Meet the athletes, Unified Partners and coaches that make up the Special Olympics USA Unified Volleyball Team traveling to World Games!
The Special Olympics World Games are the world’s largest inclusive sports event. Thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities compete together in 26 sports. Nine days of exciting and inspiring competitions, by athletes and for athletes.
From 17 to 25 June 2023, the Special Olympics World Games will take place in Berlin – the first time that Germany will host the Games!
Brad Havenstein of Westmoreland, Kansas, has competed with Special Olympics for 12 years, participating in athletics, basketball, bowling, flag football, softball and volleyball. He will represent Special Olympics USA in volleyball. In 2022, Brad competed in volleyball at the Special Olympics USA Games with his Unified team, a team he is extremely proud to be part of.
Brad is employed as a seasoned helper at a greenhouse from February through May, where he helps clean and unload trucks. His hobbies include golfing, spending time with his 1-year-old niece and attending all Kansas State University sporting events. He most admires Kansas State University athletes Deuce Vaughn, Gabby Gregory and Keyontae Johnson. Brad, who has lost all sight in his left eye, looks up to Keyontae for his ability to overcome a medical issue to pursue his sports dreams. As part of his training regimen, Brad attends weekly practices with his team and competes in a co-recreational league. With his teammates, he always has fun. “
Chris Blanton of Manhattan, Kansas, has coached Special Olympics athletes for more than 10 years in athletics, basketball, softball and volleyball. In basketball and volleyball, he has competed as a Unified partner. He will represent Special Olympics USA as a Unified partner in volleyball. In 2022, Chris competed with his Unified volleyball team in the Special Olympics USA Games. He refers to Special Olympics as his family, one that has helped him to increase his confidence and feel accepted.
As his school district’s Mandt System® trainer, Chris teaches behavioral crisis interaction training. In this position, he has worked to reinvigorate an established program, reaching more staff, students and parents. Chris spends his free time finishing projects around his house and property and practices twice weekly with his volleyball team. He looks forward to watching a global community come together in the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Chris and his teammates.
Dirk Andrade of Manhattan, Kansas, began his involvement with Special Olympics three years ago, volunteering with athletics, basketball and volleyball. He will represent Special Olympics USA as a Unified partner in volleyball. Through Special Olympics, Dirk has gained a new perspective on the meaning of teamwork, sportsmanship and family. He is proud of the dedication and effort that his team puts into supporting each other.
Dirk is employed as a paraeducator at Susan B. Anthony Middle School. Practicing with his team multiple times per week, he enjoys participating in anything sports-related in his free time. For Dirk, attending the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 is an honor, as he competes alongside his group of amazing teammates and coaches.
Haleigh Jung of Manhattan, Kansas, has coached Special Olympics for the past eight years. She has experience in coaching athletics, basketball, cheerleading and volleyball. In the Special Olympics USA Games Berlin 2023, she will represent Special Olympics USA as an assistant coach in volleyball. Special Olympics has introduced Haleigh to many people, connecting her with some of her best friends. She attended the Special Olympics USA Games in 2018 and 2022, taking great pride in watching the athletes she coaches succeed. Haleigh is grateful for the opportunity to coach alongside her team’s head coach, Kim Schnee, who she admires for her selflessness and work ethic.
Haleigh is employed as a high school English teacher and enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with family and friends. At the Special Olympics World Games, Haleigh anticipates positively representing Special Olympics USA and spending quality time with her team.
Jamie Schnee of Manhattan, Kansas, has coached Special Olympics for 20 years in athletics, basketball, volleyball, softball and swimming. She has competed as a Unified partner in volleyball for the past 10 years. In the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, she will represent Special Olympics USA as a Unified partner in volleyball. As a volunteer, Jamie leads coaches’ trainings annually for Special Olympics Kansas. In 2019, she attended the Special Olympics World Games as a coach in athletics and in 2022, she competed in the Special Olympics USA Games as a Unified partner in volleyball. The athletes, Unified partners, coaches and volunteers she has met through Special Olympics have shaped her life.
A recent graduate of Wichita State University, Jamie earned her master’s degree in special education and was named co-department head for special education at Manhattan High School, where she teaches a transition program, an inclusion course and is leading school efforts to become a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. Jamie’s mother and coach, Kim, is her greatest inspiration, serving Special Olympics athletes as a coach for the past 39 years. She will share the court with her mother and sister Megan at the Special Olympics World Games.
Kim Schnee of Manhattan, Kansas, has coached Special Olympics for the past 39 years. She will represent Special Olympics USA as head coach in volleyball, coaching her two daughters, who are competing as Unified partners. As a coach, Kim attended the Special Olympics World Games North Carolina 1999 and the Special Olympics USA Games in 2018 and 2022. Kim serves as chairperson for the Special Olympics Kansas Board of Directors, working to educate the community on the importance of Special Olympics. As a result of her efforts, Kim has been recognized as the Special Olympics Kansas Coach of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and her family as the Family of the Year. She has also earned the Bob Srack Excellence in Teaching Award and the Susan M. Scott Community Leadership Award from Kansas State University.
In memory of her mother, Kim lives her mother’s legacy of demonstrating kindness to others. After 36 years of teaching special education, Kim now works as a job skills coach. She leads training for the Unified volleyball team twice a week, also coaching them in a co-recreational league. She is looking forward to the competition at the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023.
