Games is the culmination of Special Olympics athletes’ hard work and dedication to their training. Team Arkansas is made up of 11 teams, 68 athletes and Unified partners, and 22 coaches. Teams include athletics, basketball, Unified bocce, Unified bowling, Unified flag football, Unified pickleball, powerlifting, Unified softball, swimming, Unified tennis, and youth leadership experience.
About 2026 USA Games
2026 USA Games will be a monumental celebration of ability and inclusion set against the backdrop of the beautiful Twin Cities. More than 4,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean will be in attendance to compete in 16 sports. 10,000 volunteers and 75,000 spectators will join to support one of the country’s most cherished sporting events. For the first time in USA Games history, the competitions and festivities will be spread across two core host venues: University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN) and National Sports Center (Blaine, MN).
Team Arkansas was revealed to athletes and their families at a private Team Reveal Celebration on August 3rd! With help from Asa Clay, Team Arkansas was revealed in style to the public on September 2nd with this video. Special Olympics Arkansas CEO Terri Weir says, "We at Special Olympics Arkansas are incredibly honored to reveal Team Arkansas to our athletes, volunteers, coaches, partners, and fans! We look forward to seeing what they accomplish at USA Games in June!"
Meet the Arkansas Diamonds!
About 2026 USA Games
2026 USA Games will be a monumental celebration of ability and inclusion set against the backdrop of the beautiful Twin Cities. More than 4,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean will be in attendance to compete in 16 sports. 10,000 volunteers and 75,000 spectators will join to support one of the country’s most cherished sporting events. For the first time in USA Games history, the competitions and festivities will be spread across two core host venues: University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN) and National Sports Center (Blaine, MN).
Team Arkansas was revealed to athletes and their families at a private Team Reveal Celebration on August 3rd! With help from Asa Clay, Team Arkansas was revealed in style to the public on September 2nd with this video. Special Olympics Arkansas CEO Terri Weir says, "We at Special Olympics Arkansas are incredibly honored to reveal Team Arkansas to our athletes, volunteers, coaches, partners, and fans! We look forward to seeing what they accomplish at USA Games in June!"
Meet the Arkansas Diamonds!
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Athletics
Coaches Valarie Hilson David Passen Cathy Cavender Athletes Elena Burlaza Haylee Lewis Lashanda Cox Jojo Cass Angus Trotter Tylan Kumm Skiler Ross Lebron Griffin |
Basketball
Coaches Greg Lindsey Alesia Sexton Wayne Austin Athletes Haydin Vandenberg Derek Smith Justin Cogburn Jeremy Vanscoy Caleb Smith Richie Foster D’Vonte Cook Craig Morehead Jerel Akins Narkevis Arnold |
Unified Bocce
Coach Brittney Wood Athletes Ann Rose Jarrett Magness Unified Partners Kayla Ragland Linda Magness |
Unified Bowling
Coach Dorene Mosier Athletes Jakob Collins Emily Standridge Unified Partners Brian Johnson Sara Kate Davis |
Athletics
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Basketball
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Unified Bocce
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Unified Bowling
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Unified Flag Football
Coaches Tarshawn Whitehead Billy Hartness Breanna Taylor Athletes Cameron Smith Noah Clay Kejisohan Reynolds JT Wallace Rickey Rhodes Cameron Bandy Unified Partners Xavier Jackson Chris Hernandez Elijah Lyles Skyler Curtis |
Unified Pickleball
Coach Monica McKinney Athletes Amy Price Thomas Cannon Unified Partners Shameka Wade Megan Slayton |
Powerlifting
Coaches Dusty Edwards Skip Schalk Athletes Briana Tate Karly Pratchard Nathaniel White |
Unified Softball
Coaches Todd Garrett Jeffrey Jester Wendy Parks Octavious Rhodes Athletes Derek Ewing Walker Rowton Maxx Briggs Louis Diaz Jacob James Michael Duke Tevin Walker Ernesto Sanchez Unified Partners Chase Havner Justice Jackson Jayden Cox Kelan Lindsey Sarah Holloway Sydney Green Dante Hernandez |
Unified Flag Football
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Unified Pickleball
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Powerlifting
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Unified Softball
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Swimming
Coaches James Winnen Casey Brown Athletes Alex Davis KJ Hamada Jai Glann Carlyn Cothran |
Unified Tennis
Coach Ebony Brown Athletes Ashley Dyke Josh McGuire Unified Partners Crys Cook Tiffany English |
Youth Leadership Experience
Mentor Julie Brown Athlete Jordan Jackson Unified Partner Gary Walls |
Swimming
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Unified Tennis
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Youth Leadership Experience
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In addition to the delegation, there will be 13 delegation support members to assist the teams throughout the USA Games process.
- Special Olympics Arkansas CEO Terri Weir
- Head of Delegation Irvin Humphrey
- Head of Delegation Assistant Jennifer Edwards
- Medical Dr. Jordan Powers
- Interpreter Allyson Caruthers
- Sports Manager Ati Bell
- Sports Manager Rhonda Standridge
- Sports Manager Sean McCone
- Sports Manager Theresa Book
- Fans of Team Arkansas Coordinator Keeshia DeShields
- Healthy Athletes Coordinator Amber Robinson
- Media Angela Stormo
- Media Brianna Himschoot
- Media Camie Powell
Support the Arkansas Diamonds!
Show the ultimate support for Team Arkansas by donating to the team's trip to Minnesota. Your gift today will help to build an amazing experience for Special Olympics Arkansas athletes attending 2026 USA Games. Special Olympics Arkansas provides an opportunity for Team Arkansas Delegates to attend USA Games at no cost. On average, it costs Special Olympics Arkansas $3,500 per delegate to attend USA Games. Your support can help send Team Arkansas’ 90+ member delegation to 2026 Special Olympics USA Games!
Show the ultimate support for Team Arkansas by donating to the team's trip to Minnesota. Your gift today will help to build an amazing experience for Special Olympics Arkansas athletes attending 2026 USA Games. Special Olympics Arkansas provides an opportunity for Team Arkansas Delegates to attend USA Games at no cost. On average, it costs Special Olympics Arkansas $3,500 per delegate to attend USA Games. Your support can help send Team Arkansas’ 90+ member delegation to 2026 Special Olympics USA Games!
Published September 2025
