USA Games 2018 Team Massachusetts

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Table of Contents

About Massachusetts Media Contacts Organization Information Corporate Sponsors & Partners About Unified Sports Special Olympics 50th Anniversary

About Special Olympics USA Games 2018 Games contacts and website information Current Games media assets (August 2017) USA Games History

Team Massachusetts Delegation Sports Team Massachusetts will be competing in Delegation Athlete & Coach Roster and bios by sport Additional Delegation members (officials, volunteers, etc.)

Media Contact Directory Special Olympics Massachusetts 512 Forest Street Marlborough, MA 01752

Special Olympics Media Contact: Charles Hirsch, Communications & Marketing Manager W: 508-485-0986 x223 C: 413-717-5526 [email protected]

Special Olympics Massachusetts General Contacts: Phone: 508-485-0986 Email: [email protected]

Interview Policy for Special Olympics Athletes Special Olympics Massachusetts athletes and their families are typically happy to help spread the mission of the organization by participating in interviews with various media outlets. We ask that all requests to contact/interview members of the 2018 USA Games delegation be submitted to Charles Hirsch, Communications & Marketing Manager or Nick Savarese, VP Advancement and Marketing. Additionally, photo and video assets may be requested by emailing [email protected].

Press Releases Special Olympics Massachusetts routinely sends out press releases with information highlighting local events, athlete and coaches’ accomplishments, and general organizational updates. To be added to the media distribution list, please email [email protected].

Media Guide: The Special Olympics Massachusetts USA Delegation media guide was written, edited and compiled by Charles Hirsch & Julia Keith

Special Olympics Massachusetts Organizational Information Mission statement To provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, prepare for entry into school and community programs, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

About Special Olympics Massachusetts Special Olympics Massachusetts is a nonprofit organization helping to change the world through sport. Since 1968, Special Olympics has provided athletic training and competition for millions of athletes with intellectual disabilities throughout the world. In 1970, Special Olympics Massachusetts was founded to focus on providing these opportunities in the commonwealth. In Massachusetts, there are currently over 12,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics sports each year. Those athletes are supported by over 10,000 volunteers, including over 1,200 coaches. In 2016, 264 competitions – across 23 sports – were held, including season ending tournaments: Winter Games (March), Summer Games (June), Tournament of Champions (August), and the State Soccer Cup and Flag Football Championships (November). In addition to the traditional sports model designed for athletes with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics Massachusetts is proud to have been an innovator of Unified Sports in the mid-1980s. Unified Sports is a model in which athletes with and without disabilities compete on the same team at the same time. This inclusive sports programming has provided countless opportunities for people to connect with each other though the power of sports. It has transformed school and local Special Olympics programs into inclusive communities, working together to support each other on and off the playing field. Team Massachusetts will send a Unified Flag Football team to compete in the 2018 USA Games. Special Olympics Massachusetts is an accredited program of Special Olympics Inc. www.specialolympics.org

About Special Olympics International Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports, every day around the world. We empower people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful and inclusive society for all. Using sports as the catalyst and programming around health and education, Special Olympics is fighting inactivity, injustice and intolerance. Founded in 1968 by , the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 5 million athletes in 170 countries. With the support of more than 1.4 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and nearly 100,000 games and competitions throughout the year. Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including the Christmas Records Trust, the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics, The Coca-Cola Company, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, Microsoft, Lions Clubs International, Mattel, P&G, Bank of America, Essilor Vision Foundation, the Golisano Foundation, Finish Line, and Safilo Group. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org. Engage with us on: Twitter @specialolympics, fb.com/specialolympics, youtube.com/specialolympicshq, instagram.com/specialolympics and specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com.

