Missouri Valley to Minnesota: Athletes compete in Special Olympics USA Games
The USTA Missouri Valley had strong representation at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, as 16 tennis players from the section competed in the prestigious event that occurs every four years.
The Special Olympics USA Games — which took place June 20-26 in Minnesota — featured participation from about 3,000 athletes and 1,500 coaches representing all 50 states. A team of 10,000 volunteers supported the event.
A total of 16 Special Olympics team and individual sports were offered at the games. That included traditional play and unified play, where individuals with and without intellectual disabilities competed together.
The tennis competition included singles, doubles and unified doubles divisions. Play was held at the University of Minnesota’s Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis.
“I’m excited for this incredible and very deserved opportunity our USTA Missouri Valley adapted athletes have qualified for due to their hard work over years and years of competition and practice,” said Jaren Glaser, manager of diversity, equity and inclusion for USTA Missouri Valley, prior to the start of the games.
“We appreciate the support of the athletes’ coaches, parents and their Special Olympics offices to make this opportunity possible for them. We wish them the best of luck as integral members of the USTA Missouri Valley community.”
Glaser noted the Special Olympics USA Games continued an impressive stretch of play opportunities for adapted tennis players in the section.
In addition to Special Olympics state games that took place in May and June, athletes had the opportunity to compete in the USTA Missouri Valley Adapted Tennis Championships and Fred Johnson ALL Stars on June 12-14 in Topeka, Kan.
Wyatt Spalding (center) is working as a contributing reporter for ESPN's coverage of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
A portion of the tennis players competing in the Special Olympics USA Games recently participated in the USTA Missouri Valley's Fred Johnson ALL Stars event in Topeka.
- Wyatt Spalding (center) is working as a contributing reporter for ESPN's coverage of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
- A portion of the tennis players competing in the Special Olympics USA Games recently participated in the USTA Missouri Valley's Fred Johnson ALL Stars event in Topeka.
Wyatt Spalding from Lincoln, Neb., covered the Special Olympics USA Games for ESPN. Spalding — a Special Olympics Nebraska Hall of Famer — served as a contributing reporter for the network’s coverage.
“Growing up, I’d watch SportsCenter every morning before I’d go to school,” Spalding said prior to the start of the Special Olympics USA Games. “So now to actually be on ESPN is just a dream come true.
“I’ve always loved sports history and learning about other people’s stories through sports. I’m so excited to interview the other athletes and get to hear their story of how they made it to the USA Games.”
USTA Missouri Valley Medalists
Singles
Gold: Cabot Todd (Level 5)
Gold: Bobby Williams (Level 5)
Gold: Dawn Meyers (Level 4)
Silver: Mariana Mizik (Level 6)
Silver: Haley Waggoner (Level 6)
Silver: Nathan Williams (Level 6)
Silver: Garrett Stipke (Level 5)
Silver: Alexandria Brooks (Level 4)
Bronze: Jackson Byrd (Level 5)
Bronze: Kiel Miller (Level 5)
Doubles
Gold: Bobby Williams/Owen Lambert (Level 5 Traditional)
Gold: Ryder Davis/Alec Williamson (Level 5 Unified)
Silver: Mariana Mizik/Jackson Byrd (Level 6 Traditional)
Silver: Dawn Meyers/Alexandria Brooks (Level 4 Traditional)
Bronze: Haley Waggoner/Garrett Stipke (Level 6 Traditional)
Bronze: Nathan Williams/Cabot Todd (Level 6 Traditional)
USTA Missouri Valley Participants
- Alexandria Brooks (Iowa)
- Jackson Byrd (Kansas)
- Ryder Davis (Oklahoma)
- Allie Dolezal (Oklahoma)
- Owen Lambert (Missouri)
- Allison Mason (Oklahoma)
- Dawn Meyers (Iowa)
- Kiel Miller (Kansas)
- Mariana Mizik (Kansas)
- Garrett Stipke (Nebraska)
- Cabot Todd (Iowa)
- Haley Waggoner (Nebraska)
- Bobby Williams (Missouri)
- Nathan Williams (Iowa)
- Alec Williamson (Oklahoma)
- Jennifer Willig (Kansas)
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