Meet the athletes, Unified partners and coaches representing Team Tennessee in Bocce at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
Athletes & Unified Partners
Ralph Forgione
Home: Sumner County
Years as a unified partner: 4
Favorite pump up song: Son of a sinner by Jelly Roll
Favorite pre-game snack: Reese's cups
How do you celebrate a win: Go for pizza
Years as a unified partner: 4
Favorite pump up song: Son of a sinner by Jelly Roll
Favorite pre-game snack: Reese's cups
How do you celebrate a win: Go for pizza
Dustin Moore
Home: Nashville
Years as an athlete: 10+
Other sports: Flag football, bowling, soccer, tennis
Favorite music artist: TobyMac
How do you celebrate a win: Get a big dinner at a restaurant
Years as an athlete: 10+
Other sports: Flag football, bowling, soccer, tennis
Favorite music artist: TobyMac
How do you celebrate a win: Get a big dinner at a restaurant
Grace Phillips
Home: Cheatham County
Years as an athlete: 12
Other sports: Basketball, flag football
Favorite pump up song: I'm a Dog by Kevin Gates
How do you celebrate a win: Dancing
Years as an athlete: 12
Other sports: Basketball, flag football
Favorite pump up song: I'm a Dog by Kevin Gates
How do you celebrate a win: Dancing
Paige Phillips
Home: Cheatham County
Years as a unified partner: 8
Other sports: Flag football
Favorite pump up song: Hurricanes by Luke Combs
Athlete you want to meet: Simone Biles
Years as a unified partner: 8
Other sports: Flag football
Favorite pump up song: Hurricanes by Luke Combs
Athlete you want to meet: Simone Biles
Jonathan Segelhorst
Home: Nashville
Years as a unified partner: 5
Other sports: Boxing, tennis, swimming
Favorite music genre: Classical
Athlete you want to meet: Babe Ruth
Years as a unified partner: 5
Other sports: Boxing, tennis, swimming
Favorite music genre: Classical
Athlete you want to meet: Babe Ruth
Dene Shehadi
Home: Sumner County
Years as an athlete: A long time
Other sports: Bowling
Favorite pump up song: Bad Guy by Billie Eilish
How do you celebrate a win: I like to celebrate like Christmas, with presents
Years as an athlete: A long time
Other sports: Bowling
Favorite pump up song: Bad Guy by Billie Eilish
How do you celebrate a win: I like to celebrate like Christmas, with presents
Amanda Springer
Home: Hawkins & Sullivan County
Years as an athlete: 1
Other sports: Basketball, bowling
Favorite pump up song: Heart Like a Truck by Lainey Wilson
Athlete you want to meet: Travis Kelce
Years as an athlete: 1
Other sports: Basketball, bowling
Favorite pump up song: Heart Like a Truck by Lainey Wilson
Athlete you want to meet: Travis Kelce
Ali Thacker
Home: Hawkins & Sullivan County
Years as an athlete: 18
What being part of USA Games means: It's an honor to get to compete with the athletes at such a high level
Favorite pre-game meal: PB&J sandwich
Years as an athlete: 18
What being part of USA Games means: It's an honor to get to compete with the athletes at such a high level
Favorite pre-game meal: PB&J sandwich
Coaches
Loree DeArmond
Home: Upper Cumberland
Favorite part about coaching: The relationships we form into lifelong friendships
How do you motivate your athletes: Lots of cheering and encouraging words
Favorite pump up song: Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan
Athlete you want to meet: A'ja Wilson
Favorite part about coaching: The relationships we form into lifelong friendships
How do you motivate your athletes: Lots of cheering and encouraging words
Favorite pump up song: Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan
Athlete you want to meet: A'ja Wilson
Michael McCafferty
Home: Rutherford County
Favorite part about coaching: Seeing our athletes compete at the highest level
Favorite pre-game snack: Peanut butter and banana sandwich
Favorite pump up song: Remember the Name by Fort Minor
Athlete you want to meet: Mark Henry
Favorite part about coaching: Seeing our athletes compete at the highest level
Favorite pre-game snack: Peanut butter and banana sandwich
Favorite pump up song: Remember the Name by Fort Minor
Athlete you want to meet: Mark Henry