About Unified Sports Special Olympics Massachusetts is proud to have founded the Unified Sports program in 1984. Although the initiative began locally, today it is featured in over 120 countries globally through the international Special Olympics Movement. Officially launched in 1989, Special Olympics Unified Sports has gained momentum over the last 27 years due in large part to multiple partners and supporters who have facilitated the growth of the program, such as ESPN, the Department of Education, Kim Samuel and the Samuel Family Foundation, Lions Club International and many other sports leagues, companies and associations. The Unified Sports competitive model combines Special Olympics athletes and partners as teammates on sport teams for training and competition. All athletes and partners on a Unified Sports competitive team must have attained the necessary sport-specific skills and tactics to compete and teams that participate in this model may be eligible for advancement to Regional and World Games. For the Unified Sports Player Development model, equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and partners compete on the same team and are of similar age, but teammates are not required to be of similar abilities, and teammates of higher abilities serve as mentors to assist teammates of lower abilities.

Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Since 1968, Special Olympics has been changing attitudes about the talents of people with intellectual disabilities. Since 1968, Special Olympics has been changing the world! Beginning in 2017, Special Olympics Massachusetts will celebrate this milestone with various tent pole events, the first of which was the 2017 Boston Marathon with Special Olympics athlete, Greg Schwartz leading the team presented by John Hancock. The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games team will nod symbolically to the accomplishments of the last fifty years with fifty athletes representing the Commonwealth in Seattle. These athletes will cement their legacy by committing to the highest level athletic training and competing against the very best in their sport. Over the next two years, Special Olympics Massachusetts is challenging people from all backgrounds to decide what they want their legacy to be. And then, just like Special Olympics athletes do every day, go out and make it happen. Choose to include: help build a more welcoming and just community.

About Champions for 50 partnerships As the Special Olympics Movement reaches its 50th anniversary, Special Olympics Massachusetts Champions for 50 will be highlighting 50 partnerships between Special Olympics athletes and community leaders – including corporations, small businesses, individuals, and professional sports teams. Each Unified partnership will strengthen their legacy of building a more inclusive community with a commitment to raise critical funds and increase awareness of Special Olympics’ impact in the commonwealth.

About Special Olympics USA Games 2018 The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games will be held in Seattle, Washington July 1-6, 2018. More than 4,000 athletes and coaches representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, along with the support of tens of thousands of volunteers and spectators, will compete in 14 Olympic-type team and individual sports. The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games will celebrate the Special Olympics movement and its 50th anniversary; promote the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sport; and showcase athletes from throughout the U.S. and the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities. The 2018 USA Games will also highlight Special Olympics’ work in sport, education, health and community-building. For more information on the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, please visit www.SpecialOlympicsUSAGames.org and follow on Facebook (@SpecialOlympicsUSAGames), Twitter (@2018USAGames) and Instagram (@SpecialOlympicsUSAGames).

USA Games Media contact directory: 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, Seattle | July 1-6, 2018 2101 Fourth Avenue, Suite 910 Seattle, WA 98121

Jaymelina Esmele, Communications Manager W: 206-900-9490 x115 C: 206-290-7662 [email protected]

Navreet Gill, Director of Communications W: 206-900-9490 x116 C: 616-485-0445 [email protected]

Media assets:

 https://www.specialolympicsusagames.org/news/  USA Games Sizzle Reel: https://youtu.be/vKmK7Y9NZTg  USA Games YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl1EJPemd9yoO1vJ9ueTRpg

2018 Special Olympics USA Games Partners Microsoft, Kaiser Permanente, ESPN, The Coca-Cola Company, Bank of America, KPMG, Starbucks, Brooks Running Company, The Boeing Company, Alaska Airlines

History of USA Games: 2006 Games The first, quadrennial, USA National Games were held July 1–8, 2006, in Ames, at Iowa State University. 2010 Games Lincoln, Nebraska and the University of Nebraska hosted the 2010 USA games, July 18–23. 2014 Games The 2014 USA Games were held from June 14–21 in . Competition was held at venues throughout Mercer County including The College of New Jersey in Ewing, , and Mercer County Park.

Team Massachusetts Delegation

Sports Massachusetts athletes will be competing in

 10 pin  Flag Football   Powerlifting  Soccer   Track & Field

Delegation Bios: Head of Delegation Andrew MacLeay Hometown: Westborough, MA Bio: Andrew spent eight years as a Sports Manager on the Special Olympics Massachusetts staff, he now works with the Framingham Parks & Rec Department. Andrew was the Assistant Head of Delegation for Team Massachusetts at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games, an Assistant Sports Manager for Special Olympics USA at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, and has competed as a Unified partner on the New England Revolution Unified Soccer Team.

