A local Special Olympics flag football team is preparing to compete on the national stage after being selected to represent Team Kentucky at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota.
The games, set for June 20-26 at the University of Minnesota, will feature more than 3,000 athletes and 1,500 coaches from all 50 states. Team Kentucky will include 37 athletes, including 10 from the local Special Olympics program serving Daviess, Hancock, and Muhlenberg counties.
The local team learned it had been selected more than a year ago and has spent the past year preparing. Special Olympics Kentucky Area 2 Director Kim Johnson said many athletes have maintained a weekly two-hour flag football practice followed immediately by one to two hours of softball practice during the current season.
The program’s roots trace back just five years.
“One of our players, Zach Lindsey, helped us start flag football five years ago,” Johnson said. “He personally recruited the coaches — his brother and nephew — and the players. Fast forward five years, and we now have four local teams and a team that will be representing Kentucky at the Special Olympics USA Games.”
The team has also traveled to Indianapolis and Purdue University for competition over the past year. Johnson said one of the highlights came when the athletes played at Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans, against teams from across the country.
“As the local coordinator, it has been exciting to watch the dedication and excitement of each player,” Johnson said. “We have spent the last year planning, fundraising, and practicing. We are now ready for competition.”
Johnson said she has also enjoyed watching the local athletes build friendships with the rest of Team Kentucky.
“I am so proud of their accomplishment,” she said. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime for our athletes. I have no doubt that they will represent our local program well at the national level of competition.”
The team will depart Owensboro at 1:30 p.m. on June 18 with a community send-off celebration at Independence Bank’s Frederica Street branch.
Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on June 20 and will be streamed live on ESPN+ and Disney+.
The local team opens pool play June 22 with games against Virginia at 9 a.m. and Pennsylvania at 2 p.m. Pool play concludes June 23 with a 2 p.m. matchup against Nebraska. Teams will advance to medal competition on June 24 based on pool play results, with awards scheduled for June 25.
In addition to competition, athletes will participate in opening ceremonies, visit Athlete Village, and attend a Minnesota Twins baseball game during the weeklong event.
Team roster
Athletes
- Walt Drake
- Hunter Gamble
- Hunter Glenn
- Caden Glenn
- Jennifer Hamilton
- Zachary Lindsey
- Ian Powers
- Kevin Rates
- Isaiah Smith
- Katie Williams
Coaches
- Dustin Lindsey
- Lance Newman
Associate coach (Team Kentucky)
- Kim Johnson
