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2022 SPECIAL OLYMPICS USA GAMES

JUNE 8

It was a full day of preliminary competitions and medals for Team Special Olympics North Carolina. We celebrated our first gold medals as a team in bocce and watched our medal count continue to increase throughout the day!

COURT UNIFIED

At the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, we are all learning to “Shine as One.” You can’t spell “Shine as One” without “Team SONC Unified basketball.” Joining Unified partners from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Special Olympics Orange County athletes, watching this team play is a model of inclusion like no other. For athlete Clyde Gattis, his favorite part of this entire experience so far has been, “talking with my team.”

“Our Unified partners have really taken it upon themselves to make sure our athletes are the ones who are getting involved, getting good shots and having a good experience,” said coach Kent Thomas. The Unified partners have all worked to master the balance of being competitive and being respectful to their teammates.

“Clyde had an amazing game, he had an amazing stepback three-pointer and he was on fire today,” said Unified partner Brenna Mehl.

In Tuesday’s preliminary games against Special Olympics Texas and Special Olympics Ohio, head coach Jonathan Wilson encouraged his team to “be strong with the ball.” More than that, they are a source of strength for each other. That is reflected in the two wins the team earned for the day, with a final score of 58-45 against Ohio and a final score of 53-45 against Texas.

“It was a lot of hard work and hustle,” said Wilson. “I am very proud of the team.”

HEALTHIEST US

At ESPN Wide World of Sports, an immense medical team is working persistently to provide Special Olympics athletes with various Healthy Athletes screenings. Throughout the Games, over 12,000 exams and treatments will be provided to 5,500 athletes between the ages of 13 and 80.

On Tuesday, Team SONC athletics athlete Anthony Santo completed health screenings at Opening Eyes and Healthy Hearing. Through these screenings, he received a new pair of prescription eyeglasses and hearing aids.

IN THE FAST LANE

We’re swimming laps around the competition at Rosen Aquatic Center. Special Olympics Caldwell County swimmer Megan Hudson says the key to winning gold is, “hard work, coaches and teamwork.”

Today, that mantra was put to work as the 4x50-yard freestyle relay team made a comeback to claim the silver medal. That team, Colby Hawn, Robyn Hare, Caleb Wilson and Lindsay Sobel are grateful to share that win with each other. On Tuesday, Hare also won bronze in the 100-yard backstroke!

"We switched lineups and figured out timing and it really paid off," said Hawn.

HAPPY TO BE HERE

“We’re going to win again today and tomorrow.”

Team SONC basketball athlete TJ Jones spoke it into existence and they did, in fact, win in their preliminary competition on Tuesday against Special Olympics North Dakota. The score, neck and neck until the end of the second half, tipped in favor of Team SONC, as they claimed a 46-39 victory.

“My goal is to get us a win today, I’m just happy to be here.” Athlete Dearius Bynum has an infectious energy on the court, grinning uncontrollably after every basket made. His presence on the court indicates that he is exactly where he needs and wants to be. Coached by Raymond Henderson and Brent Harpe, this team will dribble toward gold as preliminary competitions come to an end on the court.

“We’re going to break Michael Jordan’s record in basketball!” Let’s see if Jones’ prediction comes true yet again! The dynamic of this team is one that fosters sportsmanship, optimism and, above all, friendship.

TEAM SONC PHOTO GALLERY

"The Healthy Athletes experience has been amazing for Anthony. Not only did they prescribe him his first-ever pair of eyeglasses, they found significant hearing loss in his left ear. He was fitted for and walked away with a hearing aid today! This opportunity has given him access to so many things that will make him a healthier athlete." -Coach Danielle Dietz (Athletics)

“We did a good job listening to coach today. We were told to slow it down when things were getting out of hand and we responded well to that.” - Unified partner Max Connolly (Unified Basketball)

"My favorite part of the game is playing defense!" - Patrick Blount (Basketball)

"I got interviewed by ESPN, I'm going to be famous!" - Paige Soderman (Soccer)

FIRST IN GOLD FOR TEAM SONC

Katie Juda and Ashley Lederer both won gold for their singles bocce matches on Tuesday!

Katie Juda (left) and Ashley Lederer (right)

MEDAL COUNT

🥇 5

🥈 2

🥉3

🏅4TH PLACE: 1

🏅5TH PLACE: 2

🏅8TH PLACE: 1

SEE THE HIGHLIGHTS

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