Assistant Head of Delegation: Jennifer Walsh Hometown: Milford, MA Bio: Jennifer has been volunteering for Special Olympics Massachusetts for 30 years. She started the Milford Special Olympics Local Program in 1994 with a track team consisting of four athletes. She now oversees the program which supports 175 athletes, 30 coaches, and 50 volunteers who participate in 13 sports along with three Unified Sports teams at Milford High School. Speaking of her experience with Special Olympics, Walsh says, “Of course my time with Special Olympics Massachusetts has been awesome. There is no better reward than working with the athletes.” In addition to leading her program, Jennifer has coached track & field, basketball, and bocce. This will be Jennifer’s third Special Olympics USA Games delegation. She previously coached in 2010 and 2014. Jennifer is a member of the Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall of Fame.

10 pin Bowling Paul Carey Age: 51 Hometown: Millbury, MA Local Program: South High Bio: Paul has been competing for over 17 years in bowling and . This will be his first time representing Massachusetts at the Special Olympics USA Games.

Brandon Moore Age: 23 Hometown: North Attleboro, MA Local Program: North Attleboro Bio: Brandon joined the Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall of Fame in 2016. He has competed in bowling, soccer, track & field, basketball, , and flag football. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Brandon supports Special Olympics Massachusetts through a number of fundraising efforts.

Laurene Rice Age: 46 Hometown: Worcester, MA Local Program: South High Bio: Laurene has been competing in bowling, track & field, and bocce since 2004. She represented Massachusetts at the 2006 Special Olympics USA Games in Ames, Iowa and was a member of the Special Olympics USA track team for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, winning two bronze medals. https://specialolympicsma.wordpress.com/2015/07/31/special-olympics-world-games- athlete-hq-laurene-rice/

Angela Swett Age: 37 Hometown: Worcester, MA Local Program: South High Bio: Angela has been a Special Olympics athlete for over 17 years. She has competed at the state-level in bowling and track & field. This will be Angela’s first trip to Special Olympics USA Games.

Coached by: TBD

Basketball Shrewsbury Pioneers Hometown: Shrewsbury, MA Coached by: William O’Brien

Flag Football Team will be selected in late-fall 2017, following the State Championships at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, November 11, 2017.

Gymnastics Samantha Berndt Age: 24 Hometown: Rutland, MA Local Program: Gymnastics Learning Center Bio: Samantha has been competing with Special Olympics since 2003, in gymnastics and track & field. She represented Massachusetts in the 2014 USA Games in New Jersey. Samantha Vayo Age: 27 Hometown: Worcester, MA Local Program: Seven Hills Family Services Bio: Samantha has been involved with Special Olympics since 2000. She has competed in gymnastics, soccer, basketball, softball, bowling, and track & field. This will be Samantha’s first time representing Massachusetts at the Special Olympics USA Games. Coached by: Margaret Szulga Hometown: Northborough, MA Local Program: Gymnastics Learning Center Bio: Margaret has coached Special Olympics gymnastics since 2013 and will be representing Massachusetts in Seattle at her first USA Games in 2018.

Golf Tyler Lagasse Age: 30 Hometown: Tyngsboro, MA Local Program: Nashoba Shooting Stars Bio: Tyler is a multi-sport athlete competing at the state level in golf, alpine skiing and basketball. Tyler has represented Special Olympics at the AT&T National and Pro-am. His experience on the national stage has been successful having won the Silver medal at the 2010 and 2014 Special Olympics USA games. In 2017, ESPN and Special

Olympics International recognized Tyler with an Honorary ESPY Award for his accomplishments on and off the golf course. Tyler co-authored a book: What Do You Say?: Autism with Character with his mother Deb. Tyler is a member of the Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall of Fame.

