Meet the athletes, Unified partners and coaches representing Team Tennessee in Bowling 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
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
Joe Brown
Home: Maury County
USA games attended: Seattle 2018, Orlando 2022
Favorite part about coaching: Interacting with the athletes and other coaches
Favorite pre-game snack: Omelet and a protein shake
Favorite pump up song: Let's Go by Key Glock
USA games attended: Seattle 2018, Orlando 2022
Favorite part about coaching: Interacting with the athletes and other coaches
Favorite pre-game snack: Omelet and a protein shake
Favorite pump up song: Let's Go by Key Glock
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