For Immediate Release November 16, 2009		Contact: Pete Olsen polsen@somt.org 406-216-5327 Special Olympics Montana P.O. Box 3507 Great Falls, MT  59403

Great Falls, Montana:  Special Olympics Montana, a 39-year-old movement that enables children and adults with intellectual disabilities to train for life through sports, is pleased to announce the delegation that will represent Montana at the 2010 Special Olympics National Games in Lincoln Nebraska from July 18-23. Team Montana consists of 44 athletes and coaches from across the state who are training for and will compete in Bocce, Athletics (track and field), Golf and Soccer against Special Olympics athletes from across the continent.

Additionally, the Great Falls Lions Unified® Sports soccer team was selected as one of only 10 teams from North America to participate in a Unified® soccer tournament and youth activation summit in conjunction with the National Games.  Unified® Sports combines athletes with and without intellectual disabilities as partners in sports training and competition.  The Unified® tournament is supported by Project UNIFY, a Special Olympics North America project funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Its goal is to activate young people around the country in an effort to develop school communities where all young people are agents of change — fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities by utilizing the programs and initiatives of Special Olympics. 

In total, ten coaches and 34 athletes have been selected as members of Team Montana for the 2010 USA National Games in Lincoln, NE, with an additional six athletes, five Unified® partners and three coaches selected for the Unified® soccer tournament.  They are:

Athletics
Coaches:        Joe Ouert, Great Falls
                       Jess Rago, Billings
Athletes:         Tom Dohrman, Great Falls Hornets
                       Tina Hunt, Missoula YMCA
                       Katie McNeil, Bozeman Schools
                       Becky West, Kalispell Krushers
                       Jim Lowery, Great Falls Hornets
                       Carson Patten, Central Montana Eagles

Bocce
Coach:          Kristi Anderson, Great Falls
Athletes:       Carol Ollikain, Central Montana Eagles
                      Kim Palmer, Great Falls Hornets
                      Pat Chapman, Great Falls Lions
                      Joe Gibson, Silverbow DDC

Golf
Coach:          Warren Gramley, Billings
Athletes:       Stacey Johnston, Chester Cheetahs
                      John Espinoza, Tobacco Valley
                      Alan Gotcher, Tobacco Valley
                      Jessie Gratz, Great Falls Hornets

Soccer – Billings Adults
Coaches:        Vanessa Browning, Billings
                       Jenny Griswold, Kalispell
                       Dan Tilton, Billings

Athletes:         Brandy Peterson
                       Kandi Christopherson
                       Michelle Hardy
                       Kerrie Sheets
                       John Peck
                       Bill Christopherson
                       Lee Banderob
                       Tim Knudson
                       Buzz Toliver
                       Lawrence Flatlip III

Soccer – Great Falls Lions Unified®
Coaches:        Dennis Hogan – Great Falls
                      Suzie Barringer – Great Falls
                      Ev Gillett – Great Falls
                                 
Athletes:          Megan Dolan
                      LuAnn Howendobler
                      George LaVallie
                      J.J. Petersen
                      Michael Rapp
                      Trevor Trainer

Unified Partners:
                       Ben Enseleit
                      Cassie Hogan
                      Sabin Vaira
                      Haley Vining
                      Emily Weber

As an athlete-centered, family-based and volunteer driven organization, Special Olympics Montana relies almost exclusively on the support of community volunteers, businesses and service organizations for leadership, sport training, in-kind and financial gifts. To learn more about Special Olympics Montana or to receive information about volunteer or sponsorship opportunities, please visit our website at: www.somt.org or call Special Olympics Montana at 1-800-242-6876.

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visit the USA National Games site for more information