Beck, 20, of Englewood, N.J., is a student at the University of Louisville and works in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Department there. She has been involved in Unified Sports at the University for two years and competed at the NIRSA National Unified Basketball Tournament in Wisconsin last year with the Kentucky team. Beck has also participated in Unified cornhole at UofL. She has completed two half marathons. This will be her first trip to the USA Games.

“Special Olympics has been such an amazing way to be involved with my community and has been so empowering to see people of all backgrounds come together to compete. I have made new friends and created lasting memories.”  

Garrett, 27, of Louisville will be making his first trip to the USA Games. He has been involved in Special Olympics for 19 years, also competing in soccer, flag football, softball and bowling. He works at UPS.

“Going to the USA Games has been a goal of mine since I heard about it. A chance to compete with others from other places. I look forward to meeting new friends and seeing new things.”  

Heckel, 22, of Louisville is another USA Games first-timer. He has competed in Special Olympics for 13 and also competes in swimming, softball, soccer, track, flag football and bowling. He is a crew member at Trader Joe’s.

“I am excited about going to USA Games because it’s my first time to do it. I am looking forward to playing with other athletes on the team as well as other teams from other states. I am proud of myself for being on this team.”  

Hewitt, 28, from Erlanger in Northern Kentucky will be competing in the USA Games for the first time. He has been involved in Special Olympics for 11 years competing in softball, bowling, flag football and soccer in addition to basketball. He is a graduate of SOKY’s Athlete Leadership Program and serves as an Athlete Ambassador. He works at Kroger in Independence.

“Attending the USA games is an honor. I look forward to the team spirit and meeting new friends.”  

Hornung, 33, of Louisville is also making her first trip to the USA Games. A Special Olympics athlete for 23 years, competing in softball, flag football, soccer and golf as well as basketball. In addition to Unified basketball, Hornung has participated in Unified soccer clinics in Louisville. She works at UPS.

“I am excited to attend the USA Games. I look most forward to playing basketball and hanging out with my friends. Also, it will be my first time flying on an airplane.”  

Just, 21, of Louisville has been involved in Unified activities for three years at UofL. He was one of the speakers at the event celebrating UofL’s recognition as the first collegiate Unified Champion Schools National Banner School honoree. In addition to Unified basketball, he has also competed in the Unified cornhole tournaments at the University. Just recently graduated from UofL with a degree in Industrial Engineering.

“The 2026 USA Games mean a great deal to me. When I found out I was able to compete I was over the moon with excitement. Participating with Unified and Special Olympics has been one of the highlights of my college career. And this is going to be one of the final things I am a part of before I enter the real adult world. The things I am most looking forward to are meeting all the new people competing, being able to support Team Kentucky, and being able to compete myself to hopefully help our team win games.”  

Luckett, 22, from Springfield has competed in Special Olympics for 14 years also participating in flag football, bowling, softball, soccer and golf. He is also making his USA Games debut. Luckett works at McDonald’s.

Mercer, 28, of Louisville is the oldest member of the Team Kentucky Unified basketball team. He is returning to Unified sports at UofL as a grad student after a six-year absence. He was part of the student group that helped establish the Unified Champion Schools program at UofL and competed in the 2018 and 2019 NIRSA National Unified Basketball Tournaments at Ohio State and Wichita State, respectively. He works at Nike.

“Special Olympics has allowed me to reach out and meet so many athletes who may think that their disabilities and limitations create barriers around them, but really shows how strong and motivating they are, not only to themselves, but to us Unified athletes who get the amazing opportunity to call them teammates.”

Pitsenberger, 27, became a part of Special Olympics Kentucky history in 2002 when he scored the first point ever at a USA Games for Team Kentucky Unified basketball with a free throw in the team’s opening game in Orlando. He is the only member of the 2026 team returning from that 2022 roster. Pitsenberger has been involved in Special Olympics for 16 years, also competing in softball, flag football and soccer. A student at UofL, Pitsenberger has now participated in Unified Championship Schools activities at TWO National Banner Award honorees. He attended high school at Eastern High School in Louisville, which earned National Banner recognition in 2023. Pitsenberger works at the Student Recreation Center at UofL and also works as a game-day intern in the University’s Athletics Department.

“Special Olympics has changed my life because it has opened doors for me to see new opportunities and make all kinds of friends.”

Ploeger, 23, of Round Hill, Va., will be competing in the USA Games for the first time. He is participating in Unified activities at his second University after serving as a volunteer Program Director for Unified activities at Brigham Young before transferring to Louisville. In addition to his Unified activities, Ploeger is the President of an on-campus non-profit that collects clothing for those in need in the community. He also serves as a Spanish medical interpreter at a free clinic for underinsured people. He works at Altius Test Prep.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and I am so excited to see athletes from all over the US come together as we compete, make memories, and showcase our shared passion for Special Olympics.”

Louisville’s Piernas will be coaching at the USA Games for the first time, but it will be his second trip to the Games after serving as a leader of the first Unified team in Special Olympics Kentucky history at the 2022 Games in Orlando. He has been coaching Unified basketball for three years in UofL’s annual Unified basketball league. Piernas is currently the Assistant Director of Intramural Sports at the University. In that role and in his time as a student at UofL, Piernas played a major part in Louisville becoming the state’s first collegiate level National Banner Award recipient.

Justice will be making his second trip to the USA Games. He was the assistant coach for the Team Kentucky flag football team that won a bronze medal at the 2018 Games in Seattle. A member of the Special Olympics Kentucky staff for nearly past four years, Justice has worked with Special Olympics for more than a decade, serving as a volunteer and coach in Bowling Green. He is currently SOKY’s Youth Initiatives Director, working to expand activities like the Young Athletes Program throughout the state. He is also active in the Special Olympics Kentucky Esports program, helping coordinate events and competing as a Unified partner.

“Going to the USA Games is an incredible experience. The 2018 games changed my life, and I expect these games to have the same impact. I am looking forward to seeing all of the athletes competing at this high level.”

Meet Team Kentucky

Team Kentucky Bocce

Team Kentucky Bowling

Team Kentucky Flag Football

Team Kentucky Golf

Team Kentucky Gymnastics

Team Kentucky Swimming

Team Kentucky Track and Field

Team Kentucky Youth Leadership Experience

Team Kentucky AS Coaches