BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – The Special Olympics USA games have announced who will be competing for Team Kentucky in the 2026 competition.
Five people from the Bowling Green area secured a spot for next June. Three athletes, one unified partner and one staff coach are already preparing for this national event.
One participant who qualified for golf, Troy Pickens, remembers how he felt receiving the good news.
“I had mail come in about a couple weeks ago and then I had opened it, and I cried a little bit,” said Pickens.
Another qualifier who will be competing with bowling, Dillon Meador, has already made himself a routine to prepare for next year.
“I’ve been trying to come out every week from 10 to 4 and maximizing the bowl your brains out here,” said Meador.
Unified Partner for Pickens and Coordinator for the Special Olympics in Barren County, James Cheely, couldn’t be happier for his partner.
“When you know that your partner and you have qualified for an event, it just runs through you how proud you are of what they’ve put into participation,” said Cheely.
Having been apart of Special Olympics and seeing others compete in the USA games, Cheely is excited for this moment to be able to compete with something he enjoys.
“Four years ago, I had an opportunity to go watch my kids participate in Unified Golf in Orlando, so now the old man gets to bring up the rear and go participate himself,” said Cheely.
Meador wants to remind those trying something out for the first time not to give up right away; things don’t always come naturally the first couple of times.
“I was not good when I first started, only bowled like a 50 average and now I’m up to like a 175, 200 average,” said Meador. “Anytime you think you can’t do something, just try it and practice makes progress. Nobody can ever be perfect, but practice makes progress 100%.”
The USA games are set to take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota in June 2026.
Copyright 2025 WBKO. All rights reserved.