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News
Please check back for continuing updates about TEAM TEXAS, competitions and events from National Games throughout the week.
Sunday, July 2 - 5:40 p.m.
It was a busy day for TEAM TEXAS. Practice and divisioning got underway for the athletes, with a little time left for shopping.
Many family members, staff and volunteers attended a congressional hearing this afternoon, focusing on the health needs of people with intellectual disabilities. Witnesses included Timothy Shriver, Julie Gerberding, M.D. - Director of the CDC, Peter Farrelly, and Antonia Novello - Former U.S. Surgeon General.
Special Olympics Texas staff hosted a family reception this afternoon with more than 80 TEAM TEXAS family members in attendance. Guests enjoyed a meal, spent time meeting other Texas families, and traded shirts and pins.
Tonight, hundreds of Texas flags will be waving at Hilton Coliseum at Opening Ceremonies. Tom Arnold will be the evening's master of ceremonies. We spotted a Hootie and the Blowfish bus earlier today... possibly this evening's entertainment? It's sure to be an exciting night.
Until tomorrow... GO TEAM TEXAS!
Monday, July 3 - 5:00 p.m.
It was a long night of music, dancing and entertainment at Opening Ceremonies last night, as athletes, spectators and families filled Hilton Coliseum. The evening kicked off with the entrance of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Tom Arnold, host of the Best Damn Sports Show, served as the evening's master of ceremonies. He started his monologue by showing a video from his show that aired last year, during which he took on SOTX athlete Leonard Flowers and four other SO athletes... and quickly learned who the real champions were. He also introduced a video that showed on the jumbotrons, featuring outtakes and footage from The Ringer. As you can guess, SOTX cheered loudly when we spotted several Texas athletes' faces!
More than 4,000 athletes and official delegates entered the Coliseum as part of the Parade of Athletes. TEAM TEXAS was introduced by announcers as a state hailing "a team of true ringers," led by The Ringer star and SOTX athlete Leonard Flowers who served as grand marshal. Once seated, the wave made its way around the Coliseum several times, creating a sea of colors as the athletes jumped from their seats and waved their arms.
Once the delegations were seated, they then grooved to the music of several groups, including a rap song written and sung by a Special Olympics athlete. After the athlete, official and coaches oath, the crowd was surprised with one more performance when popular band Hootie and the Blowfish took to the stage. The evening concluded with the lighting of the torch, in which Texas' own Bexar County Sheriff's Deputy Joe Villarreal participated.
Today, divisioning continued for some athletes, while competition got underway for others. The TEAM TEXAS Unified Basketball Team played an incredible game that kept spectators on the edge of their seat, falling to Missouri by just six points. Athletes were busy on the golf course, in the pool, on the track and at numerous sports venues across Ames. We'll keep you posted... there's much more to come!
Tuesday, July 4 - 10:22 p.m.
It was a very busy and very exciting day for TEAM TEXAS. Competition was in full swing, with Texas athletes taking on states in several sports.
A few recaps from today...
The softball team played a great game early this morning; but fell 15-8 to Oregon.
The ladies volleyball team was on fire... winning both their matches. Tomorrow is a big day for those ladies, as they'll go for another win in the morning.
At bocce, Dana and Karen Crozier took third place. Tomorrow the men will take their shot to score big.
Ladies and men took to the track today; Mark Cannon blew past the competition. Ladies ran the prelims today and will compete tomorrow.
Competition wrapped a little early, giving the athletes some time to participate in the 4th of July festivities. Tonight the athletes were going to enjoy fireworks and entertainment, with more than 8,000 spectators expected in attendance.
Tomorrow will be another full day of competition... aquatics, athletics, Unified basketball, bocce, golf, gymnastics, soccer, tennis and volleyball. Please be sure to check our results link for complete coverage and results on TEAM TEXAS.