Luke Pratt of Manhattan, Kansas, started competing in Special Olympics in 2014. Since, he has participated in athletics, basketball, bowling, golf and volleyball. He will represent Special Olympics USA in volleyball. A certified Special Olympics International Health Messenger, he was trained to serve as a health and wellness leader, educator, advocate and role model within his Special Olympics community and the community at large. Through Special Olympics, he can stay physically fit and healthy by being active regularly. His training regimen includes practicing twice weekly with his team, doing speed agility exercises and running.
Luke is employed at Kansas State University’s Chester E. Peters Recreation Complex, where he helps to keep the facility and exercise equipment clean. His hobbies include playing video games and watching television. In attending the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, he looks forward to meeting other athletes and visiting another country for the first time.
Michael Carpenter of Manhattan, Kansas, has competed with Special Olympics for 18 years, participating in athletics, basketball, flag football and volleyball. He will represent Special Olympics USA in volleyball. Special Olympics challenges Michael to do his best, providing him the opportunity to participate in sports that he loves and meet people from different cities. In 2022, Michael competed in volleyball at the Special Olympics USA Games. Continuing to practice with his Unified team, Michael also competes in a co-recreational league.
Michael became close friends with his greatest role model, Denver Broncos player Dalton Risner, during Dalton’s time playing college football at Kansas State University. Dalton motivates Michael to strive toward his goals, offering advice and support. In his free time, Michael bowls, performs with a local theatre group and volunteers at his church. He is proud to represent his country alongside his Unified volleyball teammates in the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023.
Megan Schnee of Manhattan, Kansas, was introduced to Special Olympics in her childhood. Ever since, she has coached or competed as a Unified partner. She will represent Special Olympics USA as a Unified partner in volleyball, sharing the court with her mother, her coach, and her sister, a fellow Unified partner. In 2018, Megan attended the Special Olympics USA Games as a coach in basketball and in 2022, as a Unified partner in volleyball. Special Olympics has given Megan’s life purpose, introducing her to the good that the world has to offer. In 2022, Megan was recognized as the Special Olympics Kansas Unified Partner of the Year.
Employed as a property and casualty insurance agent, Megan spends her time outside of work with her family, watching sports and playing with her two dogs. A former high school basketball, softball and volleyball coach as well, Megan is inspired by her mother, her team’s head coach, and strives to be like her every day. For Megan, representing Special Olympics USA is an honor as she competes in the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023.
Stephan “Step” Shimkus of Manhattan, Kansas, has participated in Special Olympics for 10 years. He has trained and competed in athletics, basketball and volleyball. In the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, he will represent Special Olympics USA in volleyball. Through Special Olympics, Step has become more social, making new friends and working to help others.
Step is employed at Goodwill Industries and spends his time outside of work with his dogs and playing video games. He most admires his father, who served in the United States Army for 21 years. During his years of service, Step and his family lived in Germany for nine years. After 17 years, Step will return to compete in the Special Olympics World Games.
Tamara Knutsen-Hagemann of Manhattan, Kansas, has been involved with Special Olympics as a coach for the past 32 years. In 2022, she attended the Special Olympics USA Games as an assistant coach in volleyball. She will represent Special Olympics USA in the same role at the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023. Special Olympics has introduced Tamara to lifelong friends, all who share the same passion for watching athletes grow in both skill and confidence. Through her involvement with Special Olympics Kansas and her dedication to serving Special Olympics athletes, she was recognized as Volunteer of the Year.
Tamara is employed as a pre-K teacher and will retire in 2023. She enjoys going on adventures, exploring thrift stores and watching sports with her family. From her stepfather, Tamara learned the importance of work ethic, love of family and compassion for others. Her own upbringing influenced her family’s decision to adopt. She looks forward to traveling to a new country and meeting Special Olympics athletes from around the world.
Austin Tomandl
Austin Tomandl of Manhattan, Kansas, has competed in Special Olympics since he was 8 years old. Over the past 10 years, he has participated in athletics, basketball, bowling, soccer, softball, swimming, soccer, and volleyball. In the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, he will represent Special Olympics USA in volleyball. With his Unified team, Austin competed in volleyball in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, an accomplishment he will forever cherish.
He is a student at Mill Valley High School and has served as the school’s football team manager for two years and basketball team manager for one year. He most admires his football team’s coach, who has led the school to six of the last eight state championships under his leadership. In preparation for the Special Olympics World Games, Austin practices regularly with his team and exercises routinely at the gym. He is excited to play a sport he loves with a team he is proud of in Berlin.
Lexi Colston
Alexis Colston of Manhattan, Kansas, was introduced to Special Olympics six years ago and has participated as a coach and Unified partner in athletics, basketball and volleyball. She will represent Special Olympics USA as a Unified partner in volleyball. Through Special Olympics, she has learned to become a successful leader and, in turn, how to follow the lead of others. In 2022, she represented Special Olympics Kansas in the Special Olympics USA Games as a Unified partner in volleyball.
A senior at Southern New Hampshire University, Alexis has worked as a paraeducator for the past nine years. When she is not practicing with her team, she is exploring her interests of music, dance and art. Alexis is inspired by her mother, from whom she learned the importance of perseverance. That sense of perseverance paid off as she prepares to compete in the Special Olympics World.