Coached by: George Kent Hometown: Hopkinton, MA Local Program: Special Olympics State Offices Bio: Coach Kent began working with Special Olympics Massachusetts in 1996 as Director of Sport Management and Training. In addition to his roles with Special Olympics, Mr. Kent has served on the Special Olympics Leadership Council Sports Committee, the Special Olympics North America “Coach Resource Development” and “Unified Sports” committees. Mr. Kent developed and implemented a comprehensive training and certification program for Special Olympics volunteer coaches. In 1999 he was the Head Coach for Massachusetts in the Special Olympics World Games in North Carolina. He participated in golf as a Unified partner with Jeffrey Bramley at the 2010 Special Olympics USA Games in Nebraska, as a golf caddie for Massachusetts athlete, Tyler Lagasse at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in New Jersey and served as a golf coach for Special Olympics USA at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

Powerlifting Joe Morrill Age: 27 Hometown: Holliston, MA Local Program: Milford Special Olympics Bio: Joe has been competing with the Milford, MA Special Olympics program for 10 years and stays involved year-round, competing in powerlifting, basketball, softball, soccer, track & field and flag football over the years. In 2016, Joe was a member of the New England Revolution Unified Soccer Team. This will be Joe’s first time competing at the Special Olympics USA Games.

Coached by: Nick DiAntonio Hometown: Milford, MA Local Program: Milford Special Olympics Bio: Nick has been coaching the Special Olympics powerlifting team from Milford since 2008. In his time leading the program, he has grown his team from a couple of athletes to 15 and consistently has some of the highest performing athletes at State- level competitions. Nick coached the Team Massachusetts powerlifters at the 2014 USA Games in New Jersey.

Soccer Team will be selected in late-fall 2017, following the State Soccer Cup. The announcement will take place at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, November 11, 2017.

Swimming Timothy Canty Age: 41 Hometown: Auburn, MA Local Program: Seven Hills Family Services, Worcester Bio: Timothy has been competing in Swimming and Basketball with the Seven Hills Family services local program for three years. He will be making his first trip to USA Games in 2018.

Meghan Colby Age: 16 Hometown: Gloucester, MA Local Program: New England Aquatics / Cape Ann Bio: Meghan has been competing with Special Olympics Massachusetts since she was nine years old in soccer, swimming, gymnastics, track & field, bowling, and bocce. Meghan will be competing in her first ever Special Olympics USA Games in 2018.

David Kriensky Age: 45 Hometown: West Bridgewater, MA Local Program: Easton, MA Bio: Since joining Special Olympics Massachusetts, David has been competing year- round in swimming, basketball, and bowling for over 12 years with his local program in Easton, MA. This will be David’s first trip to USA Games.

Rebecca Zimmerman Age: 41 Hometown: Stoughton, MA Local Program: SAEC Bio: Since 2000, Rebecca has been a year-round athlete, competing in swimming, track & field, cycling, roller skating, and speed skating. She represented the United States in the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games as a speed skater in Boise Idaho. In 2014, Rebecca swam with Team Massachusetts at the Special Olympics USA Games in New Jersey, winning four gold medals in individual and relay events.

Coached by: Ann Marie Dawes Hometown: Douglas, MA Local Program: Seven Hills Family Services, Worcester Bio: Since 2004, Ann Marie has been volunteering and coaching with Special Olympics Massachusetts. Throughout her career, she has coached swimming, soccer, and bocce. Ann Marie was a Team Massachusetts swim coach for the 2010 and 2014 Special Olympics USA Games delegations. Ann Marie was inducted into the Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall of Fame in 2016.

Track & Field Joshua Brennan Age: 29 Hometown: Salisbury, CT Local Program: Berkshire Red Raiders Bio: Joshua has competed in track & field, golf, bowling, and alpine skiing since he joined the Red Raiders in 2014. This will be his first trip to Special Olympics USA Games.

Jay Brown Age: 20 Hometown: Milford, MA Local Program: Milford Special Olympics Bio: Since Jay was 15, he has been competing year-round in track & field, softball, powerlifting, bowling, and basketball with the Milford Special Olympics local program. Jay will be competing at Special Olympics USA Games for the first time in 2018.

Chris Charest Age: 35 Hometown: Worcester, MA Local Program: South High Bio: Chris is an accomplished Special Olympics athlete, competing at the state level in track & field, basketball, softball, bowling, and soccer for over 18 years. Chris has also represented Massachusetts at the 2010 and 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in Nebraska and New Jersey, respectively. In 201o in track & field and in 2014 as a bowler.

