Meet the athletes, Unified partners and coaches representing Team Tennessee in Bowling at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
Athletes & Unified Partners
Lianne Avant
Home: Sumner County
Years as an athlete: 30
Other athletes: Basketball, track, horse back riding, softball, swimming
Favorite pre-game snack: White cheddar cheezits
How do you celebrate a win: Hang out with friends
Years as an athlete: 30
Other athletes: Basketball, track, horse back riding, softball, swimming
Favorite pre-game snack: White cheddar cheezits
How do you celebrate a win: Hang out with friends
Judy Bills
Home: Maury County
Years as an athlete: 6
Other sports: Bocce
Favorite pump up song: Beat It by Michael Jackson
Athlete you want to meet: Derrick Henry
Years as an athlete: 6
Other sports: Bocce
Favorite pump up song: Beat It by Michael Jackson
Athlete you want to meet: Derrick Henry
Jonathan Dennis
Home: Knoxville
Years as an athlete: 8
Other sports: Basketball, track, volleyball, football, bocce, pickleball, tennis
Favorite pump up song: Workin' Man by Randy Houser
Athlete you want to meet: Lebron James
Years as an athlete: 8
Other sports: Basketball, track, volleyball, football, bocce, pickleball, tennis
Favorite pump up song: Workin' Man by Randy Houser
Athlete you want to meet: Lebron James
Sharon Dickey
Home: Sumner County
Years as a unified partner: 4
How do you like to celebrate a win: Cheering
Favorite pump up song: Crystal Blue Persuasion by Tommy James & the Shondells
Athlete you want to meet: EJ Tackett
Years as a unified partner: 4
How do you like to celebrate a win: Cheering
Favorite pump up song: Crystal Blue Persuasion by Tommy James & the Shondells
Athlete you want to meet: EJ Tackett
Bradley Gower
Home: Maury County
Years as an athlete: 6
Other sports: Baseball, basketball, bocce
Favorite pump up song: Beat it by Michael Jackson
Athlete you want to meet: Derrick Henry
Years as an athlete: 6
Other sports: Baseball, basketball, bocce
Favorite pump up song: Beat it by Michael Jackson
Athlete you want to meet: Derrick Henry
Yenny Juarez
Home: Knoxville
Years as an athlete: 8
Other sports: bowling, flag football, boxing, pickleball
Favorite music artist: Taylor Swift
How do you celebrate a win: With friends and family
Years as an athlete: 8
Other sports: bowling, flag football, boxing, pickleball
Favorite music artist: Taylor Swift
How do you celebrate a win: With friends and family
Jocelyn Newman
Home: Knoxville
Years as a Unified partner: 3
Favorite thing about Special Olympics: Enjoying watching everyone succeed
Favorite pump up song: Baby by Justin Bieber
How do you celebrate a win: Going out to eat with my friends to Waffle House
Years as a Unified partner: 3
Favorite thing about Special Olympics: Enjoying watching everyone succeed
Favorite pump up song: Baby by Justin Bieber
How do you celebrate a win: Going out to eat with my friends to Waffle House
Nathan Russell
Home: Knoxville
Years as a Unified partner: 3
Other sports: Basketball, flag football, track, bocce, pickleball
Favorite pump up song: Firework by Katy Perry
How do you celebrate a win: Going out to eat with the team/friends
Years as a Unified partner: 3
Other sports: Basketball, flag football, track, bocce, pickleball
Favorite pump up song: Firework by Katy Perry
How do you celebrate a win: Going out to eat with the team/friends
Coaches
Tami Smith
Home: Knoxville
Favorite part about coaching: Seeing how proud my athletes are when they achieve a personal best!
How do you celebrate a win: By spending time with my team
Favorite pump up song: CELEBRATION by Forrest Frank
Athlete you want to meet: Simone Biles
Favorite part about coaching: Seeing how proud my athletes are when they achieve a personal best!
How do you celebrate a win: By spending time with my team
Favorite pump up song: CELEBRATION by Forrest Frank
Athlete you want to meet: Simone Biles