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2022 SPECIAL OLYMPICS USA GAMES

JUNE 9

How will we fit all of these medals on the plane ride home? Your guess is as good as ours. As some Team SONC athletes finished their preliminary competitions, others medaled in final competitions.

WHITE LIGHTS

On Wednesday, Team SONC’s powerlifting team took to the stage for their only day of competition. One day, two powerlifters and nine total lifts, the pressure was on. Jett Chilton started the day with squats, his first time ever competing in this event. “He typically only does bench and deadlift,” said Team SONC powerlifting coach Mike Menz. “We knew he could do it!” All white lights for his first round, Chilton lifted 50, 70 and 75 pounds for his first-ever competitive squat set.

Special Olympics Durham County athlete Aaron Dropkin hoped to “get all white lights, white means your lift is good.” To prepare for the Games, Dropkin trained alongside Special Olympics Durham County athlete Dean Hall, who attended the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle, Washington. During Dropkin’s time at the Games, Hall has been relaying “good luck” messages regularly.

Those messages paid off. Dropkin walked off the platform today with a gold medal in the squat event and the combination - squat, bench press and deadlift events. He also claimed silver medals in the deadlift and bench press events.

Regardless of the outcome, Dropkin wanted to "do his best and to do good."

For Jett Chilton, he is flying home with bronze medals in the squat, bench press and deadlift events and a fourth-place ribbon in the combination - squat, bench press and dead lift events.

BROS IN BRONZE

Strikes all around for Team SONC bowling! Competing in singles, AJ Mennear, with a combined score of 530 and Eric Murphy, with a combined score of 437, took home bronze for North Carolina on Tuesday. Also competing in singles, Judy Nutter celebrated a fifth-place ribbon and Caroline Parks an eighth-place ribbon.

"It was an awesome event representing North Carolina," said AJ Mennear. "When the lights were shined out on the stage, it was like a dream came true." Congratulations to Team SONC bowling!

SHOES FOR GOOD

If you’ve walked through the ESPN Fan Zone, you may have learned that Zappos is the official athletic footwear provider of the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games. Athletes who complete the Healthy Athletes Fit Feet health screening can choose a free pair of their choice to take home!

Due to medical reasons, Team SONC had two athletes who were unable to attend the Games, Walter Hampton and Adam Dowd. When Assistant Head of Delegation Chris Underwood visited the Zappos station in Athlete Village, he was beyond surprised. Zappos provided two free pairs for Dowd and Hampton. According to Underwood, the representative at Zappos "didn't even think twice about it."

BETTER WHEN I'M DANCING

Special Olympics Iredell County athlete Amber Hampton has been dancing her way through the Games. Hampton swims with Team SONC; however, on the sidelines, you can see her busting a move.

Her positive attitude and notable moves have been seen throughout the Games. When asked what her favorite part of the USA Games are she says, “Meeting new people, and staying at the Disney resort!”

You can catch her swimming and dancing on Thursday at the Rosen Aquatic Center, swimming the 50-yard freestyle final and 50-yard backstroke preliminary competition. You can even join in her favorite dance “The Wobble.”

This story is provided by Team SONC"s Unified partner Julia Dooley and athlete Eden Porter, who are participating in the Youth Leadership Experience at the Games. The Youth Leadership Experience is an immersive experience in which youth leaders from across the country will hold volunteer roles, engage in educational and interactive experiences, and shadow experienced key volunteers.

TEAM SONC PHOTO GALLERY

“I won a bronze medal in the USA Games and it feels kind of heavy.”- Eric Murphy (Bowling)

“I get to compete against people in all different parts of the country.” - Will Gaddis (Athletics)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Team SONC celebrated three birthdays during the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games!

Man Jackson (Unified Basketball) - June 5

Jill Meyer (Bocce) - June 7

Robyn Hare (Swimming) - June 9

From left to right: Man Jackson, Robyn Hare and Jill Meyer

MEDAL COUNT

🥇 11

🥈 4

🥉8

🏅4TH PLACE: 4

🏅5TH PLACE: 3

🏅6TH PLACE: 1

🏅8TH PLACE: 2

SEE THE HIGHLIGHTS

Stay up to date with the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games by tuning into ESPN!