Kelsey Gaffney Age: 21 Hometown: Milford, MA Local Program: Milford Special Olympics Bio: Since 2011, Kelsey has been a member of the Milford Special Olympics program competing in track & field, soccer, basketball, softball, and flag football. This will be Kelsey’s first trip to Special Olympics USA Games.

Alyssa Neil Age: 26 Hometown: Holyoke, MA Local Program: Greater Springfield Bio: Alyssa is a year round athlete with the Greater Springfield Special Olympics local program. She has competed in track & field, soccer, speed skating, bowling, and bocce over her 15 year career. Alyssa has also performed on the national and world stage. She was a member of the Special Olympics USA track team at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece in 2011 and the Speed Skating Team at Special Olympics World Winter Games in Graz Austria in 2017. Alyssa represented Massachusetts in track & field at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in New Jersey.

Greg Schwartz Age: 28 Hometown: Medfield, MA Local Program: Milford Special Olympics Bio: Greg has been a year round athlete with the Milford program since 2005 and has excelled at track & field, softball, basketball, flag football, and soccer. He is also a coach for the Milford High School Special Olympics Unified track & field team. In 2014 and 2017, Greg ran the Boston Marathon for Special Olympics Massachusetts. In 2017, he finished in under four hours and was the fastest runner on the Special Olympics Massachusetts fundraising team. Greg was invited to run with the Special Olympics Torch in Boston leading up to the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. This will be Greg’s first trip to Special Olympics USA Games.

Abby Tetrault Age: 26 Hometown: Hyannis, MA Local Program: LIFE Force Bio: Abby is in her fifteenth year with Special Olympics. She has competed in track & field, swimming, soccer, and basketball. In 2010, Abby was a member of the Massachusetts swim team and competed at the Special Olympics USA Games in Nebraska.

Rachel Wheeler Age: 35 Hometown: Springfield, MA Local Program: greater Springfield Bio: Rachel began her Special Olympics career over 18 years ago and has competed in track & field, soccer, bowling, figure skating, alpine skiing, and bocce. Rachel played on the Massachusetts soccer team at Special Olympics USA Games in 2006 and as a figure skater, she reached the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise Idaho in 2009.

Coached by: Christin Santiago-Calling Hometown: West Bridgewater, MA Local Program: Whitney Academy Bio: Christin began her Special Olympics coaching career in 2007, since then, she has taken her Whitney Academy teams to state Summer Games, Winter Games, Tournament of Champions, Soccer Cups, and Flag Football Championships. In 2015, Christin was nominated by Special Olympics Massachusetts for the National Coach of the Year award given out by Special Olympics North America. This will be Christin’s first time coaching at Special Olympics USA Games.

Coached by: Tim Walsh Hometown: Milford, MA Local Program: Milford Special Olympics Tim began is participation with Special Olympics as a Unified Partner and has since transitioned to the role of coach. Tim coaches track & field and basketball with the Milford program. He will be coaching in the Special Olympics USA Games for the first time.

Additional Delegates Kathy Savage: Medical Personnel Hometown: Revere, MA Brittany Collins: Medical Personnel Hometown: Wilmington, MA Alexis Forgit: Sports Support Hometown: Milford, MA Charles Hirsch: Media & Communications Hometown: Shrewsbury, MA

Alternates by sport:

10 Pin Bowling Mary Kate Amentea Joel Goodrow Heather St. Germain Mark Pecor

Basketball Wareham Wild Vikings

Powerlifting Haynes, Jeremy

Swimming Lindsay Blagg Jennifer Harrington William Holbrook John (JP) Young

Track/Field Alex Cohen Kaitlyn Critchley Meghan Pelletier

Disclaimer: The athletes listed above have been selected from applications that were received before the deadline of June 23, 2017. In addition to the application, there will be additional interviews and a screening process for each athlete selected. In the event an athlete is deemed unable to attend the games by Special Olympics Massachusetts staff, coaches, the head of delegation or assistant head of delegation, an alternate from their sport/category will be selected. A mandatory training camp will be hosted prior to the Games with additional practices per sport.