At the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games held in Minnesota June 20-26, Team Special Olympics North Carolina will consist of nearly 70 North Carolina athletes, Unified partners, coaches and staff support personnel.
MEET THE TEAM
Cameron Edmonds
Athlete
Wake County
Jamie Hathcock
Athlete
Stanly County
Katie Howard
Athlete
Mecklenburg County
Lorenzo Stancil
Athlete
Franklin County
Ashley Clarkson
Athlete
Brunswick County
Edan Current
Athlete
Brunswick County
Cole Denny
Athlete
Brunswick County
Brandon Lewis
Athlete
Brunswick County
Fonz McDonald
Athlete
Brunswick County
Mauquel Randall
Athlete
Brunswick County
Andrew Stephenson
Athlete
Brunswick County
Dion Smith
Athlete
Brunswick County
Kassie Walter
Athlete
Brunswick County
Taylor Bishop
Athlete
Wilkes County
Buddy Forrest
Unified Partner
Union County
Chris Kiser
Athlete
Union County
Jamey Petrucci
Unified Partner
Mecklenburg County
Steven Camp
Athlete
Rutherford County
Joy Coffman
Athlete
Surry County
Amber Doom
Athlete
Guilford County/High Point
Matthew Rink
Athlete
Gaston County
Kaitlyn Browning
Unified Partner
Durham County
Abigail Browning
Unified Partner
Durham County
Madison Buck
Unified Partner
Durham County
Leah Glazer
Athlete
Durham County
Kelli Hutson
Athlete
Durham County
Kate Hutson
Unified Partner
Durham County
Taryn Jaskulke
Athlete
Durham County
Athlete
Durham County
Keekee Pierce
Athlete
Durham County
Haley Wade
Unified Partner
Durham County
Athlete
Durham County
Zachary Duncan
Athlete
Lake Norman
Cole Hovey
Athlete
Wake County
Rio Byrd
Athlete
Wake County
Dean Hall
Athlete
Durham County
Sabria Keaton
Athlete
Wake County
Danny Murphy
Athlete
Lake Norman
Jonathan Owens
Athlete
Davidson County
Michelle Pratt
Athlete
Onslow County
Kara Diachenko
Athlete
Mecklenburg County
Payton Hitchcock
Athlete
Cabarrus County
Ryan Hunsucker
Athlete
Cumberland County
Aman Hebert
Athlete
New Hanover County
Skylar Spencer
Unified Partner
New Hanover County
- Athletics:
- Michael Culbertson
- Basketball 3-on-3
- Sean O’Donnell
- Kayla Crayton
- Alyssa Coln
- Bocce
- Richie DiFranco
- Bowling
- Mike Fiedler
- Cheer – Unified
- Christy Thompson
- Heather Glazer
- Amiee Barnette-Vetter
- Golf
- Kaitlyn Gribbon
- Powerlifting
- Rian Pettus
- Swimming
- Emily Auten
- Tennis
- Margaret Johnson
- YLE mentor:
- Laura Rosser
Additional North Carolina Representatives
The following officials, sport development team members and Law Enforcement Torch Run representatives from North Carolina will attend the 2026 USA Games in various roles!
Athletics
- Wanda Gregory
Bocce
- Scott Boucher
- Maureen Brooks
- Amanda Cotter
- Lynn Hegedus
- Pat McDonald
- Rae Moore
- James Price
Powerlifting
- Eynde Frazier
Swimming
- Colleen Gillan
Bocce
- Debra Pontenberg – Technical Delegate
Bowling
- Chuck Dellinger – Assistant Technical Delegate and Unified Liaison
Powerlifting
- Richard Frazier – Technical Delegate
The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) International Executive Council selected two North Carolinians to represent the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics North Carolina (NC LETR) at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games Final Leg, taking place in Minnesota, June 20-26.
- Kelly Schroeder of Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office
- Stephanie Wilkerson of Special Olympics Davidson County
Bowling
- Tappie Dellinger – Volunteer Manager
- Nicole Elwood – Volunteer Manager
Hospitality
- Jolanda Hengstman – Venue Manager
Powerlifting
- Catherine Frazier – SME
- Eli Frazier – Competition Manager
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
