Athletes from across the state descended upon Lincoln, Neb., last week as members of Team Arizona competed in the 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games.

Team Arizona, comprised of 33 athletes, 13 coaches and seven Unified Partners, competed in six events: aquatics, athletics, bocce, powerlifting and Unified soccer and flag football, which saw athletes both with and without intellectual disabilities competing together on Unified teams.

The games were the second-ever of their kind. The first USA National Games were held in 2006. Almost 3,000 athletes from across the nation were scheduled to compete in 13 Olympic-style sporting events at the 2010 games.

Special Olympics Arizona president and CEO Tim Martin said, “Everyone associated with Special Olympics Arizona is thrilled for our athletes, coaches, Unified Partners and their family and friends for the awesome opportunity to compete in the 2010 USA National Games. We are so proud that they will represent over 10,600 Special Olympics Arizona athletes.”

Team Arizona members who competed in aquatics are Weldon Cluck, Jacob Fekete, Roseanne Hendrick, David Karras and Jennifer Tomson.

Members who competed in athletics are Alex Castillo, Robert Duncan, David Fischer, David Frohme, Ashley Halberstadt, Timothy Prettyman, Lois Purvance and Mark Ward.

Members who competed in bocce are Patricia Culver, Gary Hardt, Robyn Peterson and Brent Peterson. Members who competed in Unified Flag Football are: Ian Cooper, Kevin Griffin, Alex Hayes, Matthew Peterson, Tanner Tegtmeyer, Michael Tom, Marc Whatley with Unified Partners Payton Lacivita, Jorin Larsen and Drew Wiemers.

Members who competed in powerlifting are Romeo Ayalin IV and Leslie Drake.

Members who competed in Unified Soccer are Jeffery Anthony, Thomas Lerma, Stephan Linthicum, Arthur Moreno, Mark Payon, Carlee Scott and Unified Partners Nicole Cabrera, Kyle Jackson, Isreal Mendez and Francisco Rangel.

The coaches for Team Arizona are Mike Burkhouse, Rebecca Derwort, Neal Hallihan, Eve Vance, Jim Rudow, Donald Bergen, Sandy Koonce, Scott Nasser, Travis Anderson, Yolanda Mathews, Amy Kubo, Cristian Armenta, Michael Wakeford and Debra Johnson.