USA & World Games

In addition to the sports competitions in Massachusetts, Special Olympics Massachusetts athletes have the opportunity to compete on the national and international stages. Every two years a World Games is held – alternating between summer and winter games. Every four years National Games showcases spring, summer and fall sports. To qualify for a national or international games team, athletes must earn a gold medal in a state level competition among other application requirements. Applications for national and world games will be made available at the beginning of the selection process.

The next USA Games will take place in Seattle, WA in July of 2018. The application for flag football and soccer is available below in the USA Games section.

The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games delegation from Massachusetts was announced at a press conference in Boston on Wednesday August 9, 2017. Watch as Tyler Lagasse and Joe Morrill announced who was selected on Facebook. If you are a member of the press and would like any information or to contact any of the athletes, please contact charles.hirsch@specialolympicsma.org. Additional media information can be found in the USA Games section below.

USA Games

The next USA Games will be held in 2018 from July 1-6 in Seattle Washington. Special Olympics Massachusetts will be sending a delegation of 50 athletes and 28 coaches, staff and unified partners to participate. The games will showcase the abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities and promote the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sport.

Special Olympics Massachusetts has received the following slots for the 2018 games:
Watch the Team Massachusetts Announcement hosted by Bank of America
Special Olympics USA Games Team Massachusetts Media Kit
Special Olympics USA Games Team Massachusetts Press Release

Individual Sports

10 pin bowling

Paul Carey from Millbury
Brandon Moore from North Attleboro
Laurene Rice from Worcester
Angela Swett from Worcester
Coached by Eric Mahoney from Auburn

Gymnastics

Samantha Berndt from Rutland
Samantha Vayo from Worcester
Coached by Margaret Szluga from Northborough

Golf

Tyler Lagasse from Tyngsboro
Coached by George Kent from Hopkinton

Powerlifting

Joe Morrill from Holliston
Coached by Nick DiAntonio from Milford

Swimming

Timothy Canty from Auburn, MA
Meghan Colby from Gloucester
David Kriensky from West Bridgewater
Rebecca Zimmerman from Stoughton
Coached by Ann Marie Dawes from Douglas

Track & field

Joshua Brennan from Salisbury, CT competes with the Berkshire Red Raiders
Jay Brown from Milford
Chris Charest from Worcester
Kelsey Gaffney from Milford
Alyssa Neil from Holyoke
Greg Schwartz from Medfield
Abby Tetrault from Hyannis
Rachel Wheeler from Springfield
Coached by Christin Santiago-Calling from West Bridgewater and Tim Walsh from Milford

Team Sports

Basketball

Shrewsbury Pioneers Coached by William O’Brien

Flag Football (Unified)

Announcement on November 11

Soccer (Traditional)

Announcement on November 11

Team Massachusetts Alternates

10 Pin Bowling

Mary Kate Amentea
Joel Goodrow
Heather St. Germain
Mark Pecor

Basketball

Wareham Wild Vikings

Powerlifting

Haynes, Jeremy

Swimming

Lindsay Blagg
Jennifer Harrington
William Holbrook
John (JP) Young

Track/Field

Alex Cohen
Kaitlyn Critchley
Meghan Pelletier

How to Apply:

Team Sports

The head coach for the team must fill out the athlete application for consideration. Team roster will be reduced to 10 and two coaches per USA Games rules. Head Coach and one assistant must accompany the team. Please review the qualifications listed on the application before applying. Anyone who does not meet the qualifications listed will not be considered for the selection process.