Every athlete dreams of the moment when hard work, passion, and dedication lead to something extraordinary. For the Illinois delegation, that moment is just around the corner as they prepare for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
From June 20–26, Minneapolis will host one of the nation’s largest and most inclusive sporting events uniting more than 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers, and an expected 75,000 fans from across all 50 states through the transformative power of sport. Among them will be 80 proud representatives from Illinois.
Team Illinois includes 43 athletes, 11 Unified partners, 14 coaches, 3 youth leaders, and 9 staff. Together, they will compete for gold in eight sports: athletics, bocce, bowling, gymnastics, powerlifting, swimming, Unified basketball, and Unified volleyball.
Meet the Illinois Delegation
Each of these individuals has carved their path to this monumental achievement with grit and determination. Team members have been selected for the Illinois delegation. The official roster will be finalized in March 2026.
Athletics
Matt Nelson (Head Coach)
Tim McDonald (Coach)
Kelsey Ferguson
Matthew Friedman
Timothy McDonough
Samantha Wagner
Bocce
Ryan Fleck (Head Coach)
Thomas Knudsen
Tina Mango
Randy Mertes
April Papke
Bowling
Matt Corso (Head Coach)
Darlene Baker (Coach)
Jordan Derossett
Sean Hatch
Lizzi Jorgensen
Yadhira Macias
Scott Maess
Katie Maynard
Julian Rivera
Debra Stewart
Gymnastics
Kathy Sievers (Head Coach)
Glen Marks (Coach)
Kathleen O’Neill
Mary Roman
Alexis Winegard
Evelyn Diem
Powerlifting
Mandy Parisi (Head Coach)
Brenden Cannon (Coach)
Sheridan Coleman
Ryan Farrar
James Foster
Courtney Krueger
Swimming
Tara Murphy (Head Coach)
Jordan Chandler (Coach)
John Cleveland
Valerie Densler
Melanie Harwood
Drew Kirkman
Christine Leverenz
Ryan Nash
Amanda Propheter
Rocky Rochlitz
Unified Basketball
Duke Wilson (Head Coach)
Nowal Shalash (Coach)
Megan Reaska (Sport Manager)
Grayden Alexander
Anthony Boyce
Josh Danta
Jeremiah Jones
Georgia Kohl
Calvin Kohl
Sam LaMore
Zyire McCoffin
Isabelle Trudeau
Osazuwa Ikponmwosa
Unified Volleyball
Julie Smith (Head Coach)
Dawn Williams (Coach)
Taylor Sweeting (Team Manager)
Travis Brady
Dillon Buschmann
Mia DiGiacomo
Rebecca Gehle
Todd Mallo
David Mathews-Dedmond
James Moustis
Matthew Reczek
Maggie Ryan
Arik Sorensen
Shannon Steinbis-Vanatta
Marium Wahid
Youth Leadership Experience
Ethan Jimenez
Annabella Torres
Katie McFadden (YLE Mentor)
Staff
Carolyn Cronin
Brianna Beers
Katelin Zandi
Michelle Mayer
Taylor Combs
Greg Eberle
Alternates
Lexie Cuppett (Coach)
Eva Parisi (Coach)
Deb Yarovsky (Coach)
Beth Clark
Ella Haynes
Patrick Haynes
Josh McClellan
Meghan Collie
Susan Kuborn
Sabrina Walega
View our USA Games webpage to stay up to date on all things Team Illinois.
Join the Journey
The countdown to USA Games is on, and every step of the journey matters. Support Team Illinois by making a donation to help our athletes compete and celebrate their achievements. Then, take it a step further — join the Special Olympics Illinois movement and make an impact through volunteering, advocacy, or spreading inclusion in your community.