Wednesday, July 5
Wednesday was another full day of competition, with athletes competing in aquatics, athletics, Unified basketball, bocce, bowling, golf, gymnastics, soccer, tennis and volleyball. TEAM TEXAS had a strong day, prevailing with numerous medals. The following are a few of those earned...
AQUATICS - Adam Eck took gold for the 50M freestyle; Chris James took silver and Brad Marcus took bronze. Jessica Tunnell took bronze for the 100M freestyle and backstroke; Patrick Rooney for the 100M. Sandra Bulick took fourth place for the 100M freestyle; Wanda Bays took fourth for the 25M backstroke.
ATHLETICS - Meagan Flynn earned a bronze for shotput; Heather Alderete took 8th. Jonathan Blackmon earned silver in the 5000M. JR Hernandez earned a bronze medal in shotput.
BOCCE - Unified partners Marc Del Tatto and Shannon Schreiber earned silver in bocce.
BOWLING - Carla Lovelace and Traci Crawford bowled their way to third place; Lee Bell and Michael Neff took fourth.
GOLF - It was a gold medal for both Tim Braun and Buddy Randall, silver for Clay Roberts - and Kevin Harrell and Mike Shipman, and fourth for Chris Gracian - and Cheryl Simmons and Ben Brown.
GYMNASTICS - The ladies "cleaned up" at gymnastics with Mandy Brookshire, Madeline Braley, Jilliann Benitez, and Bailey Griffith all earning several medals each.
Powerlifting starts tomorrow. It should also be a big day for volleyball.
Thursday, July 6
As the time left at National Games is winding down, the medal count is on the rise!
It was more medals at aquatics - with the athletes taking gold, silver and bronze medals.
At athletics, both relays got second. All of the athletes were competing hard and earning medals and ribbons.
Joanne Schuster earned bronze in deadlift, squat, bench and all around at powerlifting.
Amanda Mickan and Hillary Kern took a silver in doubles tennis. Amanda also earned a bronze in singles; Hillary took fourth.
The Unified soccer team won a silver medal after a tough match against Florida. The traditional soccer team also earned silver.
The male volleyball team earned bronze. The ladies volleyball team earned their way into the medal round, with their big competition set for tomorrow.
TEAM TEXAS also is shining in the spotlight - PBS' Farmers Almanac interviewed the powerlifters, and Leonard Flowers was on the local CBS news.
Go TEAM TEXAS!
Friday, July 7 - 9:00 a.m.
It's sure to be an exciting final day of competition for TEAM TEXAS...
Aquatics begins at 9:00 a.m. with Wanda Bays competing in 50M backstroke and Sandra Bulick in the 200M backstroke.
Softball will take on Mississippi at 11:30 for the bronze.
The volleyball team will go for the gold against North Dakota at 12:00.
The traditional basketball team will play at 1:15 for the gold medal. The Unified team plays for the bronze.
After a tough final day of competition, athletes will enjoy Closing Ceremonies this evening, with Special Olympics Ambassador Jo Dee Messina expected to perform.
Be sure to tune into NBC Nightly News tonight at 5:30 p.m. (CST) for a segment on Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
Friday, July 7 - 1:09 p.m.
Bobby Lord of the Greater Houston area showed superior strength at powerlifting. Lord deadlifted a whopping 606 pounds!!! This Texan is undeniably a gold medal CHAMPION!
Ladies volleyball served a great game with impressive skills... scoring silver after taking on North Dakota.
The bocce team will be bringing home silver medal.
The softball team played hard - and the pay off is a bronze!
Way to go, TEAM TEXAS!
Saturday, July 8 - 7:35 a.m.
TEAM TEXAS will return home today, after a very successful final day of competition and fun...
In aquatics, Wanda Bays received a silver medal for 50M backstroke; Sandra Bulick received a silver for 200M backstroke. The Unified basketball team returns with a bronze, Unified bocce with a silver, female volleyball with a silver, softball with a bronze, and basketball with a gold. WAY TO GO, TEAM TEXAS! | 
