Meet the athletes, Unified partners and coaches representing Team Tennessee in Bocce at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
Click here to donate and support Team Tennessee.
Click here to donate and support Team Tennessee.
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